Tech: Microsoft Word Question re Textbox

Subject: BS: Microsoft Word Question re Textbox
From: Ebbie
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 11:16 PM

I have a problem. For some reason my computer can't read the text inside the textbox. It used to work, and I don't know what I did that should have affected its capability.

I'm working on getting out my very-low-tech newsmagazine but I can't do the front page until I can work in boxes.

Any ideas? T'ank you, t'ank you.

Subject: RE: BS: Microsoft Word Question re Textbox
From: Helen
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 11:26 PM

Do you mean that the text isn't printing out, or that it is not showing up on the screen? Sometimes if something only partially prints, i.e. misses out significant bits of the layout, it's a memory problem, sometimes with the printer's memory buffer. If it is a computer memory problem it may help to reboot your computer, or check how much memory is used and delete/copy onto CD or disk some unwanted software or files.

Sometimes if it just one page and I am desperate I have copied and pasted everything into another another programme, e.g. MsPublisher?

Someone with higher techo-nerdity-rating than me might know more about the problem.

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: Microsoft Word Question re Textbox
From: LadyJean
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 11:40 PM

The best word to describe Microsoft Word is not printable.

Subject: RE: BS: Microsoft Word Question re Textbox
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 01:09 AM

Ebbie,

How do you know your computer "can't read the text inside the textbox".
If anyone is to help they need symptoms, not a diagnosis:)

Subject: RE: BS: Microsoft Word Question re Textbox
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 01:52 AM

Before you try anything else, click on the textbox to highlight it and then right-click to check in what order you've placed things. If you don't use the textbox often you may have forgotten to send the text box to the back or to bring the text to the front.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Microsoft Word Question re Textbox
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 02:28 AM

Russs, my 'diagnosis' stems from the fact that when I do a Preview of the text, it's BLANK. Nor does it print anything. The box and what I wrote in it is perfectly visible to me until the Preview.

I'll check that, Stilly River Sage. Thanks.

At the moment I've switched to Works just for that one page. If I can't figure out the Textbox problem, that's how I'll go.

Subject: RE: BS: Microsoft Word Question re Textbox
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 03:05 AM

SRS, I've checked everything now that I can imagine- and all the troubleshooting features in Textbox and in making columns with it- as well as in the 'Drawing' feature. I find nothing.

It is probably significant that the drawing features, like Word Art, and AutoShapes, it turns out, are also not visible to the 'puter.

Subject: RE: BS: Microsoft Word Question re Textbox
From: Helen
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 07:42 AM

Ebbie, when that has happened to me - drawing features, like Word Art, and AutoShapes being invisible in Preview and printing, I have found that it is usually the memory problem I said earlier.

Are you using your usual printer, or is it one which is fairly memory-poor? Can you try printing it on a printer with a larger memory buffer?

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: Microsoft Word Question re Textbox
From: Mr Red
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 08:12 AM

Just a thought - if Word Art is similar then I would say re-install and use the custom option and look at everything you load, including the expanded lists. If you have loaded apps after Word/Office they may have over-written API's (DLL's). In Win95 and above these should not happen but not all apps follow the rules. If this is the case then the app that caused the problem may become flakey.

Did we get a version for Word &/or Windows? (I assume we are not talking Mac)

I have found preview to be mostly accurate, try re-installing the printer drivers.

Subject: RE: BS: Microsoft Word Question re Textbox
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 08:37 AM

Two suggestions which are so obvious I hate to mention them (but the obvious does get missed)
Are you Creating the box around the text (thus blanking out the text) rather than "Inserting text box" then typing into it?
Do you have the text in the box set to a different colour than that of the box? (White on white does not show up well on previews!)

CHEERS

Nigel

Subject: RE: BS: Microsoft Word Question re Textbox
From: Gareth
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 08:50 AM

I use Word97 and Word 2000 for producing newsletters running under Win98. In fact all the text and illustrations are fitted inside text boxes.

Occasionally the leading charecter of a word disapears. This does not effect the print out.

For trouble shooting I suggest that you right click with the cursor over the box boundary and then click on format text box.

Set the fill to "No Fill"

With composite illustrations ie layered within a text box, used for adding captions, speech bubles etc be careful with the draw menue, and the order in which each item appears. If there is a fill set some items will mask others.

Another problem might be the printer. If I have worked this out correctly, the WYSIWYG is driven by the printer software so if there is a size problem with the paper blanks will show.

Much of my stuff is output as paper size A3 (British) Many home printers can not cope with A3 as it is twice the sixe of A4 (standard copier paper) When setting pages up be sure that the paper size in Word, and the printer is the same.

I use a commercial grade RISO3700 to print off, with RISO's computer interface, not certified for MS Word.

If you would like to PM me yer E-Mail Address I can E-Mail you some specemins/templates and you can experiment to your satisfaction, both in A3 and in A4.

Gareth

Subject: RE: BS: Microsoft Word Question re Textbox
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 11:03 AM

Good answer.

Next question.
When you go to print preview which do you see?
1. The box without the text?
2. Nothing, no box, no text?

If 1, try clicking on the box to select it.
Then format / font /
font color - Automatic

If 2, try
tools / options / print
make sure there's a check mark beside "Drawing objects"

Subject: RE: BS: Microsoft Word Question re Textbox
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 11:25 AM

If memory is a problem then a good test is to close everything, turn off the computer, turn it back on and try the Word program without having started anything else yet.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Microsoft Word Question re Textbox
From: Gareth
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 12:38 PM

A second thought. Do you have the "fast save" box in options open. This creates very large files as it also saves and catalogues alterations and amendments. - Not to be recomended for documents intended for web publications both for size and th fact tat a downloader can read your edits etc. (with a little effort)

Gareth

Subject: RE: BS: Microsoft Word Question re Textbox
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 12:40 PM

Guest/Russ, I am your slave! Tools/Options/Print/Drawing Objects- Hurray!

A BIG Thank You to everyone else too. A great start to a good day.

Subject: RE: BS: Microsoft Word Question re Textbox
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 09:07 PM

You are welcome.

Glad it was a simple fix.

Subject: RE: BS: Microsoft Word Question re Textbox
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 11:57 PM

I figured it was, but for the life of me I couldn't muddle it through my head. Do you know that I had never gone to 'Print' on the Options link? Live and learn.

Subject: RE: BS: Microsoft Word Question re Textbox
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 04:09 PM

My old computer came with word already installed. The new one has it installed under MS Office, with a 60 day preview use clause, at which point they want $229 for the whole shebang or I guess it turns into a pumpkin. I am working on transferring the old program over to the new, hitting a few snags along the way. I am wondering if any of you think the whole Office program is worth it? I don't need most of what Office has in it, but I do prefer Word to Works.

Thanks for any comments/ideas.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Microsoft Word Question re Textbox
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 04:14 PM

I just found what looks like a good site for alternatives to Word and Office. Please see this thread and pardon my asking my question in here before further investigation.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Microsoft Word Question re Textbox
From: Rasener
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 04:31 PM

Kat
Its worth looking in the magazines to see if any companies are selling Microsoft Pro in an older version. You will find it much cheaper and just as good. Make sure it is an original version.
Which country are you in?
PM me.