auto format error

[ereilly]

I use my mac to take notes and write outlines. I am a big user of the
bullets & auto numbers, as well as bold font for headings.

My documents average 7-15 pages in length. Sometimes I paste
screenshots of diagrams I've made in powerpoint. Sometimes I also use
the special font calls, like "HEADING 1", etc.

My problem is this:
Every so often, I'll look back through my document, and all of my
formatting is gone. The paragraphs are the same, but, its all been
changed to bold text or all of my bullets are gone. Whatever it is,
the whole document is a mess.

I usually don't notice it happening, because I have not done anything
stupid like "select all" -> "remove bullets". Sometimes I notice the
whole document go bezerk when I highlight/select some text, and push
the 'bullet button' or 'bold button'. When this happens, I "UNDO" and
the document goes back to normal and the little bit of text that I
wanted to change looks just fine.

My theory is that its some sort of auto format (the way the first
letter after a period is automatically capitalized unless you "UNDO" or
shut that function off)

If this annoying glitch is an option that can be shut off, does anybody
know how to shut it off??? If its a bug, who do I have to email to get
it fixed??!

This is the most frustrating thing because it takes hours to go back
and reformat.


I have downloaded and installed MS Office 2004 updates 1.1.1. I use MS
Office 2004 student/teacher edition.

 

[Elliott Roper]

My theory is that its some sort of auto format (the way the first
letter after a period is automatically capitalized unless you "UNDO" or
shut that function off)

(you can turn *that* one off easily in Autocorrect by unchecking
"Capitalize first letter of sentences")

If this annoying glitch is an option that can be shut off, does anybody
know how to shut it off???

I think it is the same thing that does my head in too.

In autoformat as you type, switch off 'define styles based on
formatting'

I *think* that's the one, there could be another half dozen of those
"helpful" bits of braindead-icity I have forgotten about.

Sometimes, even after turning it off, you might get the world's most
annoying alertbox "change style to reflect formatting? always do it
this way in future?" as though the little sniveller cannot believe you
would be so ungrateful as to disable giving it the opportunity to
utterly screw up your whole document whenever you are on a tight
deadline. I have never found the preference that lets you specify "shut
the f*%^@ up! if I want to change styles I'll change 'em in the goddamn
styles dialog, and only when I'm good and ready"

Even if there were, a paperclip would pop out and say "I see you are
somewhat agitated, would you like to write a threatening letter?"

 

[Elliott Roper]

No, that's not the one. In any document, go to Format | Style, make sure
Normal style is selected, click Modify and UNCHECK "automatically update."
That box is the problem. CHECK "add to template" to save the change for
future documents--you will have to redo that process for already-created
documents, it is not an application-wide setting but style and document
specific.

Heh! That's one I had forgotten. Is the other entirely blameless?

Longer explanation with screenshots here (says Word 2002 but still
applicable):
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Formatting/WholeDocumentReformatted.htm
(hit refresh a few times in Safari, or use a different browser)

And this setting does not ship on by default, I don't think. When used
properly, this is actually a very handy setting--but it should never be on
for the Normal style.

It should never be on for any style as far as I can see. If you want to
define a style you should do it explicitly. Using Normal style in any
document is almost always a mistake. That mvp article does not explain
the other horrible consequence, except by inference from the fact that
many beginners define styles based on Normal style, that it may change
aspects of all the styles that are based on the style that
automatically changed under your feet.

 

[Klaus Kamppeter]

My problem is this:
Every so often, I'll look back through my document, and all of my
formatting is gone. The paragraphs are the same, but, its all been
changed to bold text or all of my bullets are gone. Whatever it is,
the whole document is a mess.

If you use the documente map (it activates in the view menu), in the
moment of activating it or at opening a new document, the program
applies automatic formatting to the whole document. You can stop it with
command + period. It seems that there is no way to avoid it. Avoid using
the document map, or activate it only once you have opened the document
(be prepared to command + period).

bye