WD97: Equation 3.0 Incorrectly Converts Spaces From Version 2.x

• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Word 97 for Windows, you may receive the following error message:

   This equation is the maximum size allowed.  Please save the equation
   immediately.  If you want to continue, you must divide it into smaller
   pieces.

CAUSE

When you open a document created in an earlier version of Word, if the document contains equations from Equation Editor version 2.x, Equation Editor version 3.0 may make the spacing in the equation wider or narrower than it was in the original.

NOTE: If Show All is selected in the View menu, space markers are visible before conversion, but not afterwards.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, you can select and delete unwanted spaces; however, this may be impractical depending on the number of equations and spaces.

To make the overall spacing more closely match the original, use the following steps in Microsoft Word 97 with Microsoft Equation 3.0:

1. Double-click the equation to edit it. If Microsoft Equation 3.0 displays the error message described in the "Symptoms" section of this article, click "OK" until the message is no longer displayed.

2. On the Format menu, click Spacing.

3. Scroll down the list of items, and click Spacing Adjustment.

4. Change the setting to about 40-50% to compress, or to about 120-140% to expand, and then click OK.

5. On the Edit menu, click Select All.

6. Press F9 to update all fields in the document, including the equation fields.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

The following table describes typical conversion results.

                                           Appearance in Editor 3.0
Description      Shortcut key              AFTER Conversion from 2.x

Zero space       SHIFT+SPACEBAR            Thin space (no marker)

1-point space    CTRL+ALT+SPACEBAR         Em space (no marker)

Thin space       CTRL+SPACEBAR             Zero space (no marker)

Thick space      CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR       Zero space (no marker)

Em space         No shortcut - insert      Zero space (no marker)
                 from palette