Can't see text when I open my document

[Regina T.]

I am hoping someone can help me with this problem. I am working in Mac
OS X.4.8 using MS Word 2004. I created a series of documents with one
clip-art image at the top. The font I used was Bank Gothic. When I
open these documents, I can see the clip-art image, but no text at all.
When I go to File, hit open and then click on one of these documents
once, I can see the text in the preview pane. However, when I actually
open the document, again there is no text. Does anyone have any idea
what's going on? Thanks so much for any help you can provide.

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Regina -

I haven't actually seen this before, but there can't be too many reasons, so
perhaps we can narrow down the field. Since the text displays in the preview
it *must* be there, but the preview [I think] doesn't use the actual font.

It can't be formatted as Hidden or white - it wouldn't even display in the
preview if either were the case.

The question, then, is why doesn't the text display in the doc? If you
double-click where text is expected to be, what happens? Does it appear that
something gets selected? If so, what does it look like & what happens if you
change to a different font?

Also, is the text in the doc body or is it in the Header/Footer, a Text
Box...?

If you create a new blank doc, enter some text using the same font, then
save/close/reopen what happens? What happens if tou select all but the last
para marker, copy & paste into a new blank doc?

Reply with as much descriptive detail as you can.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[John McGhie [MVP - Word and Word Macintosh]]

Hi Regina:

First check the setting for Tracked Changes. Reveal your Reviewing Toolbar
and check the Show options. One of them may reveal the text.

Then go to View>Header and Footer and make sure the text is not all stuck in
the Header or footer of the document rather than in the body.

As well as what Bob said...

Cheers

I am hoping someone can help me with this problem. I am working in Mac
OS X.4.8 using MS Word 2004. I created a series of documents with one
clip-art image at the top. The font I used was Bank Gothic. When I
open these documents, I can see the clip-art image, but no text at all.
When I go to File, hit open and then click on one of these documents
once, I can see the text in the preview pane. However, when I actually
open the document, again there is no text. Does anyone have any idea
what's going on? Thanks so much for any help you can provide.

--

Please reply to the newsgroup to maintain the thread. Please do not email
me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie <[email protected]>
Microsoft MVP, Word and Word for Macintosh. Business Analyst, Consultant
Technical Writer.
Sydney, Australia +61 (0) 4 1209 1410

 

[Regina T.]

Thank you both for your help. I am sorry I haven't yet had a chance to
try your solutions, but will let you know what happens.

Regina

Hi Regina -

I haven't actually seen this before, but there can't be too many reasons, so
perhaps we can narrow down the field. Since the text displays in the preview
it *must* be there, but the preview [I think] doesn't use the actual font.

It can't be formatted as Hidden or white - it wouldn't even display in the
preview if either were the case.

The question, then, is why doesn't the text display in the doc? If you
double-click where text is expected to be, what happens? Does it appear that
something gets selected? If so, what does it look like & what happens if you
change to a different font?

Also, is the text in the doc body or is it in the Header/Footer, a Text
Box...?

If you create a new blank doc, enter some text using the same font, then
save/close/reopen what happens? What happens if tou select all but the last
para marker, copy & paste into a new blank doc?

Reply with as much descriptive detail as you can.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

I am hoping someone can help me with this problem. I am working in Mac
OS X.4.8 using MS Word 2004. I created a series of documents with one
clip-art image at the top. The font I used was Bank Gothic. When I
open these documents, I can see the clip-art image, but no text at all.
When I go to File, hit open and then click on one of these documents
once, I can see the text in the preview pane. However, when I actually
open the document, again there is no text. Does anyone have any idea
what's going on? Thanks so much for any help you can provide.

 

[frau]

I have limited knowledge in this area but my assistant had this problem
with the PC version of Word. He created a document at home and couldn't
see the text when he opened it up on the work computer. The problem was
that the clip art was ordered to the front covering the text. When he
moved it to the back, the text appeared.

Julie

 

[John McGhie [MVP - Word and Word Macintosh]]

Hi Julie:

Yes, that's very possible: should have mentioned that one

It's unusual with clipart, clipart is not usually big enough to hide the
entire text of a document: but you're right, it certainly can happen

Cheers

I have limited knowledge in this area but my assistant had this problem
with the PC version of Word. He created a document at home and couldn't
see the text when he opened it up on the work computer. The problem was
that the clip art was ordered to the front covering the text. When he
moved it to the back, the text appeared.

Julie

--

Please reply to the newsgroup to maintain the thread. Please do not email
me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie <[email protected]>
Microsoft MVP, Word and Word for Macintosh. Business Analyst, Consultant
Technical Writer.
Sydney, Australia +61 (0) 4 1209 1410

 

[CyberTaz]

I would also think that clipart hiding the text in the doc would prevent the
text from being visible in the preview as well, no?

I'm thinking more along the lines of a font problem as the preview (AFAIK)
doesn't render the text in the actual font.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[John McGhie [MVP - Word and Word Macintosh]]

Hi Bob:

I really don't know.

The preview constructs a bitmap thumbnail of an image of the first page of
the document. Everything is combined into a single layer. I am thinking
that if we do have a layering problem, the layer will be ignored and the
text will render in the preview.

I've been wrong before

Cheers

I would also think that clipart hiding the text in the doc would prevent the
text from being visible in the preview as well, no?

I'm thinking more along the lines of a font problem as the preview (AFAIK)
doesn't render the text in the actual font.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

--

Please reply to the newsgroup to maintain the thread. Please do not email
me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie <[email protected]>
Microsoft MVP, Word and Word for Macintosh. Business Analyst, Consultant
Technical Writer.
Sydney, Australia +61 (0) 4 1209 1410

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi John -

I've been wrong before

Not even suggesting that... just thinking "out loud"

But if that were the case, wouldn't it stand to reason that the text would
be superimposed on the graphic? - (Not challenging, but honestly interested
in your opinion.)

I don't claim to have the answer either - like I originally mentioned, I
haven't seen this happen before, so I have no idea what's causing it. As you
well know, anything is possible 8-}

I also found a free d/l of the font & used it with no similar problem so
far, so I'm still at a loss from that direction as well.

 

[Regina T.]

First, I want to thank you all for your suggestions and I am glad to
have them in case this happens again. But a very strange thing
happened today. I went to open the documents in question and now i can
see the text. I do not know what has changed, and I can't figure it
out. One thought I had based on your comments is that it could be a
font issue. I did notice in my documents that when I opened them, the
font went back to my default from the one I used previously. Anyway,
the whole thing is a mystery to me, but I do have my documents back in
full. Thanks again for your help!

Regina

 

[Clive Huggan]

Good to hear, Regina!

As many people have observed, Word has an innate ability to perplex...

Cheers,

Clive Huggan
=============

 

[John McGhie [MVP - Word and Word Macintosh]]

Hi Regina:

OK, that's diagnostic -- now we know what's wrong. You have a low-level
corruption in that document. Word fixed it when it closed the document.

If it happens again, carefully copy all except the last paragraph marker,
paste into a new blank document, and save under a new file name. That fully
rebuilds the document.

Cheers

First, I want to thank you all for your suggestions and I am glad to
have them in case this happens again. But a very strange thing
happened today. I went to open the documents in question and now i can
see the text. I do not know what has changed, and I can't figure it
out. One thought I had based on your comments is that it could be a
font issue. I did notice in my documents that when I opened them, the
font went back to my default from the one I used previously. Anyway,
the whole thing is a mystery to me, but I do have my documents back in
full. Thanks again for your help!

Regina

--

Please reply to the newsgroup to maintain the thread. Please do not email
me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie <[email protected]>
Microsoft MVP, Word and Word for Macintosh. Business Analyst, Consultant
Technical Writer.
Sydney, Australia +61 (0) 4 1209 1410

 

[Regina T.]

I agree with you Clive. And John, thanks for the diagnosis. While I
was happy it fixed itself, I was a little concerned that it would
happen again and I still wouldn't know what went wrong. So I
appreciate the guidance on this. And generally, just glad to know that
such good help is out there. I obviously need it.

Thanks again,

Regina