Word 2010 Line Spacing Problem

[Stuart]

Okay, I have run into an issue here that is driving me mad. Now, I fully expect people to not actually read my problem properly and to start rattling off stock standard answers, but believe me when I say this isn't a standard problem. Here we go.

Our pastor was in China recently, where he bought a netbook which they loaded with Kingsoft Office. He used the writer while he was there and then transferred documents back to his regular notebook when he got back here, and that is where the problem started. (He runs MS Office 2010 on his machine back here, and I have even removed Kingsoft Office and loaded Office 2010 on his netbook.)

He uses a size 14 font for his documents (he's even older than Tribble!), but it's only when he sets the font to size 14 that the problem occurs. Everything is set on the document to use single spacing with no line spacing between paragraphs, and when the font is set to size 13 or lower everything works as expected. The moment we change the font to size 14, however, the lines appear double spaced. Again, everything in the settings is single spaced with no spaces between paragraphs, but the moment you set the font to size 14 it looks double spaced. He wants it to appear single spaced.

I have tried changing styles, deleting and recreating the normal template. I even uninstalled Word and reinstalled it, which appeared to work on Friday, but on Monday the issue was back. I have been googling the problem, but all the answers that are being returned are stock standard change-the-line-spacing or change-the-space-between-paragraphs replies.

Any ideas how to solve this? Drop me a PM if you want me to email you a sample document for you to fiddle with. I'm stumped.

[doo_much]

Only thing I can think of is open in OO, save as .doc and try in MS Office?

[Hman]

Does it just appear double spaced or is it actually double spaced?

[Hman]

Also, does this happen with all fonts or just one he's trying to use?

[SykomantiS]

Stu, if all else fails, how about copying the text-only (no formatting) to notepad, creating a new doc that has nothing to do with the old one, and recreate the formatting from scratch?

[Stuart]

Does it just appear double spaced or is it actually double spaced?

Well, I mean according to the settings it's single spaced. But it looks double spaced on screen and prints out double spaced on paper.

Also, does this happen with all fonts or just one he's trying to use?

All fonts.

Stu, if all else fails, how about copying the text-only (no formatting) to notepad, creating a new doc that has nothing to do with the old one, and recreate the formatting from scratch?

Tried, but it happens again when he creates a new document. It has set itself like that as default for some reason.

[Hman]

Try deleting and re-installing fonts?

[Tribble]

Nope it is a style/template problem. Weird though - never seen the likes of this before.

[Bladerunner]

Even if you are using single line spacing, the paragraph spacing might be the problem. I've only had a similar problem at work where we use Word 2003, but try selecting all the text, then in the menubar click Format -> Paragraph -> Indentations & Spacing tab -> Spacing subsection -> Set all to 0 pt.

EDIT: Sorry, mistake in steps.

[Stuart]

Even if you are using single line spacing, the paragraph spacing might be the problem. I've only had a similar problem at work where we use Word 2003, but try selecting all the text, then in the menubar click Format -> Paragraph -> Indentations & Spacing tab -> Spacing subsection -> Set all to 0 pt.

EDIT: Sorry, mistake in steps.

Everything is already set to 0 there.

[Stuart]

Check out the screenshot below:



Now, you can see the text in the document. However, if you notice the "reveal formatting" box:



See? Font: Times New Roman 14pt. No line spacing before or after paragraphs, and single spacing for lines. And yet we sit with double spacing in the document.

[Bladerunner]

Those styles in the ribbon that show e.g. "AaBb - Normal", see if there's one that says "AaBb - No Spacing" ?

[doo_much]

Iget the same result if I change the style from default to manuscript?

*edit. Thanks, got the doc.

[SykomantiS]

Stuart, try setting line spacing in the paragraph settings to exactly 14pt. works this side- check your mail, I'll send a screenie. (I have difficulty uploading to photobucket due to the proxy)

[Stuart]

Hmmm . . . that does work. Interesting.

That may be an acceptable workaround until I can figure out exactly what's causing it.

[doo_much]

Raaaait, the following fixes the issue - not as easily as Syko's but...

Copy and paste - without any formatting (I pasted to notepad and copied back), reformat. Works OK. Interestingly, clearing the formatting using the styles ribbon does not help.

Also, opened in OO, saved as normal .doc - works as well.


WHY it happens? Beats me.

[Stuart]

The only problem with the copy-and-paste-with-no-formatting solution is, well, he loses all his formatting. All italics, bolds, etc. that he has worked into the document are lost. And he has done a lot more than the small sampling I emailed you guys.

The Open Office solution is interesting. Though I'd hate to have to install Open Office just for this.

[doo_much]

How many docs are there?

[Stuart]

Well, right now there is just the one, which he is still busy working on. However, if I cannot get to the root of the problem there will be more each week. Unfortunately, he is busy on his computer right now so I don't have access to it atm.

[doo_much]

Whoa.

You mean the problem even pops up when he starts a new document?

[Stuart]

Ja, this was a new document he created. Although I suspect it might be a problem between his notebook and his netbook. I'm not sure on which machine he created this particular document.

[Stuart]

Edit: Scratch that. If I create a new document on his notebook now it works as expected. I've asked him to bring me his netbook after lunch to see if that is where the problem lies.

[Tribble]

Cool - well done Syko. My brain can rest now

[SykomantiS]

[Stuart]

Cool - well done Syko. My brain can rest now

I'm glad yours can. I have reset both the notebook and the netbook so that documents created work as he wants them to work. Let's now see if this happens again.