Word 2004: screws up italic drop caps

[gpaine]

In Word 2004, using Palatino, I am attempting to make 2-line drop caps
with the initial cap and the rest of the word in italics. I have done
this successfully for fiften years in Word 3.2, 4.0, 5.1, 6.0, and 98.
But is Word 2004, when I change the text to italics, a wide space opens
following the drop cap, exposing the entire cariage return that
automatically follows a drop cap. When I change back to non-italic the
spurious space disappears. The spurious space makes an italic drop cap
unusable.

MS says "tough luck; that's the way it works." It seems not to matter
that the feature is useless.

Does anyone have any idea how to get around this?

Thank you.

 

[CyberTaz]

Perhaps not the optimum solution, but the drop cap is inserted in a text box
as an in-line graphic, so one option is to click the edge of the container
then use the right center handle to reduce the width of the box. The para
text on both lines will draw closer to the drop cap.

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

 

[gpaine]

Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately I have over 300 of these and
it takes me over a minute to get one looking right.

Best wishes.

 

[CyberTaz]

Didn't realize it was that many - we'll have to cut to the chase

The source of the problem is that Palatino is a system/printer font that
doesn't behave very well *anywhere* in today's proportional world. If you
use Palatino Linotype (or some other OpenType or TrueType font) the problem
should go away of its own accord.