Uneven scrolling in Word 2004

[Don Newmeyer]

For some of my documents with fields, the scrolling in Word 2004 often
freezes for a period of time, perhaps seconds, then starts again. This is
extremely annoying and hinders workflow. Any idea how to solve this, other
than going back to Word X (which I am strongly tempted to do)?

Don

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

For some of my documents with fields, the scrolling in Word 2004 often

freezes for a period of time, perhaps seconds, then starts again. This is
extremely annoying and hinders workflow. Any idea how to solve this, other
than going back to Word X (which I am strongly tempted to do)?

What kinda fields? How many? *Exactly* what do you do to scroll? How long
are the documents? Do they have lots of tables or images? What view do you
normally use when this happens? *Exactly* what Word and OS versions?

Word 2004 does get a bit wiggy on scrolling occasionally (so others say,
anyhow, I don't seem to see it so much), but no one has linked it to fields
thus far. The one known cause for display problems is that Word 2004
considers it more important to update the mouse location on the screen
before redrawing the text--so check to see if clicking the mouse when it
wigs out, and then not moving the mouse, helps at all.

 

[Don Newmeyer]

I just figured out that it's true for Endnote reference fields, at least.
When I "unformat references", the scrolling problems stop.

Clicking the mouse on the window title bar seems to unfreeze the scrolling
suddenly. That supports what you're saying.

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Are you using Instant Formatting in EndNote, where it live-updates with the
citation right when you enter the field? I wouldn't trust that myself, I
always just go with the raw fields and format on a copy before sending out
anywhere. EndNote in Mac is inherently wiggy and has been linked to
corruption in documents, though I may be maligning EndNote 8 which I have
not been using very much, and Corentin may come along to correct me.
Certainly in earlier versions turning off Instant Formatting was known to
prevent freezes, etc.

Otherwise, what do you mean by "unformat references"?

 

[Don Newmeyer]

Are you using Instant Formatting in EndNote, where it live-updates with the
citation right when you enter the field?

No, I never use that.

I wouldn't trust that myself, I
always just go with the raw fields and format on a copy before sending out
anywhere. EndNote in Mac is inherently wiggy and has been linked to
corruption in documents, though I may be maligning EndNote 8 which I have
not been using very much, and Corentin may come along to correct me.
Certainly in earlier versions turning off Instant Formatting was known to
prevent freezes, etc.

I've never encountered problems before with Endnote 6 or 7 in previous
versions of Word. I tried instant formatting, but soon gave up on it,
because it's slow and erratic, with regard to cpu use, and that hinders my
writing flow.

Otherwise, what do you mean by "unformat references"?

Just the command to remove the citation fields and bibliography, reverting
to the raw reference codes.

When the citation and bibliography fields are there, scrolling with MS mouse
or trackball scroll wheels, or the arrow keys, or clicking on the scroll bar
handles, is erratic when the Endnote fields are displayed. This is only true
in Word 2004. Word X scrolls fine. Endnote fields are the only fields I ever
have in my documents, so I was assuming that fields in general were a
problem in Word 2004. That might be wrong; maybe there's only a problem with
the Endnote fields.

Don

 

[Don Newmeyer]

Update: Sorry, I was wrong about the scrolling methods that are problematic.
I get the problem mainly when I use the scroll wheel of either a MS mouse or
a MS trackball. Also, I've just noticed erratic scrolling in Entourage when
the program is busy sending a large file. I wonder if somehow the MS Mouse
driver has too low a priority?

 

[John McGhie [MVP - Word and Word Macintosh]]

Hi Don:

Update: Sorry, I was wrong about the scrolling methods that are problematic.
I get the problem mainly when I use the scroll wheel of either a MS mouse or
a MS trackball. Also, I've just noticed erratic scrolling in Entourage when
the program is busy sending a large file. I wonder if somehow the MS Mouse
driver has too low a priority?

Basically: "Yes." However: it's not the mouse driver that's the problem,
it's "everything". Raising the priority of the mouse driver would not help
-- the problem is that the application is not getting enough CPU time
sufficiently often.

On any multi-user, multi-tasking system there are of course thousands of
trade-offs being made when setting priorities.

I am convinced that OS X would still benefit from some system tuning work
(what OS wouldn't?). Playing around with the priority of the mouse driver
is unlikely to solve the problem. But it may well lead to other problems:
you don't get anything for free in this world: you give more to the mouse
driver and something else in the system is going to lose out.

Playing around with priorities in general is work that should really be left
to the experts with their high-end diagnostic tools. There is a clear and
present danger of system instability and data loss if we get it wrong

Cheers
--

Please reply to the newsgroup to maintain the thread. Please do not email
me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie <[email protected]>
Microsoft MVP, Word and Word for Macintosh. Consultant Technical Writer
Sydney, Australia +61 4 1209 1410

 

[Don Newmeyer]

Hi John,

OK, yes, I agree that this is a delicate balancing act. However, there
clearly is something wrong with the behavior of Word 2004 with Endnote
fields, because the scrolling freezes for seconds, or until I click on the
title bar of the window. This doesn't happen in Word v. X. I can't imagine
that updating the display needs to grab the CPU for that length of time!

Don

 

[Corentin Cras-Méneur]

Update: Sorry, I was wrong about the scrolling methods that are problematic.
I get the problem mainly when I use the scroll wheel of either a MS mouse or
a MS trackball. Also, I've just noticed erratic scrolling in Entourage when
the program is busy sending a large file. I wonder if somehow the MS Mouse
driver has too low a priority?

I've had that for a very very long time. I saw it scrolling down but not
up (it has to do with cahcing I belevie).
I reported the issue to every body who would listen.
Hopefully, it'll get fixed someday
The same problem occurs with other brands of mice as well - it's not
related to either the MS mice or the corresponding drivers. It even
happens if you don;t install any driver for mice with scroll wheels,
relying then only on the System support of scroll wheel entirely.



Corentin

 

[John McGhie [MVP - Word and Word Macintosh]]

Hi Don:

You are correct, updating the display doesn't need the CPU for "long". It
only needs a couple of microseconds. The problem is that Word has to wait
too long before OS X gives it that time!

Some people have discovered that clicking the mouse will hurry things up.
You click once, the mouse generates a high-priority interrupt that takes one
microsecond to deal with, but on the way back from dealing with it, the
system will return control to Word long enough for it to do what it was
waiting to do.

Doesn't work for everyone in every circumstance, but may be worth trying for
you.

Just a note to others:

We've said several times that Microsoft is working on a fix for these
issues. Let me say it one more time: Microsoft is working really really
hard on a fix for these issues. What they need right now is lots and lots
of detail about how you got into the situation: exactly what you clicked,
toggled or scrolled for about 30 seconds back from the slowdown, and what
you see.

There are several parts of the code involved here: some belong to Apple,
some belong to Microsoft. Both companies are currently working on the issue
and need all of the detailed input they can get. In other words: seeing
lots of users saying "Hey, I've got that problem too..." is a bit
frustrating. They need users to stick with the problem the way Don has done
in this instance, supplying lots of detail.

Cheers

Hi John,

OK, yes, I agree that this is a delicate balancing act. However, there
clearly is something wrong with the behavior of Word 2004 with Endnote
fields, because the scrolling freezes for seconds, or until I click on the
title bar of the window. This doesn't happen in Word v. X. I can't imagine
that updating the display needs to grab the CPU for that length of time!

Don

--

Please reply to the newsgroup to maintain the thread. Please do not email
me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie <[email protected]>
Microsoft MVP, Word and Word for Macintosh. Consultant Technical Writer
Sydney, Australia +61 4 1209 1410