We need to print several circles for specific sizes. 0.5" 1" 1.5" 2" 2.5" 3" etc. up to 7"
why? don’t ask. 
I got stuck with the job and need this printed up for a meeting this afternoon.
other than trial and error.
draw a circle, print, measure with a ruler, curse, redraw a circle, print, measure, curse, try again etc.
Is there any way to make a precise circle in inches? give or take .1" I can be a 1/10" off. no big deal.
Would Photoshop be easier? Can it do it?
What version of Word?
I have Word 2013 here.
I can just place a circle from the Shapes menu, click on the little edit widget next to it, and pick “More…”. On the dialog box that pops up, I have tabs for position, text wrapping, and size. Under size, I can set absolute width and height of 3.00".
Word 2003
I’ll look and see if theres any similar options.
Should I use the drawing toolbar? Or insert picture, Autoshapes?
I need to put text around the circle.
I’d do the full graphic in some other application (including text) and then import it into Word. Try PowerPoint if you don’t have anything else.
A very basic mechanism that uses no external tools - you just need to create a raw text file.
You can probably get Word to import a postscript image. I can get a later version of Word to import this:
%1PS
100 100 72 0 360 arc closepath stroke
showpage
72 is the radius of the circle in points = 1 inch.
100 and 100 are the offsets from the origin (bottom left corner) so need to be bigger than the radius in order to get the circle inside the rendered area.
The image needs to be cropped down to what you need.
Just scale up the values of the offsets and radius to what you need.
If you need a different line width add
1 setlinewidth
after the %1PS line - where you can replace 1 by the line width - also in points.
ETA - you probably need to call the file with the code in xxx.ps (where xxx is some name) and you import it via the Insert -> Photo -> Picture from file menu (or whatever the equivalent in your version is.)
I’ll give that a try. So 72 is a 1 inch radius. if I want a 2 in circle then use 142? and so on?
Note this is radius not diameter - I assume you want radii of 18, 36, 54, 72, 90, 108, 126 to get you 1/2" up to 7" diameter in steps of 1/2" A 7" radius circle won’t fit on normal paper. But if I misunderstood, just double the numbers.
ah, I see. ok. that will work. A friend in a dept down the hall has Word 2010. So if Word 2003 won’t import the ps file then I can use the newer version on his pc.
thank you Francis Vaughan
You saved me quite a bit of trial and error headaches.
I hope so, and that I haven’t sent you on some wild goose chase. Best of luck.
This is the simplest solution of all of the above, and it is available in 2003.
The problem I initially ran into was autoshapes doesn’t offer a perfect circle. Under basic shapes they offer Ovals, Hexagons, Octagons, Ellipses, donut, happy face, and even a freaking half moon. No circle. Why? beats the H out of me. But they don’t. I even looked under flowcharting symbols.
I finally used the mouse and the circle shape draw tool. Of course that never, ever results in a perfect circle. My graphics eye isn’t that good. Mine are always a bit fatter or thinner than a perfect circle. Usually fatter, like somebody sat on a beach ball. But, as suggested I went into format shape and changed the size to 3"x3". perfect circle.
did that for every size from .5 to 7"
Typical Monday surprise job assignment. Hey computer guy, You’re a graphics artist today. Sure kept my butt hopping. Worked straight through lunch. It’s one of the hazards of taking a computer support tech job. I do computers, so I get stuck doing everything that involves a keyboard.
thanks again for the support and help. I appreciate it.
I assume that’s because a circle is a type of oval. If Word works like pretty much every other graphics program I’ve ever used (and it does in Word 2011), you can hold down shift while dragging to keep the X and Y parameters equal (making a circle.)
I gave the postscript file a try too. Word 2003, it’s under Insert, Picture, File. wouldn’t let me select a .ps extension. I renamed it to .eps and word gave me a list of formats to covert from. I tried encapsulated postscript. Word, grunted and gave me the finger. 
(error importing file)
I was under a major time crunch and shifted focus to the other drawing method.
:smack: shift drag. I’ve used that before and forgot it. I only do this graphics stuff when forced too. Usually once or twice a year. Note to self, shift drag when drawing a circle. I just opened Word and gave it a try. Works like a charm. I’ll put a sticky note on my monitor for next time.
Use the oval. Draw any oval, any size. Then right click go to Format AutoShape, Size tab, and set both Width and Height to 3.0". Perfect circle. Edit: Also, the SHIFT and drag will make a perfect circle (never knew that), but you may still have to go to Format to get the exact size you want.
I did some flow charting back 14 years ago, when I was designing software applications. One time, I used Word 95 to flowchart. Never again. I talked my boss into buying a real flowcharting program. Word is not a good choice. Maybe it’s changed a bit, but I doubt it. Sometimes dedicated software for a specific job is what is needed.
Word is fine for basic sketches. I used it a few years ago to draw out a custom wall width cabinet I wanted for my laundry room/pantry. drew all the boxes, included arrows and my dimensions. Gave it to my carpenter. It worked out really well.
I don’t disagree with you on your last point. But speaking generally, it’s a bit absurd to base assumptions re:the capabilities of current software on your experience with a *twenty year old * version.