drawing and formatting lines

[TimB]

Word 2007 -- trying to draw a simple, compound line in a document. "Format
AutoShape" dialogue has the "line style" field grayed out. I can't find
anywhere to apply different line style. Can someone direct me?

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

The Line Style button is active only when a line is selected. You don't
select the style before you draw the line but after, while it is still
selected. Yeah, it's counterintuitive, but that's the way it works.

 

[TimB]

Sorry to be so thick, but I still don't get it. I draw a line; I select it
and right click, choosing "format autoshape" from the context menu. The line
style drop-down is still gray. I must be missing something.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

I have no explanation for this, then.

 

[CyberTaz]

I'm a bit confused by what I perceive as a contradiction in terms in your
original post - what do you mean by a _simple_ _compound_ line? Is it simple
or is it compound?

Regardless, the Line Tools in 2007 actually produce *Connectors* to which
Style changes cannot be applied. Oddly enough, if you use the Arc tool you
can change the Style of the Arc, but a straight "line" - not so much. I'm
not sure, but I think it's because the lines are now created by a new
graphics generator which may not be quite ready for prime time as yet... At
least I hope there are improvements ahead.

Although they're all still classified as such they aren't really
conventional "autoshapes". If you draw a regular rectangle or oval you
*can*- change the line style. One of the tip-offs: If the "shape" has round
green handles you can't change the style, if it has a bounding box with
square blue handles you [usually] can.

Another classic case of "One step forward, two steps back"... Someone should
write a song

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

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

By "compound line" I understood TimB to mean the sort of line you get if you
use AutoShapes | Line | Freeform and click to draw segments, and that is
actually pretty simple to do.

I'm a bit confused by what I perceive as a contradiction in terms in your
original post - what do you mean by a _simple_ _compound_ line? Is it simple
or is it compound?

Regardless, the Line Tools in 2007 actually produce *Connectors* to which
Style changes cannot be applied. Oddly enough, if you use the Arc tool you
can change the Style of the Arc, but a straight "line" - not so much. I'm
not sure, but I think it's because the lines are now created by a new
graphics generator which may not be quite ready for prime time as yet... At
least I hope there are improvements ahead.

Although they're all still classified as such they aren't really
conventional "autoshapes". If you draw a regular rectangle or oval you
*can*- change the line style. One of the tip-offs: If the "shape" has round
green handles you can't change the style, if it has a bounding box with
square blue handles you [usually] can.

Another classic case of "One step forward, two steps back"... Someone should
write a song

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

Sorry to be so thick, but I still don't get it. I draw a line; I select it
and right click, choosing "format autoshape" from the context menu. The line
style drop-down is still gray. I must be missing something.

 

[TimB]

Oh yeah, and to clarify: I meant a "simple" task to create a "compound" line.
: )

I'm a bit confused by what I perceive as a contradiction in terms in your
original post - what do you mean by a _simple_ _compound_ line? Is it simple
or is it compound?

Regardless, the Line Tools in 2007 actually produce *Connectors* to which
Style changes cannot be applied. Oddly enough, if you use the Arc tool you
can change the Style of the Arc, but a straight "line" - not so much. I'm
not sure, but I think it's because the lines are now created by a new
graphics generator which may not be quite ready for prime time as yet... At
least I hope there are improvements ahead.

Although they're all still classified as such they aren't really
conventional "autoshapes". If you draw a regular rectangle or oval you
*can*- change the line style. One of the tip-offs: If the "shape" has round
green handles you can't change the style, if it has a bounding box with
square blue handles you [usually] can.

Another classic case of "One step forward, two steps back"... Someone should
write a song

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

Sorry to be so thick, but I still don't get it. I draw a line; I select it
and right click, choosing "format autoshape" from the context menu. The line
style drop-down is still gray. I must be missing something.

 

[TimB]

Thanks. As usual, Microsoft has released another "cludge" and called it "an
upgrade." I am so angry about Office 2007, I can't find "G" or "PG" - rated
language to express myself.

I'm a bit confused by what I perceive as a contradiction in terms in your
original post - what do you mean by a _simple_ _compound_ line? Is it simple
or is it compound?

Regardless, the Line Tools in 2007 actually produce *Connectors* to which
Style changes cannot be applied. Oddly enough, if you use the Arc tool you
can change the Style of the Arc, but a straight "line" - not so much. I'm
not sure, but I think it's because the lines are now created by a new
graphics generator which may not be quite ready for prime time as yet... At
least I hope there are improvements ahead.

Although they're all still classified as such they aren't really
conventional "autoshapes". If you draw a regular rectangle or oval you
*can*- change the line style. One of the tip-offs: If the "shape" has round
green handles you can't change the style, if it has a bounding box with
square blue handles you [usually] can.

Another classic case of "One step forward, two steps back"... Someone should
write a song

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

Sorry to be so thick, but I still don't get it. I draw a line; I select it
and right click, choosing "format autoshape" from the context menu. The line
style drop-down is still gray. I must be missing something.