Changing the standard format of a word document

[Jack_Toft]

Version: 2008 Operating System: Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) This Word for Mac is pathetic! You would expect the Mac version is just the PC version, but for Mac, but no....it has to be completely different for some reason that only a pimply faced nerd would understand.

My issue is simple, each time I open word up, the "spacing after" is set at 10 pts. I have to change it to a sensible spacing of 0 each time I create a new document - I am getting majorly annoyed at this application.

With the PC version, you can just set the spacing as default, but the programmers have decided you can do that easily on this version.

I am sure there is a very simply way of doing it, but the programmers have just made it hard!! HOW THE F DO YOU GET IT TO OPEN UP A DOCUMENT WITH NORMAL SPACING??????????

 

[Michel Bintener]

Hi Jack,

there are two ways to tackle this issue. The easiest solution is to make
sure Word is entirely up-to-date; the standard "space after" setting was
changed back to 0 in one of the updates, so the easiest solution is to
let Word fix it for you. Click on Help>Check for Updates and let the
AutoUpdate application install all the available updates.

If that did not work, just post back, and you'll get the more
complicated solution.

 

[Jack_Toft]

Thanks Michael, but the version I have is up to date

 

[Michel Bintener]

Well, in that case, try the following:

1. Launch Word.
2. Use the File>Open dialogue to open a file called "Normal.dotm",
which you can find in ~/Library/Application
Support/Microsoft/Office/User Templates.
3. Click on Format>Style, make sure Normal is selected in the list of
styles, then click on Modify.
4. Click on the dropdown button in the lower left corner (it should
read "Format"), then select Paragraph.
5. In the window that opens, change the "Space after" setting from
10pt to 0pt.
6. Click on OK/Apply as many times as necessary to get back to the
main document, then save it.

After this procedure, any new document should have a default "space
after" setting of 0pt, which is what you wanted.

Just a brief explanation: Word 2008 bases every new document on the
Normal.dotm template (unless specified otherwise). This means that every
modification made to the Normal.dotm template will automatically appear
in new documents.

 

[Jack_Toft]

Thanks Mate, what an absolute b#lls@t way of doing things.
Are the people who write these codes normal????

Why is the Mac version so different to the PC version???

It makes no sense apart from some nerd trying to give themselves a job for life

 

[John McGhie]

I guess Mac Word was designed for the professional user.

A professional will always have spacing, usually Space After, defined in
their styles. When they get a document that is wrong, they will correct it
without thinking: it's only a couple of clicks.

So "yes", the people who designed this feature are normal, it's one person,
and he is indeed normal, apart from his PhD. They made correct practice the
default.

Of course, when the clamourati screamed, he disabled the feature, which gave
him a little more work.

And the rest of us went back to having to put each document right, again...

Thanks Mate, what an absolute b#lls@t way of doing things.
Are the people who write these codes normal????

Why is the Mac version so different to the PC version???

It makes no sense apart from some nerd trying to give themselves a job for
life

--

The email below is my business email -- Please do not email me about forum
matters unless I ask you to; or unless you intend to pay!

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP (Word, Mac Word), Consultant Technical Writer,
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
Sydney, Australia. | Ph: +61 (0)4 1209 1410
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Michel;

Although effective, this is overkill for this particular change because
there's no need to open the Normal.dotm...

In any blank document go to Format> Style, select Normal, hit the Modify
button & remove the Space After, then tick the checkbox labeled "Add to
Template" before you OK out of the 2 dialogs. The change goes into effect
immediately & will be saved to Normal.dotm when you Quit Word.

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

 

[Phillip Jones, C.E.T.]

Isn't that what double and Triple space items that were in 2004 , for?

In reading a newspaper or book typically the text is in as tight a space
as possible.

The only time I ever saw anyone required to use 1.5, 2, 3 space was
for school or college work where the teacher, instructor needed room in
the spaces to correct mistakes before giving a grade on on a paper.

Just my observation from grizzled 60 year old man.

 

[MC]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard)

This Word for Mac is pathetic! You would expect the Mac version is just the
PC version, but for Mac, but no....it has to be completely different for some
reason that only a pimply faced nerd would understand. <br><br>My issue is
simple, each time I open word up, the &quot;spacing after&quot; is set at 10
pts. I have to change it to a sensible spacing of 0 each time I create a new
document - I am getting majorly annoyed at this application. <br><br>With
the PC version, you can just set the spacing as default, but the programmers
have decided you can do that easily on this version. <br><br>I am sure there
is a very simply way of doing it, but the programmers have just made it
hard!! HOW THE F DO YOU GET IT TO OPEN UP A DOCUMENT WITH NORMAL
SPACING??????????

I feel

your

pain

or

maybe

I

feel

that

you're

a

pain

 

[MC]

The only time I ever saw anyone required to use 1.5, 2, 3 space was
for school or college work where the teacher, instructor needed room in
the spaces to correct mistakes before giving a grade on on a paper.

I use 1.5 or 2.0 it all the time when I'm writing speeches or commercial
copy . Just because you don't need it don't assume other people don't.

 

[Michel Bintener]

Well, Bob, you are right, of course, but you have to agree that my
solution is much more awe-inspiring that yours. ;-)

 

[CyberTaz]

Agreed, although I'm more tempted to use a different term... Perhaps
'intimidating'... Or maybe 'risky' ;-) I'm just a sentimental old fool who
believes in keeping folks out of Normal unless absolutely necessary

Happy Holidays |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac