Additional pages in Print Preview

[Rich]

I'm working on a 200 page document using Word 2002 on an
XP system. The document looks fine on screen, but when I
use Print Preview it adds a blank page. This blank page
also prints, which throws the rest of the page sequence
off by one page.

I've tried various combinations of page breaks and
section breaks. Sometimes, a page with content (title or
table of contents page) will be duplicated in addition to
the extra blank page, and yet the screen display still
looks fine.

Has anyone had a similar experience? I need help!

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

See http://home.earthlink.net/~wordfaqs/BlankPage.htm

 

[Rich]

Your article "Deleting 'Blank' Pages" is excellent and
explains a great deal concering page and section breaks.
However, after much additional experimentation, I am
still seeing an additional blank page in Print Preview,
hard copy, and PDF files. I've noticed that I can't
highlight this page in Print Preview, but it is
definitely there!

I need to work with someone one-on-one who can look at my
file and straighten it out. I've tried some of the
available fee-based Microsoft support, but no one seems
to fully understand the issues in my document. Is there a
way I can work directly with a Word expert or MVP?

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

The usual reason for a blank page that can be seen in Print Preview but
nowhere else (and then usually only if you're displaying two or more pages
at a time) is an Odd/Even Page section break. Sometimes Word will change a
Next Page break to Odd Page, especially if you've selected features that
suggest to Word that you're duplexing ("Mirror margins" and/or "Different
odd and even" header/footer). This can happen if you change page orientation
(to spare the printer from printing portrait on the back of landscape or
vice versa). And if you restart numbering in a new section, Word will assume
that page 1 is a recto (right-hand page) and insert a blank even page as
needed.

It *is* rather difficult to troubleshoot this without seeing the document,
however. If you'd like to send me a *small* piece of the document that
exhibits this error, I'll take a look and see if I can find a cause.

 

[Rich]

My document format is two pages per sheet in landscape
orientation with different odd and even headers. I also
restart the numbering in the first three sections of the
book. So, based on your explanation, it's not surprising
that I encountered extra blank pages.

Based on your information, I reworked the first three
sections yesterday to replace Odd Page section breaks
with Next Page breaks and changed the starting page on a
couple of sections. After all the changes, I'm happy to
report that the book is finally working in Print Preview!
I've also produced a successful PDF file.

Thank you very much for all of your help. I think I
finally have a good understanding of the problems and
issues with this document!

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Glad you got it sorted out!