WD: Setting Absolute (Fixed) Margins in Word

 Last reviewed: February 2, 1998
Article ID: Q28868
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word for Macintosh, versions 3.0, 3.01, 3.02, 4.0, 5.0, 5.1, 6.0
  • Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

SUMMARY

Word adjusts top and bottom margin settings to accommodate page numbers, footers, and headers. You can set top and bottom margins at fixed positions so that Word does not adjust the margins, regardless of the size of the page number, header, or footer text.

The header or footer text overlaps the document text if it is larger than the space available in the margin. You can use this functionality to create special effects such as watermarks.

MORE INFORMATION

For example, if the header is 3 inches long and the top margin is set at 1 inch, Word moves the body text of the document down to fit the 3 inch header on the page. If the top margin is set at exactly 1 inch (or -1 inch in Word versions 3.x, 4.0, and 98), the header and the body text of the document overlap because the body text begins 1 inch from the top of the page.

To set a fixed top or bottom margin, follow the procedure appropriate for your version of Word.

Word 98 Macintosh Edition

Follow these steps:

  1. On the Format menu, click Document.

  2. Type a minus sign (-) before the margin setting to make it a negative number and then choose OK. Word uses the absolute value of this number for the margin setting.

NOTE: You cannot set fixed left or right margins.

Word Version 6.0

  1. On the File menu, click Page Setup.

  2. Click Margins. Select the Margins tab.

  3. Select Exactly from the list next to the Top or Bottom margin setting and then click OK.

Word Versions 5.0 and 5.1

  1. On the Format menu, click Document.

  2. Select the Exactly option next to the Top or Bottom margin setting and then click OK.

Word Versions 3.x and 4.0

  1. On the Format menu, click Document (in Word 3.x, click Page Setup on the File menu).

  2. Type a minus sign (-) before the margin setting to make it a negative number and then choose OK. Word uses the absolute value of this number for the margin setting.

NOTE: You cannot set fixed left or right margins.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Word for the Macintosh User's Guide," version 5.0 and 5.1, pages 198-209

"Reference to Microsoft Word," version 4.0, page 181

"Reference to Microsoft Word," version 3.x, page 265

Additional query words: graphic
Keywords : kbformat kbmerge macword macword5 winword word6 kbprint
Version : MACINTOSH:3.0,3.01,3.02,4.0,5.0,5.10,6.0,6.0.1,6.0.1a,98
Platform : MACINTOSH
Issue type : kbinfo

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Last reviewed: February 2, 1998
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