WD: Print Preview Changes How It Displays Pages

ID: Q119869

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

In print preview, switching from one zoom level to another and then back to the original zoom level may not display the same number of pages when you return to the original zoom level. This behavior occurs when you set your document's page setup to Mirror Margins.

CAUSE

Word for Windows treats facing pages (mirror margins) as "pairs of pages." Therefore, selecting Mirror Margins in Page Setup may change how many total pages Word displays at one time.

STATUS

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

WORKAROUND

You can gain the most control over the number of displayed pages by changing the zoom control to a certain percentage. Print preview will remain at that same zoom no matter what selections you make in Page Setup.

MORE INFORMATION

Word displays pages in print preview based on a number of different criteria. In multipage layout, Word will display pages based on the zoom control you select or by how many pages you want across and down. However Word will not display a page at less than 10 percent of that page's original size. The size of the paper and the orientation of those pages can also affect how many pages will be displayed. Hardware specific variables such as display driver and resolution may also impact how many pages are displayed at one time.

When you change settings in Page Layout (for example, paper orientation or Mirror Margins), the number of pages displayed will often change as well. Word tries to keep what you've selected as the zoom and/or number of pages consistent as it displays these changes for you. Sometimes, Word will make a decision to display the change at the same zoom but with a different number of pages.

EXAMPLES

In print preview, if you select 24 percent or 25 percent zoom, you can display three pages. If you then choose Page Setup from the Format menu and change the orientation to landscape, you may have only two pages across. You may also get a second row of pages. Word will attempt to keep the zoom at 25 percent and display as many pages as possible at that zoom. By contrast, if you choose multipage view and select 1x3 as the display, then change the paper orientation, Word will try to keep the view at three pages across by reducing the zoom percentage.

When you change to facing pages (mirror margins) while in print preview, Word still tries to maintain the zoom or multipage view you previously selected. However, it will treat pages as pairs. This means if you had an odd number of pages displayed before applying mirror margins, an even number will now be displayed at that same zoom. If you then use the magnifier and view a page at 100 percent and then zoom back out again, Word will attempt to show you the total number of pages you had originally selected, except now they will be pairs of pages. Sometimes Word cannot display all those pairs because Word cannot display them at less than 10 percent.

Additional query words: 6.0 zoom print preview word6 word7 7.0 word95 mirror margins facing pages winword 8.0 word8 word97

Keywords : kbualink97
Version : WINDOWS:6.0,6.0a,6.0c,7.0,7.0a; :
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :