Online View

[brinded]

I've been working in Word X for many years, mainly using 'Online View'
- I like the way it avoids page breaks so I can concentrate on the
flow of the text, rather than worry about appearance or formatting.

However, I've just switched to 2004 and it's different. The page width
now varies depending on how far you stretch the corners to fit the
screen: text now wraps to fit chosen width. It used to look like a
standard width sheet of paper, with blue borders on either side.
Borders are now gone (unless you're in 'Page Layout'.)

Is there any way to keep the width constant and get those borders
back?

It's just that when I have it fully stretched to fit the screen, it
looks off - too much text per line (if that makes any sense?)

I realise I could adjust the window corners, but then my desktop (with
all its clutter) would show behind it.

thanks in advance.

 

[Clive Huggan]

I've been working in Word X for many years, mainly using 'Online View'
- I like the way it avoids page breaks so I can concentrate on the
flow of the text, rather than worry about appearance or formatting.

However, I've just switched to 2004 and it's different. The page width
now varies depending on how far you stretch the corners to fit the
screen: text now wraps to fit chosen width.

That's right.

It used to look like a
standard width sheet of paper, with blue borders on either side.
Borders are now gone (unless you're in 'Page Layout'.)

Is there any way to keep the width constant and get those borders
back?

How about Normal view, with the right-hand edge of the window containing
some white space?

It's just that when I have it fully stretched to fit the screen, it
looks off - too much text per line (if that makes any sense?)

No, it doesn't ... ;-)

I realise I could adjust the window corners, but then my desktop (with
all its clutter) would show behind it.

Not sure what you want here either.

I suspect your best bet is Normal view, then choose View menu => Zoom =>
Zoom to: Page width, then nominate the percentage. Once you have the
settings you want, open the Normal template, set that and save.

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)
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[brinded]

I suspect your best bet is Normal view, then choose View menu => Zoom =>
Zoom to: Page width, then nominate the percentage. Once you have the
settings you want, open the Normal template, set that and save.

Clive,
thanks for the suggestion - I gave it a try - but on my screen 'zoom
to fit' ends up giving me 220% with characters as large as tea mugs.
But it does look interesting If I reduce the zoom to a level
suitable for non-myopics, then all the text gloms over to the left
hand side, leaving a vast expanse of white screen to the right. (as
you mentioned it would).

What I'm really looking for is 'Page Layout' without it showing the
page breaks - which is what 'Online' used to show (X), but no longer
does (2004). 'Online' used to be the equivalent of looking at a
typewriter with a single scroll of paper (à la Kerouac) - it was
perfect.

Anyway, thanks again. I'm thinking I might revert to the old - better
the devil you know.

 

[brinded]

Thanks Bob, comments appreciated.

And I can't help
wondering why anyone would prefer to work in a view primarily intended for
creating web pages - a task for which Word is arguably not the best choice
in the first place

agreed - although I have no interest in Web layout - just want to work
with a (virtual) continuous scroll of paper rather than pages.

But if On Line View is what you want, have you tried looking in the View
Menu? Just because there isn't a button grouped with the others doesn't mean
it isn't still available. I never use it & haven't worked with Word v.X in
roughly 100 years, but AFAIK it still works the same way.

I'm in 2004 now, no longer v.X

 

[brinded]

just wondering - is there a way in 'Page Layout' to con it into
displaying a page that is several feet long?

that would be an ideal work around.

 

[brinded]

It works!

I just went into page layout and made a custom size that's height 90".

Appears exactly the way my old favourite 'Online' used to.

Now I'll have to be careful when I tell it to print.