Windows 2000/Word 97/Word 2000 (Current)

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My firm recently started deploying Windows 2000 machines running Office 97. When full justification is set, the printed document has erratic spacing between characters – but when printed from a Windows 95 or 98 machine, the document is pristine. If the document is hyphenated, it resolves the problem, but some people don’t want to use hyphenation. I have changed all the drivers, set all the options under Tools, Options, Compatability, replaced the open True Type fonts with True True Type fonts…I have printed the same document to other printers and yet the problem remains. I understand another person in our Tech Department also tested this with Word 2000 and the sporadic spacing rears it’s ugly head yet again. I’ve searched the archives in this forum and have tried everything suggested to no avail. My IT Manager asked if I had checked with my “cronies” — (that would be you guys – the experts – no offense intended by any means)…the head of the Tech Committee is adamant about resolving this issue. Has anyone ever seen this problem – I find it hard to believe that we’re the first ones to encounter this. Any suggestions and advice would be greatly appreciated. I feel like I’m going to be in the bread line if this isn’t resolved shortly…

BTW – just to vent – does anyone else’s Tech Department deploy new operating systems without consulting the programmer? I must be an aberration…

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Hmm, the “full justification like WordPerfect” compatibility option always seemed to be the answer.

What kind of printers and what driver?

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HP 4100TN with 4000 drivers…I’m told the 4100 drivers cause problems, although I did load them – they didn’t resolve the problem

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Figured it out! Here’s the resolution:

Start/Settings/Printers/Properties/Printing Preferences/Advanced/ – under “Graphic”

change “True Type Font – Substitute with Device Font”
to
“True Type Font – Download as Softfont”

HTH

Joanne

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I have this problem with Word2k too, but on WinME – and it happens not only on printing but on screen, too (printer is HP84oC inkjet if it helps).

Edited to correct: Sorry, having re-read the original post, I have a *similar* problem, with WinME/Word2K – spaces appear in the middle of words where it is as if the screen is displacing the original text, but having done so, is treating it as if its displacement is correct. That is, if I type immediately after the last correctly placed letter, the typing appears immediately before the first displaced letter, or if I cursor to the right one or two characters then type, the typing appears one or two characters into the displaced text. And when I print it, it appears as it looks on screen, displaced. It doesn’t happen on every document, but once it does I might as well give up on that document, because I’ve never yet got it to undo the displacement and behave normally again.
What’s more, it’s driving me nuts!

When you say “the “full justification like WordPerfect” compatibility option always seemed to be the answer”, do you mean switching it on or switching it off? Not that it makes a difference – it was off, so I switched it on, but it still does it.

Do you happen to know the equivalent of Joanne’s solution for WinME? I don’t have the same set of options under Start/Settings …

Many thanks

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When characters I type don’t appear at the insertion point, I shut down and go home. Well, not really, but I probably would if it ever happened!

There are many ways to make things be other than as they appear, including { ADVANCE } fields, frames and text boxes, strange margin and tab settings, and others.

To diagnose a problem document, I’d first suggest using a very standard TrueType font that you are sure exists on the machine (e.g., Times New Roman), and a very reliable printer driver. Second, press Alt+F9 and look for any aberrant field codes. Third, change your settings under Tools>Options…>Compatibility to match your current version of Word. Fourth, inspect your paragraph format for any right margin setting, right tabs, etc., that could cause typing to do something other than expected. If it still behaves as though haunted, try the document on a different computer. After that, well, hmmm.

Do you want to post one of the problem children?

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“There are many ways to make things be other than as they appear, including { ADVANCE } fields Checked – none there , frames and text boxes ditto , strange margin and tab settings This document is a straight copy of text from plain text emails, pasted into an entirely empty document – I would hope none of these could happen, and I can’t see any! , and others.

To diagnose a problem document, I’d first suggest using a very standard TrueType font that you are sure exists on the machine (e.g., Times New Roman) I am using Times New Roman already , and a very reliable printer driver HP’s own printer driver for a HP840C printer . Second, press Alt+F9 and look for any aberrant field codes nothing there . Third, change your settings under Tools>Options…>Compatibility to match your current version of Word I removed anything that said ‘do like …’ anything that wasn’t Word 2000 – this is what you meant, yes? . Fourth, inspect your paragraph format for any right margin setting, right tabs, etc., that could cause typing to do something other than expected. If it still behaves as though haunted as I said above, it’s plain text pasted in a blank document … , try the document on a different computer I’m sure it would behave perfectly on another computer – but that doesn’t help with me use it on mine! . After that, well, hmmm. My thoughts exactly …

Do you want to post one of the problem children?” I’ll try, but I can almost guarantee it’ll behave perfectly on any other machine!

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Beryl, you’re absolutely right — the document behaved perfectly on my computer. But I do thank you for choosing those quotes to post as an example. Each one is a treasure; some old friends that I had forgotten about, and some new ones to brighten my day.

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Umm, they are good, aren’t they? I get a daily email from The Quotations Page and this document is just me picking out ones I like and keeping them!

Glad you approve!

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Hi Beryl:
I took a look at your document & could find nothing unusual. I did notice that there are unbreaking spaces before the names. I was having a little trouble following what the problem is. Using your document as an example, where & what do you type…& what problem does it cause?

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I didn’t type any of it, just copied the text from plain text emails. The unbreaking spaces were there when I copied the text, and I couldn’t see any reason to spend time replacing them with ordinary ones so I just left them! I have to admit that where the spaces are non-breaking, I’m pretty certain the problem doesn’t happen, though!

I’ll try to make a graphic of it in use tomorrow eve (the next time I’ll be home long enough to do it) and upload it, if I can work how to make a graphic of a screenshot …

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Maybe you could try a different printer driver. Not sure whether HP has any “fallback” recommendations.

Also, are you using a special or nonstandard video driver?

Viruses?!

(Brain empty.)

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I’m not aware of there being any other printer drivers for this printer than the one I’m using, I must admit.

I have installed and use the latest Norton Anti-Virus, and the video driver is, again, the one that came with the video card (this time preinstalled by the manufacturers of the PC).

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Hi Beryl:
Make sure that you’ve accepted or rejected all tracked changes in the document. I’ve been able to have the cursor disappear or backspace key not appear to work because of “deleted text” that is still in the document, but not visible.

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Hi Phil, thanks for the suggestion, but I don’t use track changes at all (and yes, I checked, it is switched off!).

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