Help -Word 2003 formatting is off

[pd]

Hello - I have Windows xp clients in a Windows client /server environment
with Word 2003 with no updates. Two of the clients, when they open a word doc
with tables and centered text, open the file and it looks fine. When I open
the same word doc on another machine the formatting is off. Let me explain -
the table has text in teh top row of the table in each box (I hope I am
saying this correctly) and for some reason the text in each box wraps around
to the second line. The tables look fine but the text in the boxes should all
be on the first line. The other clients on the network have no problem with
this same word doc. Also, above the table is a 4 line heading that is
centered. But one of the lines is off to the right. Could these be related?
Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Gordon Bentley-Mix at news.microsoft.com]

My first thought is a problem with styles...

It could be that the document is set to automatically update styles (Tools |
Templates and Add-ins... 'Automatically update document styles' checkbox on
the 'Templates' tab) and that the style definition for the styles in these
problem areas is different for the template associated with this document
(Normal.dot?) on the troublesome machine. It's a document-specific setting,
so changing it in the "record copy" of the document should fix the problem.
You might also consider modifying the style on the problem machine to match
the standard - assuming there is one, and keeping in mind that the users will
probably just change it back again after you're gone. ;-P

Note that just about _every_ Word "expert" I've ever run into always
_strongly_ recommends NEVER setting a document to automatically update styles
- advice that I've certainly taken to heart after being bitten like this a
few too many times. The general recommendation is that the use of this
feature should be limited to simply turning it on when necessary and then
_immediately_ turning it off again.
--
Cheers!

Gordon Bentley-Mix
Word MVP

Please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup.

Read the original version of this post in the Office Discussion Groups - no
membership required!

 

[DeanH]

In addition to Mr Bentley-Mix's comments (which I concur with entirely) the
following could also be the reason for your problem, opening the same file on
different machines can causes formatting and pagination differences due to
Word using the default printer on the particalur machine as it basis for page
settings.
These could be such as; the printer is setup for different page settings and
even different fonts that are printable, etc. So bear this in mind when
verying documents at different stations.
All the best
DeanH

 

[Gordon Bentley-Mix at news.microsoft.com]

Thanks Dean. I'd forgotten about printer settings. (And just "Gordon" will
do; "Mr Bentley-Mix" makes me feel old. ;-p)
--
Cheers!

Gordon Bentley-Mix
Word MVP

Please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup.

Read the original version of this post in the Office Discussion Groups - no
membership required!

 

[DeanH]

This always gives me greif because I work with many home-workers and the
different printers being used makes my mind boggle. So I tend to PDF to
ensure the client sees what I want them to see.

Gordon, I try to be polite when I first talk to people, it is later on when
I get into trouble ;-)
Ciao
DeanH

 

[Doug Robbins - Word MVP on news.microsoft.com]

Do all of the computers have the same printer selected in Word as the active
printer and do they all have the same version of the printer driver. The
way in which Word displays a document is dependent upon the active
Printer/Printer Driver.

--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP, originally posted via msnews.microsoft.com