can't erase horizontal rules

[Tim Collins]

I've found that by typing "======" or "------" followed by a carriage
return, Word 2000 automatically inserts a horizontal rule. Great, but for
some reason these rules can be impossible to delete. (Try it). The problem
is more prevalent in complicated documents.

Of course, I can type control-z immediately after the auto-insert to undo
it, but what if I want to delete it later? The rule is not a drawing object,
and it is *not* possible to select it.

The behavior of these horizontal rules is unpredictable. Occasionally it
does work to select text before and after them, then delete. Sometimes some
other methods work too, but nothing works consistently.

I'm working on a document which has a number of such horizontal rules, which
I want to keep. I've got auto-formatting turned off, so in general it won't
insert new rules. But still, if I rearrange text in the document, it
sometimes automatically inserts an unwanted horizontal rule and I can't
delete it. Sometimes it works to drag the rule up or down--it may (or may
not) suddenly disappear. Sometimes, but not always, it works to cut the text
between the unwanted rule and the next one I want to keep and paste it
before the unwanted rule.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[TF]

see: http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Formatting/CantGetRidOfLine.htm



: I've found that by typing "======" or "------" followed by a carriage
: return, Word 2000 automatically inserts a horizontal rule. Great, but for
: some reason these rules can be impossible to delete. (Try it). The problem
: is more prevalent in complicated documents.
:
: Of course, I can type control-z immediately after the auto-insert to undo
: it, but what if I want to delete it later? The rule is not a drawing
object,
: and it is *not* possible to select it.
:
: The behavior of these horizontal rules is unpredictable. Occasionally it
: does work to select text before and after them, then delete. Sometimes
some
: other methods work too, but nothing works consistently.
:
: I'm working on a document which has a number of such horizontal rules,
which
: I want to keep. I've got auto-formatting turned off, so in general it
won't
: insert new rules. But still, if I rearrange text in the document, it
: sometimes automatically inserts an unwanted horizontal rule and I can't
: delete it. Sometimes it works to drag the rule up or down--it may (or may
: not) suddenly disappear. Sometimes, but not always, it works to cut the
text
: between the unwanted rule and the next one I want to keep and paste it
: before the unwanted rule.
:
: Any suggestions? Thanks!
:
:

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Terry has given you the answer, but note that your identical question asked
several days ago has also been answered.

 

[Tim Collins]

Thank you for solving a great mystery for me!

 

[Tim Collins]

Thanks, Suzanne--your article that Terry gave the link to was very helpful.
BTW, I had searched in the Knowledge Base and Googled the newsgroups but
hadn't found anything relevant. Maybe wasn't using best search terms. That's
why the personal responses from you and Terry were so helpful.