Set minimum spacing before/after paragraph

P

Paul

In Word 2003, the spacing between paragraphs seems to be the sum of
the the following:
* The spacing after the preceding paragrapph
* The spacing before the next paragraph

Instead summing the two figures, is there a way to specify that the
*minimum* spacing after a paragraph, or the *minimum* spacing before a
paragraph? For example, if the space-after for the last paragraph is
less then the space-before the next paragraph, then the space-before
the next paragraph is used. But the two are not added.

This seems like it would make much more sense than the current summing
that is used. For example, for a bullet style paragraph, I know how
much space I need between bullets, which I can set as the space-before
the bullet style. However, the first bullet after a Heading 1 may
need more space, as dictated by the space-after for the Heading 1
style. I wouldn't want to add the two, because the space-before the
first bullet is immaterial in this situation.
 
P

Peter T. Daniels

Why wouldn't you use Space After for spacing your bullet items?

Also: How did you post this query? I'm seeing it in the newsgroup (via
google groups), and there have been no postings here in the last four
days -- apparently Microsoft finally made good on their threat to
sever their help assistance from the newsgroups available to the rest
of the world.
 
S

Stefan Blom

By default, recent versions of Word set the distance between two paragraphs to
whichever value of Spacing After and Spacing Before is the larger one. This can
be controlled via the compatibility option called "Don't use HTML paragraph auto
spacing" in Tools | Options, Compatibility tab. If the option is *cleared*, Word
sums the two distances.

There is also an option (in the Modify Style dialog box, click Format,
Paragraph) called "Don't add space between paragraphs of the same style" that is
relevant in this context.
 
S

Suzanne S. Barnhill

He's posting through Eternal September, as am I.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

Why wouldn't you use Space After for spacing your bullet items?

Also: How did you post this query? I'm seeing it in the newsgroup (via
google groups), and there have been no postings here in the last four
days -- apparently Microsoft finally made good on their threat to
sever their help assistance from the newsgroups available to the rest
of the world.
 
G

Graham Mayor

As far as Microsoft is concerned the Word groups are gone and removed from
their server. They should remain available via Google Groups and probably a
number of other web portals, but if you wish to access via a news server,
you will need an account with an alternative text based news server. Your
ISP may provide a news feed, or you can use a third party one such as
eternal-september.org or albasani.net - http://www.gmayor.com/MSNews.htm

If you want to stick with Microsoft there is a new Answers forum, which has
so far done nothing but disappoint - though I suppose Microsoft may get it
right one day :( You can post to that with newsreading software by using a
bridge such as that at http://communitybridge.codeplex.com/ or directly via
the forum
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/officeword

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP


<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>



Why wouldn't you use Space After for spacing your bullet items?

Also: How did you post this query? I'm seeing it in the newsgroup (via
google groups), and there have been no postings here in the last four
days -- apparently Microsoft finally made good on their threat to
sever their help assistance from the newsgroups available to the rest
of the world.
 
P

Peter T. Daniels

I've been using google groups since my second posting (having somehow
discovered that the place I asked my question at MS was somehow a
newsgroup), so there's no question of sticking with MS!
 
G

Graham Mayor

The new MS Answers forums are definitely not newsgroups.
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/officeword

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP


<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>


I've been using google groups since my second posting (having somehow
discovered that the place I asked my question at MS was somehow a
newsgroup), so there's no question of sticking with MS!
 
P

Peter T. Daniels

You said it's "done nothing but disappoint."

The new MS Answers forums are definitely not newsgroups.http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/officeword

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor -  Word MVP

My web sitewww.gmayor.com
Word MVP web sitehttp://word.mvps.org
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

I've been using google groups since my second posting (having somehow
discovered that the place I asked my question at MS was somehow a
newsgroup), so there's no question of sticking with MS!
Click to expand...
 
G

Graham Mayor

It has certainly disappointed me - but see for yourself. It can only get
better ... and as far as Microsoft discussions are concerned it will become
the only viable game in town.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP


<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>


You said it's "done nothing but disappoint."
 
P

Paul

I'm a big fan of open-type access to groups. So I'm glad to know that
this pseudonewgroup will continue even though M$ doesn't perpetuate it
on their servers.
 
P

Paul

Ideally, I can specify space-before and space-after, and Word would
space two paragraphs apart according to the larger of:
* Space-after for preceding paragraph
* Space-before for succeeding paragraph

This way, I get the following:

* If I got (say) a bullet list after a heading 2, I get the
(presumably larger) spacing after the heading 2.

* If I got no spacing before/after normal body paragraphs,
I still get extra bullet spacing before the first bullet and
after the last bullet

* If I got (say) a Heading 2 following a bullet, I still get
the (presumably larger) spacing needed before the
Heading 2.
 
P

Paul

I have "Don't use HTML paragraph auto spacing" checked. That's what's
causing the summing. I cleared the checkbox and it now looks like the
larger of the two distances is being used. Thanks for pointing out
the checkbox!
 
S

Stefan Blom

Sorry, I wrote the opposite of what I was thinking! :-(

I meant to write what you have noticed: you have to *select* the option to have
Word sum the values.

--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP
(Message posted via news.eternal-september.org)



I have "Don't use HTML paragraph auto spacing" checked. That's what's
causing the summing. I cleared the checkbox and it now looks like the
larger of the two distances is being used. Thanks for pointing out
the checkbox!
 
D

DeanH

He's posting through Eternal September, as am I.
Click to expand...
Hi Suzanne, I have registered with Eternal September (as possibly many
others) but I cannot work out were to go to next, I do not see the
forums like we used to?
Can you help
Many thanks
DeanH
 
S

Suzanne S. Barnhill

Well, you seem to have arrived here. The MS "forums" were always just a
front end for Usenet newsgroups in the microsoft.public hierarchy. If you
download the list of NGs available through Eternal September and search for
"word" (or microsoft.public.word), you'll find them all. I actually had it a
little easier because I just changed the server on my existing OE news
account from msnews to news.eternal-september.org and found that I was
already (still) subscribed to all my NGs, though I did have to reset each
group to get the messages to download.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org
 
D

DeanH

Only Dean can tell. :)
Click to expand...

Hi Stefan and Suzanne.
I originally posted my question through Google groups, before I was on
the Communities, apologies if my question was ambiguous.
Anyway, I have followed the instructions from the Stefan for the
CommunitiesBridge, downloading and turning on the NNTP Bridge within
the Answers Forum (in two places as instructed).
Should I start seeing postings from the old "communities" appearing in
the Answers forum? Or is there something else I have to do?
As usual, many thanks for the assistance and hopefully see you
around...
:)
DeanH
 
S

Stefan Blom

If by the "old communities" you mean these newsgroups, then the answer is no. To
see the newsgroups in a newsreader, you would have to create a separate account,
such as news.eternal-september.org (which I'm using).
 

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