Document hops from one screen to another

[BDMSB]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: intel

I use two monitors. I keep notes on the secondary screen while I run other programs on the main screen. When other programs close windows on the main screen, Word 2008 spontaneously moves it's window from the secondary screen to the top left corner of the main screen, and sets the width to half the page. It does this repeatedly, making such use intolerably annoying.

 

[John McGhie]

Yeah, it's a "Bug"

Word 2008 is incompatible with Spaces and Expose. That's another bug (or a
different effect of the same bug). If you use either, expect high
entertainment.

While you are waiting for a fix, you may wish to use Help>Send Feedback to
tell Microsoft about this. What you are reporting is a slightly different
manifestation of what I assume are the bugs they are already working on.

Cheers

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: intel

I use two monitors. I keep notes on the secondary screen while I run other
programs on the main screen. When other programs close windows on the main
screen, Word 2008 spontaneously moves it's window from the secondary screen to
the top left corner of the main screen, and sets the width to half the page.
It does this repeatedly, making such use intolerably annoying.

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Sydney, Australia. S33°53'34.20 E151°14'54.50
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]

 

[BDMSB]

I have reported my problems with dual screens to Microsoft Tech Support. Here is their reply. He is claiming that it is the OS that chooses to move an open document window from a secondary screen to the main screen at arbitrary times. I am shocked that the people working at Microsoft tech support can be so uninformed.

Bryan unfortunately display is controlled by the OS and if you do not want the program to run in the primary display then you would need to speak with Apple on how to manage dual display control and preferences this not controlled by the software but by the OS.

 

[Clive Huggan]

I have reported my problems with dual screens to Microsoft Tech Support.

That won't result in the people in Microsoft's Mac Business Unit receiving
your feedback. Use the link on the Help menu. It definitely does get seen
by someone who can progress it.

Here
is their reply. He is claiming that it is the OS that chooses to move an open
document window from a secondary screen to the main screen at arbitrary times.
I am shocked that the people working at Microsoft tech support can be so
uninformed.

Experience will eventually leave you quite unfazed on that point... ;-)


Cheers,

Clive Huggan
Canberra, Australia
(My time zone is 5-11 hours different from North America and Europe, so my
follow-on responses to those regions can be delayed)
====================================================

 

[BDMSB]

Experience will eventually leave you quite unfazed on that point... ;-)

You might be right, except for the fact that I have learned my lesson. I've never bothered to ask Microsoft tech support anything before, so I thought I would use this opportunity. I won't waste my time again. But I found your comment very clever and humorous.

 

[BDMSB]

I was finally able to convince MicroSoft tech support that it was a flaw in Word 2008. Their email today:

----------

I have passed all your information on to developer and they are still investigating the issue. At this time there is no resolution to your issue. They have suggested as a work around in the mean time to keep Word in your primary window. They have also stated that if there is a resolution found that it will be released in the form of an update or service pack for the software so to keep performing your updates when they become available.

I do apologize that we were not able to resolve your issue but it is now being investigated further.

What I will do at this time is close your case as not resolved and set the case as a free incident.

 

[Clive Huggan]

I think that's a good outcome in the circumstances, BDMS. I expect the MacBU
people will put a high priority on it, especially as it will affect sales
once the word gets around. I've added this (now I know about it) to the
reasons why I won't be moving from Word 2004 for a while; I often work with
4 or 5 documents open, on a 17" PowerBook and a 23" cinema display, and the
last thing I can afford is to have to use one screen.

Thank you for posting their response!

Cheers,

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

 

[John McGhie]

I am sorry, we should have made clear that this is a KNOWN BUG that has been
investigated and scheduled for fix.

There is probably not a lot of point in ringing Tech Support: they mainly
deal with PC problems, and they are out of the loop as far as the Mac
applications are concerned. Microsoft is a very large company: unless you
work within Mac Business Unit, you won't have much information on the
happenings in the Macintosh area of Microsoft

The MVPs are talking every day to the development engineers who make the
product, and they visit these forums themselves almost every day. The man
to look out for in here is Curt Laird, he has taken ownership of THIS forum,
since he's in charge of testing Word

My understanding is that the Microsoft engineers who are working on this bug
have already fixed it. It's a problem with the way Spaces operates. It's
not quite doing what Apple said it should.

As soon as Apple fixes their end (and it has been tested to ensure it
doesn't break anything else) Microsoft will be able to release their fix.

Cheers

I was finally able to convince MicroSoft tech support that it was a flaw in
Word 2008. Their email today:

----------

I have passed all your information on to developer and they are still
investigating the issue. At this time there is no resolution to your issue.
They have suggested as a work around in the mean time to keep Word in your
primary window. They have also stated that if there is a resolution found that
it will be released in the form of an update or service pack for the software
so to keep performing your updates when they become available.

I do apologize that we were not able to resolve your issue but it is now being
investigated further.

What I will do at this time is close your case as not resolved and set the
case as a free incident.

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Sydney, Australia. S33°53'34.20 E151°14'54.50
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]

 

[BDMSB]

What is "Spaces"? Or "Expose" for that matter?

And does anyone else find this Microsoft forum nearly impenetrable? When I go to the "home" for Word I can see nearly nothing of other peoples questions or postings. I can see only five"Newest Questions" and I swear the "Newest Answers" don't change. "Small dot in left margin" has been there for weeks. I guess it's not set up for browsing, only for searching. So how does anyone see a question to offer help or an answer?

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Spaces is a OS 10.5 feature that lets you pin certain apps to certain
spaces--e.g, your web-browsing space, your doing-work space. Exposé is
an OS X feature that lets you quickly see all open windows at once, and
various other things.

There is a very small "Website Feedback" link at the bottom of the page.
Please use it, totally agree with you. You may prefer the Google Groups
interface--it reaches the same place:
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.mac.office.word/topics

Re your specific questions--

Newest Answers only changes if people actually take the time to click
the "did this answer your question?" link, and flag posts as an official
Answer.

Only showing 5 Newest Questions is an incomprehensible decision. A lot
of the people offering help are using newsreaders (so it looks pretty
much like email) and the newsreaders download all the messages, so those
people see all questions. People using Google groups see all questions..
But basically no one using Mactopia is even given the option to help
other people.

 

[John McGhie]

Yes, it annoys the hell out of me, too. So I do not go there at all.

I come in directly, through Entourage, as described here: "Access via
Newsreaders". http://word.mvps.org/Mac/AccessNewsgroups.html

I appreciate that the Mactopia web interface has made help accessible to a
lot more people, really I do.

But for those of us trying to OFFER that help, it's a real dog's breakfast.
It has been "designed to fail" in so many ways

But that's OK. The main purpose of Mactopia is for users to be able to
easily access the resource. Those of us who have been around a while can
use alternative access methods, as described by Daiya and myself

Cheers

What is "Spaces"? Or "Expose" for that matter?

And does anyone else find this Microsoft forum nearly impenetrable? When I go
to the "home" for Word I can see nearly nothing of other peoples questions or
postings. I can see only five"Newest Questions" and I swear the "Newest
Answers" don't change. "Small dot in left margin" has been there for weeks. I
guess it's not set up for browsing, only for searching. So how does anyone see
a question to offer help or an answer?

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Sydney, Australia. S33°53'34.20 E151°14'54.50
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]