Character Property Indicators Dimmed with Large Selection

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.1a, 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c

SYMPTOMS

In Word for Windows, character and paragraph property indicators on the ribbon, ruler, and in dialog boxes (such as Format Character) will not display their states if more than 50 paragraphs are selected, even if all of the characters or paragraphs have the same properties.

This is also true if multiple paragraphs in a table are selected.

CAUSE

Because scanning for character, paragraph, or section properties is so time consuming, if more than 50 paragraphs are selected in a document, the ribbon, ruler, and dialog boxes will have empty edit controls (known as a "gray state") and will not activate buttons on the ribbon or the ruler.

This behavior duplicates what you would see in the various property indicators such as Font: and Pts: on the ribbon, if there were different character properties such as multiple fonts or point sizes in the selected text. Because more than one property cannot be displayed in a property indicator at once, the controls must be dimmed in the presence of a conflict.

RESOLUTION

Reduce the size of the selection and/or set the property states (such as a specific font or point size) for the entire document.