Drop cap problem

[Simon2359]

I am using Word 2007 and have this same issue with about two-thirds o
the documents I try to use, and so does a colleague, so it can't be
fault within the documents as they come from numerous differen
sources.
Under a header in 16pt, with a 38pt space afterwards, I want to put
drop cap on the first letter of the next line, which is in 11.5pt wit
no indentation, spaces before or after etc etc. The font is Aldine401B
although I'm sure that's not relevant.
The drop cap option is greyed out, though.
If I put a return before the line I want to start with a drop cap, I ca
then access the drop cap facility.
However, the additional line defaults to 22pt for no apparent reason an
I can't delete it. If I try to delete it, that extra line shifts int
the text box created for the drop cap, leaves the one letter of the dro
cap isolated on a line by itself and shifts everything else downwards
which is useless.
Leaving aside the issue of why Microsoft ever thought this would be
good idea, can anyone give some guidance of how to get rid of thi
annoying problem

 

[Stefan Blom]

I'm not sure I completely understand the issue you are describing, but I'm going
to offer some observations...

Note that the text paragraph must have at least one character of text; otherwise
you can't add drop cap formatting.

Also, when Word creates a drop cap, it makes use of a frame into which it places
the dropped character and adjusts its size and line spacing to fit the option
you selected for the drop cap. When editing the text, carefully make sure that
you don't place the insertion inside the frame, as anything added to the frame
will inherit the font size and line spacing specified for the drop cap.

--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP




"Simon2359" wrote in message

I am using Word 2007 and have this same issue with about two-thirds of
the documents I try to use, and so does a colleague, so it can't be a
fault within the documents as they come from numerous different
sources.
Under a header in 16pt, with a 38pt space afterwards, I want to put a
drop cap on the first letter of the next line, which is in 11.5pt with
no indentation, spaces before or after etc etc. The font is Aldine401BT
although I'm sure that's not relevant.
The drop cap option is greyed out, though.
If I put a return before the line I want to start with a drop cap, I can
then access the drop cap facility.
However, the additional line defaults to 22pt for no apparent reason and
I can't delete it. If I try to delete it, that extra line shifts into
the text box created for the drop cap, leaves the one letter of the drop
cap isolated on a line by itself and shifts everything else downwards,
which is useless.
Leaving aside the issue of why Microsoft ever thought this would be a
good idea, can anyone give some guidance of how to get rid of this
annoying problem?

 

[Simon2359]

Yes, the text paragraph has loads of characters of text.
What you write makes sense, but if it doesn't even allow me to create
drop cap in the first place, there is no frame.
I have found a way round it but it is ludicrously stupid to have to d
it this way :
1. Remove all formatting from the heading
2. Add an extra 'return' before the paragraph that I want to start wit
a Drop cap.
3. Now it lets me create a drop cap.
4. Because I no longer want the extra return, I need to delete one, bu
if I delete the one I added, everything screws up, so I need to delet
the one before the additional one I placed.
5. Only then can I format the heading.
Like I said, it is like this in countless different documents created o
other PCs and the same problem exists for the colleague of mine at th
next desk.

;493262']I'm not sure I completely understand the issue you ar
describing, but I'm going
to offer some observations...

Note that the text paragraph must have at least one character of text
otherwise
you can't add drop cap formatting.

Also, when Word creates a drop cap, it makes use of a frame into whic
it places
the dropped character and adjusts its size and line spacing to fit th
option
you selected for the drop cap. When editing the text, carefully mak
sure that
you don't place the insertion inside the frame, as anything added to th
frame
will inherit the font size and line spacing specified for the drop cap.

--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP




"Simon2359" wrote in message

I am using Word 2007 and have this same issue with about two-thirds of
the documents I try to use, and so does a colleague, so it can't be a
fault within the documents as they come from numerous different
sources.
Under a header in 16pt, with a 38pt space afterwards, I want to put a
drop cap on the first letter of the next line, which is in 11.5pt with
no indentation, spaces before or after etc etc. The font is Aldine401BT
although I'm sure that's not relevant.
The drop cap option is greyed out, though.
If I put a return before the line I want to start with a drop cap,
can
then access the drop cap facility.
However, the additional line defaults to 22pt for no apparent reaso
and
I can't delete it. If I try to delete it, that extra line shifts into
the text box created for the drop cap, leaves the one letter of th
drop
cap isolated on a line by itself and shifts everything else downwards,
which is useless.
Leaving aside the issue of why Microsoft ever thought this would be a
good idea, can anyone give some guidance of how to get rid of this
annoying problem?

 

[Stefan Blom]

I can't explain why you have to do steps 1--2. I'd have to take a look at the
document on order to tell for sure.

I can explain the problem with deleting, though: It's because each frame is
anchored to a paragraph, and deleting the anchor paragraph will also delete the
frame.

To see what is going on, you should display text boundaries and object anchors.
With text boundaries displayed, it will be easier to see the frame boundaries.
When the insertion point is inside the frame, you'll see the anchor symbol next
to the paragraph to which it is anchored.

You'll find "Text boundaries" in the Advanced category of the Word Options
dialog box. The "Object anchors" option is in the Display category of the same
dialog.

--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP




"Simon2359" wrote in message
Yes, the text paragraph has loads of characters of text.
What you write makes sense, but if it doesn't even allow me to create a
drop cap in the first place, there is no frame.
I have found a way round it but it is ludicrously stupid to have to do
it this way :
1. Remove all formatting from the heading
2. Add an extra 'return' before the paragraph that I want to start with
a Drop cap.
3. Now it lets me create a drop cap.
4. Because I no longer want the extra return, I need to delete one, but
if I delete the one I added, everything screws up, so I need to delete
the one before the additional one I placed.
5. Only then can I format the heading.
Like I said, it is like this in countless different documents created on
other PCs and the same problem exists for the colleague of mine at the
next desk.

;493262']I'm not sure I completely understand the issue you are
describing, but I'm going
to offer some observations...

Note that the text paragraph must have at least one character of text;
otherwise
you can't add drop cap formatting.

Also, when Word creates a drop cap, it makes use of a frame into which
it places
the dropped character and adjusts its size and line spacing to fit the
option
you selected for the drop cap. When editing the text, carefully make
sure that
you don't place the insertion inside the frame, as anything added to the
frame
will inherit the font size and line spacing specified for the drop cap.

--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP




"Simon2359" wrote in message

I am using Word 2007 and have this same issue with about two-thirds of
the documents I try to use, and so does a colleague, so it can't be a
fault within the documents as they come from numerous different
sources.
Under a header in 16pt, with a 38pt space afterwards, I want to put a
drop cap on the first letter of the next line, which is in 11.5pt with
no indentation, spaces before or after etc etc. The font is Aldine401BT
although I'm sure that's not relevant.
The drop cap option is greyed out, though.
If I put a return before the line I want to start with a drop cap, I
can
then access the drop cap facility.
However, the additional line defaults to 22pt for no apparent reason
and
I can't delete it. If I try to delete it, that extra line shifts into
the text box created for the drop cap, leaves the one letter of the
drop
cap isolated on a line by itself and shifts everything else downwards,
which is useless.
Leaving aside the issue of why Microsoft ever thought this would be a
good idea, can anyone give some guidance of how to get rid of this
annoying problem?