WD: How Text with Layout Converter Determines Line Length

• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 1.x, 2.x, 6.x, 7.x
• Word for the Macintosh, version 5.0, 5.1

SUMMARY

When you save a document in Text With Layout or DOS Text With Layout format, the Microsoft Word converter uses a character size of 10 pitch to determine the maximum number of characters that can appear on a single line in the output file. (This is independent of the font sizes in the original Word document). To determine the number of characters per line, the converter multiplies the number of characters per inch (cpi) by the amount of horizontal printable space.

MORE INFORMATION

Example

If a document has an 8.5-inch page width, and left and right margins of 1.25 inch (the default setting in Word), the amount of horizontal printable space is 6 inches. When the Word file is converted to a text file with the Text With Layout converter, 10 cpi multiplied by 6 inches of printable space determines that the output text file will contain a maximum of 60 characters per line. If one or more lines in the original Word document contains more than 60 characters, the lines are truncated at the 60th character column, and the remaining text appears on the following line.

When you convert complex document formatting to an ANSI or ASCII text file, the converter must make several assumptions. For example, if a document contains several pitch sizes on a single line, which size would the converter use to determine line length? (The first font size? The largest font size?) A text file does not allow for these variations. The default assumption of 10 cpi in the design of this converter is the best compromise that can be made to most consistently accommodate the generalized conversion scenario. If this assumption does not facilitate your export needs, make use of the PointSize or Width flags to change the assumptions made by the converter. For information about how to do this, see the appropriate section in the "More Information" section of this article.

Altering the Way Line Length Is Determined

The functionality of the PointSize=n and Width=n optional flags in all of the Word products is identical.

   The PointSize=n flag:

   This flag can be used to customize the cpi assumption used by the
   converter. By default, PointSize is set to 12. A 12-point font is
   equivalent to a 10-pitch font; thus, the converter uses a default of
   10-cpi. By changing the PointSize value to a smaller number,
   you can increase the number of characters allowed per line. For example,
   if you change PointSize to 10, the converter assumes 12 cpi. For
   example, 12 cpi multiplied by 6 inches of printable space determines
   that the converter will allow 74 characters per line.

   The Width=n flag:

   This flag is the ultimate determinant of line length. By default, it is
   set to 80-character columns, which is also the maximum number of
   characters allowed in a column. By specifying a smaller value, you can
   force lines to wrap earlier in the export text file. For example, by
   changing this setting to 50, Word will allow a maximum of 50 characters
   per line in the export file.

Word 97 for Windows:

For more information about setting the PointSize and Width, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE ID: Q172385
   TITLE     : WD97: Text With Layout Not Listed in EditConversionOptions
               Macro

The settings are stored in the [TextLytConv] section of the Mstxtcnv.ini file.

The default settings in the [TextLytConv] section are as follows:

   CharMaps=a,a Width=80 PointSize=12

1. Run the EditConversionOptions macro.

   Do this by first opening Convert.dot, which is located in the Macros directory in the under the Word program directory (usually C:\Winword\Macros).

2. On the Tools menu, click Macro.

3. In the Macro dialog box, select the EditConversionOptions macro and click Run.

4. In the Conversion box, select Text With Layout

5. In the Conversion Option box, click the Width=80 option. In the Setting box, type the maximum number of characters that you want to appear on one line.

6. In the Conversion Option box select the PointSize=12 option and in the Setting box, type in the point size you want.

The settings are stored in the [TextLytConv] section of the Win.ini file.

You view and change the options for each converter using the Options dialog box. To access this dialog box, click Options on the Tools menu and select the Win.ini category.

To modify conversion options in the Win.ini file, follow these steps:

1. On the Tools menu, click Options.

2. Under Category, select Win.ini.

3. In the Application Box, type "TextLytConv" (without the quotation marks), and click Close.

4. On the Tools menu, click Options, and select Win.ini under Category.

5. In the Application Box, select TextLytConv from the drop-down list.

6. In the Startup Options box, select the converter option you want to modify.

7. To modify a setting, type the new information in the Setting box, and then click Set.

   You can delete an option by selecting it and then clicking Delete.

8. Click Close to close the Options dialog box.

Word for Windows 1.1a customers should find Convinfo.doc in the Word directory, as these options are not included by default in the Win.ini file with Word 1.1a.

Word for Macintosh versions 6.x:

1. Run the EditConversionOptions macro.

   Do this by first opening Conversion Macros document, which is located in the Macros directory in the under the Word program directory.

2. On the Tools menu, click Macro.

3. In the Macro dialog box, select the EditConversionOptions macro and click Run.

4. In the Conversion box, select Text With Layout

5. In the Conversion Option box, click the Width=80 option. In the Setting box, type the maximum number of characters that you want to appear on one line.

6. In the Conversion Option box select the PointSize=12 option and in the Setting box, type in the point size you want.

The same two options are available in the MS Word Conversion Options file located in the Word Commands folder beneath the Word for the Macintosh folder on your Macintosh system. For more information on how to modify these settings, see the Conversion Information document located in your Word for the Macintosh folder.