Making a Word document "printer neutral"

[Guest]

Hello,

I was given a Word 2003 form to fix. Currently, it prints differently on
different printers (sometimes cutting off the margins or moving content onto
another page).

Beyond ensuring that the margins are correctly set and tables correctly set,
how can I make the form "printer neutral" so it prints with the same layout
regardless of the printer that's used?

Thank you!

 

[Graham Mayor]

Printer information is not saved with the document so it reformats according
to the ability of the printer driver and available fonts.
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Formatting/TextReflow.htm. If you want to ensure
that the document remains the same whowver views it, then use PDF format,
for which you will need extra software.

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

My web site www.gmayor.com

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[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

To add one bit to Graham's reply, the default margin settings in Word (1" all around) will work on many forms, but 2.7" on the
bottom may be needed for some inkjets. If you can setup your form for that you may have a good chance of success, unless you have
international needs where Word's A4/letter auto resizing may also kick in.

As forms are often laid out to go closer to the edges of the paper than that, Word may not be the best solution of the MS Office
Product family if layout consistency is the key need.


==============
Hello,

I was given a Word 2003 form to fix. Currently, it prints differently on
different printers (sometimes cutting off the margins or moving content onto
another page).

Beyond ensuring that the margins are correctly set and tables correctly set,
how can I make the form "printer neutral" so it prints with the same layout
regardless of the printer that's used?

Thank you!>>

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

First of all, "1" all around" is not the default for margins in Word 2003;
by default, the left and right margins are 1.25". And even an inkjet should
not need more than a 1" bottom margin. It's the 0.5" footer margin that may
be cutting it close on some inkjets. Any document that claims to need a 2.7"
margin (more likely the tell-tale 2.67") is suffering from a printer driver
bug that can be remedied in various ways, especially by getting one of the
drivers at http://www.hp.com/pond/ljbeta/index.html

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

To add one bit to Graham's reply, the default margin settings in Word (1"

all around) will work on many forms, but 2.7" on the

bottom may be needed for some inkjets. If you can setup your form for

that you may have a good chance of success, unless you have

international needs where Word's A4/letter auto resizing may also kick in.

As forms are often laid out to go closer to the edges of the paper than

that, Word may not be the best solution of the MS Office

 

[Guest]

Thank you Graham, Bob, and Suzanne!!! Your responses helped me understand
the situation. Thank you so much.

 

[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

Suzanne,

The 2.67 margin was tied to the paper handling capability of older inkjets (i.e. the way they held the paper as it passed through
the printer. They (especially HP printers) could not reliably hold the paper correctly beyond a certain point. Changing a driver on
those printers to one that allows smaller margins in the settings is not advisable, and if a document is created for an audience you
don't know then you can't rely on what you might think it needs.

============
First of all, "1" all around" is not the default for margins in Word 2003; by default, the left and right margins are 1.25". And
even an inkjet should not need more than a 1" bottom margin. It's the 0.5" footer margin that may be cutting it close on some
inkjets. Any document that claims to need a 2.7" margin (more likely the tell-tale 2.67") is suffering from a printer driverbug that
can be remedied in various ways, especially by getting one of the
drivers at http://www.hp.com/pond/ljbeta/index.html

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

I find it extremely difficult to believe than any inkjet of any age required
that large a bottom margin. My father has an aged DeskJet 600 that will
print to the bottom of the page.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

Suzanne,

The 2.67 margin was tied to the paper handling capability of older inkjets

(i.e. the way they held the paper as it passed through

the printer. They (especially HP printers) could not reliably hold the

paper correctly beyond a certain point. Changing a driver on

those printers to one that allows smaller margins in the settings is not

advisable, and if a document is created for an audience you

don't know then you can't rely on what you might think it needs.

============
First of all, "1" all around" is not the default for margins in Word 2003;

by default, the left and right margins are 1.25". And

even an inkjet should not need more than a 1" bottom margin. It's the 0.5"

footer margin that may be cutting it close on some

inkjets. Any document that claims to need a 2.7" margin (more likely the

tell-tale 2.67") is suffering from a printer driverbug that