Inconsistencies with rules in notebook layout view [Word 2008]

[Jeff Chapman]

Hello all,

I've noticed in Word 2008 that when you start up a new file in notebook
layout view, type a paragraph, and then press RETURN, the baselines of the
text of the SECOND paragraph don't line up properly with the notebook rules
(i.e. blue horizontal lines on the page).

However, when you then finish the second paragraph and type RETURN again,
the baselines of the text of the THIRD paragraph do line up correctly with
the notebook rules.

I know that you can change the height of the notebook rules in the
formatting palette; but this just plain looks bad, to see that every other
paragraph doesn't properly line up with the notebook rule lines.

I've noticed that when you switch from notebook layout view to print layout
view, and then edit the paragraph spacing of the Normal style, the paragraph
spacing on the notebook layout view text will likewise change. (Ironically,
though, while you're in notebook layout view, there is no option on the
formatting palette to change anything regarding the paragraph spacing at all
- the option disappears from the palette.)

Has anyone else noticed this inconsistency? Does anyone have any workarounds
for this? I sent feedback regarding the matter to Microsoft, but getting a
solution to the problem is another matter entirely...

Jeff Chapman

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Jeff -

I haven't seen this happen in any situation where the default formatting for
line spacing & space before/after paragraphs has not been modified. If the
Note Level styles have been changed - especially to remove the "paras of
same style" attribute, what you describe is not only possible, it's
inevitable. Font size changes can also cause the baseline to get out of
kilter, thus calling for adjustments to the Rule Lines Distance parameter.

What you notice about the lack of such settings in Notebook Layout View is
accurate based on the intended/expected workflow. Formatting would typically
be the last thing on my mind when taking *notes* I.E., accumulating notes
in that view then switching to Draft and/or Print Layout in order to convert
to a distributable document. I don't believe it's intended to swap back &
forth into Notebook Layout because of the impact on document structure. I'm
not an authority on its use by any means, but that's been my impression ever
since I became familiar with the feature in Word 2004.

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

 

[Jeff Chapman]

Thanks, Bob, for your help. I decided to trash the Normal.dotm template and
start from scratch. It took me a little time to figure out where the Word
template is stored (the MVP site was a great big help -
http://word.mvps.org/mac/MacWordNormal.html#Find), delete the default
template and then try things out, but I got it to work this time.

What I do find curious is the fact that document styles can't be edited in
Notebook Layout mode... and when they are edited by switching to Print
Layout mode and then returning to Notebook Layout, the text may no longer
line up with the rule lines. But that's probably just because the
development team didn't design notebook layout mode with that sort of user
in mind. Notebook Layout mode seems to be designed for users who just want
to type and not worry about styles or anything else. (Ah, the simplicity. A
breath of fresh air...)

At any rate, I think that the notebook layout mode is kind of cute - it's
something that Word 2007 doesn't offer, and you've got to have OneNote for a
similar experience on Windows. ...Although I do suppose that Word 95-2007
users can change the document grid settings to enable the text rule lines.
Of course, if you change the paragraph line spacing, we run into the same
problem where the baseline of the text may not line up with the rules. A
necessary evil, I imagine...

Jeff