MS Word tech issues - yes im stupid

[HotHolly]

Dumb question. I have a huge ass manuscript that Ive been editing with my agent. We send it back and forth and use track changes for notes.

During the initial back and forth, something happened and WORD busted up all the paragraphs and combined others. I have restructured the doc 4 times now (over 500 pgs), and resaved, changed the doc title, etc. It seemed fine last I looked. I went to edit today, it has relapsed back to funky format.

Is the file corrupted? If I upgrade to Word2010 will it fix it? Someone clue me in. What the heck is going on?

[Fireball]

They're not in different fonts, are they? If you open a document from someone in a different font than what you've set your default at, it will make it all funky.

[texkam]

We send it back and forth

Yikes, I don't know MSWord well enough to help, but Google Docs might work well for collaboration.
Docs ? Google Apps Good luck.

[GypsyHighSide]

Are you using Word 2007? Are both of you using Word 2007? It sounds to me like something is happening to the "Style" of the document. Use the help feature and search "set default style".

[HotHolly]

Its v. 2003

Nope, same fonts.

And this last time: I formatted the doc while doing a final edit, and saved & closed it on my end. it hasnt been emailed since then. i opened it today to edit something and found the same funky formatting (combining 3 speakers into 1 paragraph, chopping up paragraphs, etc) through out the doc again.

its like i press save and it wigs out. its not happening with other documents - just this one.

[GypsyHighSide]

Sound to me like your editor is using Word 2007 and you are using Word 2003. Word 2007 uses different default themes and fonts. So when your editor opens the files it does some magic and changes things around. Ed needs to change his defaults.

[pookie]

Sounds like this one.

My Word document is all messed up / pages are off / pages look strange - Powered By Kayako eSupport

My Word document is all messed up / pages are off / pages look strange

SYMPTOMS: Word document sent as a file attachment when opened looks very strange. Pagination is wrong (sometimes by hundreds of pages), formatting is badly skewed, and the pages don't look like they're the right size.

SOLUTION: Check to ensure you're looking at the document in "print layout" mode:

* With the messed-up document open, click VIEW at the top of the screen (next to the word FILE, above all the formatting buttons)
* Switch it from whatever it is on now to PRINT LAYOUT
* The document should return to normal.

WHAT'S GOING ON: For the 2003 version of office, Microsoft helpfully added a strange "web view" to their product. For reasons which are unclear at this writing, Outlook will sometimes open print documents in this "convenient" format, causing all manner of weirdness to happen. Switching to PRINT LAYOUT nearly always solves the problem.

If you are still experiencing format problems please review the other knowledgebase articles in the Microsoft Office 2003 category. If problems continue, submit a ticket for further assistance.

[SCone]

There is a file named NORMAL.DOT that is the "normal" template for Word. Find the file and DELETE it, it's a hidden file.... Word will re-create the file when it opens the next time. If there is a corruption in NORMAL.DOT, that will solve it.

[Hanky]

Your not stupid Holly, if you want stupid talk to me about storing inkjet cartidges.

[HotHolly]

Originally Posted by pookie

Sounds like this one.

My Word document is all messed up / pages are off / pages look strange - Powered By Kayako eSupport

My Word document is all messed up / pages are off / pages look strange

SYMPTOMS: Word document sent as a file attachment when opened looks very strange. Pagination is wrong (sometimes by hundreds of pages), formatting is badly skewed, and the pages don't look like they're the right size.

SOLUTION: Check to ensure you're looking at the document in "print layout" mode:

* With the messed-up document open, click VIEW at the top of the screen (next to the word FILE, above all the formatting buttons)
* Switch it from whatever it is on now to PRINT LAYOUT
* The document should return to normal.

WHAT'S GOING ON: For the 2003 version of office, Microsoft helpfully added a strange "web view" to their product. For reasons which are unclear at this writing, Outlook will sometimes open print documents in this "convenient" format, causing all manner of weirdness to happen. Switching to PRINT LAYOUT nearly always solves the problem.

If you are still experiencing format problems please review the other knowledgebase articles in the Microsoft Office 2003 category. If problems continue, submit a ticket for further assistance.

thats what was happening. thanks. ill have to see if that fixes it. i cant believe fixing it manually and pressing save doesnt work. :o(

[texkam]

Seems like Google Docs would save you all the back and forth you are having to go through. You both can work on the document at the same time. Here's some additional info. Might save a lot of time and future headaches. : )
YouTube - Introducing a new Google Docs
YouTube - Import files into Google Docs
YouTube - Sharing options in Google Docs
YouTube - Collaborative Screencast - Two People Collaborate on Google Docs in real-time

[SJHester]

as crazy as this sounds, delete your printer drivers and reinstall. somehow word is bound by the printer that is set as default.

[HotHolly]

thanks for the suggestions. ill try and see what happens. also updated so we are all using the same version of word. totally wish they would use google docs. the new version of word is evil. they moved everything! geeze man.

[texkam]

also updated so we are all using the same version of word.

Ah, good old MS vendor lock in.