Recent strange behavior in Headers and Footers

[MichaelQ]

I have created new documents and added Headers and Footers to them with auto
text which is usually filename and page X of Y. When I go back to the doc to
edit or add further text I find I am unable to place the cursor other than in
front of my previously entered auto text. It just moves to the top of the
Header or footer and any text I enter is not where I want it.
The same applies to documents made years ago.

I am using Word Mac 2008 Version 12.2.0. Latest installed update 12.2.1.
Most of my docs were created in Windows MS Word 2004?? i am running Word in
Compatibility mode.

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Michael;

The editable Header & Footer 'boxes' each are essentially miniature
documents, so editing them should be pretty much the same as editing any
other text. Whenever you revisit a Header/Footer it's typical that the
insertion point go to the beginning of the Header... Just like the insertion
point goes to the very beginning of the text when you first open a document.

You should then be able to edit & revise anywhere within the existing
content, keeping in mind that the file name, page number & total number of
pages each actually are inserted as fields rather than literal text. Just
like any other text, though, you can't just randomly click in any "blank
space" beyond the existing content ‹ this is where I'm having difficulty
visualizing what's happening. Although it's apparent you aren't getting what
you expect, what you are getting isn't quite as clear to me

Do you have the non-printing characters (¶) displayed? If not, toggle them
on by keying Command+8 or by using the ¶ button on the Standard Toolbar so
you can better see what the situation is. Also, go into Word Preferences>
View & set the Field Shading to Always. Reply back with a description of
what shading & characters you're seeing, where & how you're attempting to
place the insertion point relative to them, and exactly what is happening
when you try navigate or revise.

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

 

[MichaelQ]

Hello Bob,

Thank you for your assistance and I am sorry I was not available to respond
immediately.
Yes, I have non-printing characters displayed and I am operating in Print
Layout View.
My default Preferences have Field Shading at Always.

The field code {FILENAME} appears in the header and it appears as a greyed
shaded box which is quite normal. The same applies to the footer where I have
the Page {PAGE} of {NUMPAGES} Field Code and it appears to be quite normal
and greyed. I am able to toggle both fields in the Header and in the Footer
and I am able to show the relevant data - i.e. the full Document Name and
Page of Pages.
BTW if I save the document, then close it and subsequently open it, both of
the fields return to their raw state i.e. the Field Codes and not the data
they refer to. This applies to all field codes in the document and I must
individually toggle them to be able to see the relevant information. The same
applies to a randomly selected number of all the thousands of documents in my
data base.

In the past I have always been able to insert a return after the previously
inserted Field Code and add more data to either the header of footer. However
that is now not possible because the cursor will not remain behind the field
code - it moves to the front as soon as I release the cursor. I must either
delete the field code and then add the data before re-entering the field code.

As previously mentioned I am new to Office Mac but have been using Windows
Mac since the 1980s and I look forward to hearing a solution to the problem.

 

[CyberTaz]

Without any specifics about the document's origin & the manner in which the
H/F were created it's difficult to be certain, but I'm betting that the
fields were inserted using one of the 'convenience' tools in Word 2007 or
2008 which insert special H/F controls or that the document is based on a
custom template that includes the H/F. Possibly originating on a PC?

As for editing, when you click next to one of the codes does the adjacent
field highlight? If so, try pressing the End key or the right/left arrow
keys depending on where you want to enter content. Or if there is a ¶ below
the field click there instead of on the same line as the fields.

Even if that does work, the facts that it only happens in certain documents
& that those files don't retain the codes being toggled off suggests to me
that those files are suffering from some degree of corruption. You might
want to try the suggested fixes here:

http://word.mvps.org/Mac/DocumentCorruption.html

I'm thinking that Procedure #2 or #1 might resolve it unless there is
sectional corruption. If that's the case you may have better luck with
Procedure #4 although it's more time consuming.

Good Luck |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[MichaelQ]

Hello Bob,
I was not clear in my description of the extent of the problem. I meant to
say I have thousands of documents (mainly created in Windows Word) and have
randomly checked on about twenty of them and found the strange behavior in
all of them. That same behavior applies to all new documents created in Word
mac 2008. If there is a corruption it would appear that it applies to all of
the thousands of my documents. I felt that it is a Preferences issue because
it involves all Field Codes and all Hyperlinks in all documents. But I accede
to your far greater knowledge and experience.

I have tried the the first three procedures in Document Corruption to no
effect.

My procedure for creating the headers and footers is to open a new document
clicking on the header space selecting Insert, Auto-text, Filename. The same
procedure applies to footers. If I am inserting Hyperlinks they are usually
pasted in from web pages, using copy paste.

When I click on a field code in the header or footer the cursor moves to the
front of the code and it does not alter its appearance in any way. If I click
on a field code in the body of the document the cursor stays in place and if
I toggle it will show the relevant data. If I save and close and then re-open
the field will remain in its raw state. This behavior applies to all
documents in my data base.

Thank you for your on-going support.

Regards

 

[CyberTaz]

Based on your further description it sounds like it could very well be
Preferences or - more likely - Normal.dotm may be at fault. Follow the
guidelines here, making sure that all MS apps are quit before you do:

http://word.mvps.org/mac/MacWordNormal.html

http://word.mvps.org/Mac/DamagedPrefs.html

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

 

[MichaelQ]

Hello Bob,

I worked through your suggestions to no avail. However I did discover that
the Normal.dotm was not in My Templates because it was actually in User
Templates. I moved it to My Templates and then began testing various docs.
The strange behavior has disappeared and all appears to be OK again. I am
able to edit in headers and footers and field codes and links are acting as
they should.

I have stumbled on the fix because of the depth of assistance provided by
you. Thank you very much.

 

[CyberTaz]

The User Templates folder is exactly where it should have been as indicated
in one of the links in my previous reply By moving it to a different
location you've forced Word to create a new Normal.dotm & since all now
seems to be well you should delete the old one - apparently it was corrupt &
is what was causing the problems.

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