WD: Inserted Document Takes on Formatting of Other Document

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
• Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, version 6.0, 6.0.1
• Microsoft Word for Windows NT, version 6.0
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a

SYMPTOMS

If you insert one document (for example, DOC1.DOC) into another document (DOC2.DOC), then DOC1.DOC adopts the section properties of DOC2.DOC if DOC1.DOC is open.

For example, if DOC1.DOC and DOC2.DOC have the following section formatting

    DOC1.DOC:     1 Column
                  1.25" Left and Right Margins

    DOC2.DOC:     2 Columns
                  0.5" Left and Right Margins

   2 Columns
   0.5" Left and Right Margins

WORKAROUND

Before inserting one document into another, be sure the file you're inserting from is closed. To see if it's open, select the Window menu. See if the document name appears on the list. If it doesn't, it's safe to insert the file. If it does appear on the list, select the document name and close the document.

STATUS

Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.