Double Underline Prints Too Close Together

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, version 7.0

SYMPTOMS

A double underline may print too close to the text, or the lines forming the double underline may print so close together that it may be hard to distinguish from a single underline.

The problem is most noticeable when you use the Hewlett-Packard (HP) LaserJet II or III driver printing to either a II, III, or 4 printer. Using the 4 driver doesn't seem to present the same spacing problems. The HP 4 does a better job, but some fonts may print with the underlining too close together.

When you use any of the above HP printer drivers, and probably other drivers as well, the underlining appears too close to the text, and it cuts off the descenders.

CAUSE

Word 6.0 for Windows gets information about how to format the double underline from information contained in the printer driver (text metrics).

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the versions of Word listed above. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

WORKAROUNDS

Method 1: Change the resolution of the HP LaserJet 4 printer driver to

          300dpi to add additional space between the underlines or between
          the baseline of the text and the underline. The drawback to this
          method is that some fonts will continue to print with incorrect
          double underline spacing.