Template Header text changes size between computers

[Guest]

I have a Goldilocks and the Three Bears problem. When I open a custom block
style letter template, with graphic and text in the header, the first line of
the header text changes display and print size even though the font size
remains a constant Elephant 20pts. On one computer the first text line will
be larger, on another computer it will be smaller and on the third computer
it will be just right. I am using Word 2003 on each of the computers, which
are all using the same workgroup printers and drivers. The computers are in
a peer-to-peer network with Windows 2000 and XP Pro operating systems. The
template is maintained on the "just right" computer (Win2000Pro OS). How do
I get the template to be "just right" on all computers?

 

[Robert M. Franz (RMF)]

Hi Ducky

I have a Goldilocks and the Three Bears problem. When I open a custom block
style letter template, with graphic and text in the header, the first line of
the header text changes display and print size even though the font size
remains a constant Elephant 20pts. On one computer the first text line will
be larger, on another computer it will be smaller and on the third computer
it will be just right. I am using Word 2003 on each of the computers, which
are all using the same workgroup printers and drivers. The computers are in
a peer-to-peer network with Windows 2000 and XP Pro operating systems. The
template is maintained on the "just right" computer (Win2000Pro OS). How do
I get the template to be "just right" on all computers?

Are you judging the size of this line in a special view? PrintPreview?
Output (paper)?

It's hard to imagine that a text in one font and size 20pt is smaller on
one machine than on another (that is, unless the font file is not the
same on both machines).

I would recheck if really the text shows up in the same size. How do you
"open" the template? If you are creating a new document based on it, are
you positive you are using the same template file on all machines?

2cents
Robert

 

[Guest]

Hi Ducky


Are you judging the size of this line in a special view? PrintPreview?
Output (paper)?

It's hard to imagine that a text in one font and size 20pt is smaller on
one machine than on another (that is, unless the font file is not the
same on both machines).

I would recheck if really the text shows up in the same size. How do you
"open" the template? If you are creating a new document based on it, are
you positive you are using the same template file on all machines?

2cents
Robert
--
/"\ ASCII Ribbon Campaign | MS
\ / | MVP
X Against HTML | for
/ \ in e-mail & news | Word

RMF,

Thanks for the response.

The output change is on paper. All three machines just had Office 2003
installed on the same day. Office on all three is set-up to access the
templates on a peer-to-peer network and the templates are located on the
"just right" machine. I've checked on each of the computers to confirm the
font size and type.

You can see why I'm stumped.

UODucky

 

[Robert M. Franz (RMF)]

It's hard to imagine that a text in one font and size 20pt is smaller on
one machine than on another (that is, unless the font file is not the
same on both machines).

I would recheck if really the text shows up in the same size. How do you
"open" the template? If you are creating a new document based on it, are
you positive you are using the same template file on all machines?

[..]
The output change is on paper. All three machines just had Office 2003
installed on the same day. Office on all three is set-up to access the
templates on a peer-to-peer network and the templates are located on the
"just right" machine. I've checked on each of the computers to confirm the
font size and type.

Can you see the difference in PrintPreview already?

In any case, I'd check the OS and printer driver versions on differences
(and different settings).

Another although very far-fetched culprit for "decreasing font size" is
printing with tracked changes (in some versions, Word scales the whole
page down slightly in order to fit the comments unto the page).

HTH
Robert

 

[Guest]

RMF,

Thanks again for your continued response.

The printer drivers have all been updated and are the same...no change in
the problem.

I do not believe this is a printer issue as the problem is obvious from
within Word itself. The on-screen display within Word shows the font is too
big or too small or just right. When I print I get the WYSIWYG (what you see
is what you get) from the printer. So this is a Word and OS issue.

Any other thoughts?

UODucky

 

[Robert M. Franz (RMF)]

Hi Ducky

The printer drivers have all been updated and are the same...no change in
the problem.

I do not believe this is a printer issue as the problem is obvious from
within Word itself. The on-screen display within Word shows the font is too
big or too small or just right.

Even though Word relies heavily on the printer driver (you'll see the
first time when you open Word on an installation w/o an active printer
driver ), you might be right here.

When I print I get the WYSIWYG (what you see
is what you get) from the printer. So this is a Word and OS issue.

OK, fair enough.

Still, if we rule out printer driver, and Word pretends the lines have
the same font size, but they look and print in different sizes, hmmm. I
think I'm at a loss!

If the size would be _different_, then you'd have to look for anything
which changes it on opening the document: any macro could do that, or
the setting in Tools | Templates and Add-ins: "Automatically ..."
(reloading styles from the document template -- though if that's the
same, this shouldn't be the case here, either).

HTH
Robert

 

[Guest]

RMF,

Thanks again for the response.

I have double & triple checked the font and font size on the respective
machines and they are all Elephant 20pts.

The first line of the header is in Elephant 20, the second line in Times New
Roman 12. Could that somehow be making a difference?

There is also a graphic to the left of the text in it's own picture box,
could that make a difference?

Ugh!!! This is frustrating because it makes having a template pointless.

UODucky

 

[Robert M. Franz (RMF)]

I have double & triple checked the font and font size on the respective
machines and they are all Elephant 20pts.

The first line of the header is in Elephant 20, the second line in Times New
Roman 12. Could that somehow be making a difference?

Well, it certainly _should_ not.

There is also a graphic to the left of the text in it's own picture box,
could that make a difference?

Delete it and see if you can still reproduce the error.

There must be a difference on the individual PCs, after all (OS,
Version/SP of Office/Word, printer driver, font files. Word is certainly
not know to change the characteristics of a font on-the-fly.

I would not rule out document corruption, or some malware.

Ugh!!! This is frustrating because it makes having a template pointless.

I agree. Try the same with a different font ("Elephant" sounds like
something very, shall we say: decorative?). If you cannot repro it with
Arial and TNR, I would rather select a different font.

This seems to be quite a unique problem, I doubt you've hit a general
bug. Rather a very peculiar set of circumstances (well, one will know
when the culprit is found).

Good luck!
Robert

 

[Guest]

RMF,

Thanks for the response, been very busy last couple of days....

Good news is I found the cause of the problem.

Apparently the Elephant font is not part of the Office suite and was
installed by another program on the "just right" machine then used for the
template.

The fix for the problem is to copy the font folder from the "just right"
machine to the other machines and then install the fonts on each.

Details on how to do this can be obtained with a Office help search on "How
to install fonts".

Everything is working fine now.

Thanks again for you assistance, it help me eliminate the possibilities
until the solution could be found.

UODucky

 

[Robert M. Franz (RMF)]

Good news is I found the cause of the problem.

Apparently the Elephant font is not part of the Office suite and was
installed by another program on the "just right" machine then used for the
template.

The fix for the problem is to copy the font folder from the "just right"
machine to the other machines and then install the fonts on each.

Aha: "font file not the same on both machines".

Glad it's working again, and good luck
Robert