If you need to more precisely layout items such as images and textboxes in a Microsoft Word 2003 document, a vertical ruler can be displayed when in Print and Web layout modes (click the "View" menu to change the current display mode).Conversely, if you are not moving items around a page, this ruler may not be useful. Removing it may allow you to shrink the width of the document's window, allowing other windows to appear onscreen simultaneously.
To toggle this feature:
1) Click "Tools", selecting "Options".
2) When the multi-tabbed "Options" dialog box appears, make sure to select the "View" tab.
3) Underneath "Print and Web Layout Options", check or uncheck "Vertical Ruler" as desired.4) Click "OK" to close the dialog box.