PowerPoint 2007 Horizontal Lines Slightly Jagged

[Doug F]

When I draw horizontal lines with arrows or any connector, there is always a
point along the line where "jags" down a pixel or less. I have found no way
to get rid of this to get a truly straight horizontal line. I just installed
the latest PowerPoint update package, but the problem is still there. Is this
a bug I have to live with, or is there a way to fix it? Thanks.

 

[LVTravel]

When I draw horizontal lines with arrows or any connector, there is
always a
point along the line where "jags" down a pixel or less. I have found no
way
to get rid of this to get a truly straight horizontal line. I just
installed
the latest PowerPoint update package, but the problem is still there. Is
this
a bug I have to live with, or is there a way to fix it? Thanks.

Simple, hold down the shift key while dragging the line to the desired
length.

If this helps let us know, if it doesn't let us know also.

 

[Gil]

Another option is to set the height of the line to 0. This option might be
preferable instead of deleting and reinserting the line and losing
formatting, grouping, animation, etc.

Gil Segal
www.toolstoo.com

 

[LVTravel]

Yes that method works for those jagged lines already drawn. Thanks Gil to
that tip.

 

[Doug F]

Thank you all for the suggestions. I just checked, and I apologize, but
either I misdiagnosed the original problem, or something has changed.

Today, only elbow connectors have the jaggedness problem. When I try to
straighten them out - i.e., when the two objects they connect are aligned,
either horizontally or vertically, the "jag" occurs at the location of the
yellow-diamond adjustment handle. Moving the handle changes the location of
the jag. It's as if the computation of end point coordinates is off ever so
slightly from one segment of the elbow connector to the other. I just tried
changing a regular straight line (with no jag) to an elbow connector, and as
soon as I did, the jag appeared. I don't remember this ever happening in
PowerPoint 2003.

Thanks - Doug

 

[LVTravel]

Thank you all for the suggestions. I just checked, and I apologize, but
either I misdiagnosed the original problem, or something has changed.

Today, only elbow connectors have the jaggedness problem. When I try to
straighten them out - i.e., when the two objects they connect are
aligned,
either horizontally or vertically, the "jag" occurs at the location of the
yellow-diamond adjustment handle. Moving the handle changes the location
of
the jag. It's as if the computation of end point coordinates is off ever
so
slightly from one segment of the elbow connector to the other. I just
tried
changing a regular straight line (with no jag) to an elbow connector, and
as
soon as I did, the jag appeared. I don't remember this ever happening in
PowerPoint 2003.

Thanks - Doug

Sorry, but I can't seem to duplicate your issue on my PPT 2007 on either
computer it is installed onto.

Describe the exact steps you are using to create you "drawing" and the lines
or connectors you are using. If I, or someone else, can duplicate it that
way then maybe there is a workaround or bug. At least we will know.

 

[Doug F]

Great - here are the steps I just used to create some examples (if there's a
way I could sent you the .pptx file, I'd be happy to)

In case it matters:

Running Windows Vista Ultimate, SP1
on a Dell XPS M1530
monitor is set to 1920 x 1200 pixels

Steps:
1. invoke PowerPoint 2007 from Start
2. set Snap to Grid @ 1/16th inch
2.a note: default weights for all lines is set to 1 pt.
3. set zoom to 400%
4. draw two identical rectangles, aligned verically but separated horizontally
5. select straight line from Shapes, and connect the two inside edges of the
rectangles. Result: no jag.
6. change the end style of the line to have an arrowhead. Result: no jag.
7. move one of the rectangles up, then back down again to be vertially
aligned again. Result: still no jag.
8. draw two more rectangles as in step 4 above.
9. select a straight arrow from Shapes and connect the two inside edges of
the rectangles with it. Result: slight jagging at two locations that divide
the arrow into three approximately equal length segments. the jags go
downward, as you look left to right.
10. move one of the boxes left or right. Result: same jags, but the jag
points move to keep the arrow divided into 3 approximately equal lenth
segments.
11. draw two more rectangles as in step 4 above.
12. select either an elbow connector or elbow arrow connector (results same
for both) from Shapes, and use it to connect the two inside edges. Result:
single jag at the point where the yellow-diamond adjustment handle appears.
If you move the adjustment handle left or right, the jag moves with it. This
single jag appears to have about the same total vertical height as the two
jags that appear when using straight lines or arrows in the previous examples.

Anyway, I hope that helps. Let me know if I can provide more info.

 

[LVTravel]

Great - here are the steps I just used to create some examples (if there's
a
way I could sent you the .pptx file, I'd be happy to)

In case it matters:

Steps:
1. invoke PowerPoint 2007 from Start
2. set Snap to Grid @ 1/16th inch
2.a note: default weights for all lines is set to 1 pt.
3. set zoom to 400%
4. draw two identical rectangles, aligned verically but separated
horizontally
5. select straight line from Shapes, and connect the two inside edges of
the
rectangles. Result: no jag.
6. change the end style of the line to have an arrowhead. Result: no jag.
7. move one of the rectangles up, then back down again to be vertially
aligned again. Result: still no jag.
8. draw two more rectangles as in step 4 above.
9. select a straight arrow from Shapes and connect the two inside edges of
the rectangles with it. Result: slight jagging at two locations that
divide
the arrow into three approximately equal length segments. the jags go
downward, as you look left to right.
10. move one of the boxes left or right. Result: same jags, but the jag
points move to keep the arrow divided into 3 approximately equal lenth
segments.
11. draw two more rectangles as in step 4 above.
12. select either an elbow connector or elbow arrow connector (results
same
for both) from Shapes, and use it to connect the two inside edges. Result:
single jag at the point where the yellow-diamond adjustment handle
appears.
If you move the adjustment handle left or right, the jag moves with it.
This
single jag appears to have about the same total vertical height as the two
jags that appear when using straight lines or arrows in the previous
examples.

Anyway, I hope that helps. Let me know if I can provide more info.

Thanks, I will check it out first opportunity, probably later today (Sat.)

 

[Gil Segal]

I am able to reproduce the problem as Doug described, even with different
grid settings and various line weights.

Gil Segal
www.toolstoo.com

 

[LVTravel]

Believe it or not, I haven't had a good 30 minutes to play with this. Glad
you were able to duplicate. Still haven't had time with all else going on.
Apparently a bug.