How Text with Layout Converter Determines Line Length

ID: Q69698

The information in this article applies to:

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
Microsoft Word for Windows NT, version 6.0
Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.1, 5.1a, 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.1a

SUMMARY

When you save a document in "Text With Layout" or "MS-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.

For 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 document 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 contain more than 60 characters, the lines of text are wrapped, and the remaining text appears on the following line.

MORE INFORMATION

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.


Converter Option         Description
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------

   PointSize=n              This option 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. 12 CPI multiplied by
                            6-inches of printable space determines that the
                            converter will allow 72 characters per line.

   Width=n                  This option 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.

For more information on the various terms used in typography and Word, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q50987 WD: Definitions of Typography Terms in Word for Windows

Q364017 WD: Definitions of Typography Terms in Word for the Macintosh

PointSize=n and Width=n are optional and can be set as follows:

NOTE: The default settings for PointSize and Width are Width=80 and PointSize=12.

Word for Windows 95 versions 7.0, 7.0a

To change the Width= and PointSize= settings:

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:\Msoffice\Winword\Macros).

On the Tools menu, click Macro.

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

In the Conversion box, select Text With Layout.

In the Conversion Option box, select Width=80. In the Setting box, type the maximum number of characters that you want to appear on a line.

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

Word for Windows versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c

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

To change the Width= and PointSize= settings:

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).

On the Tools menu, click Macro.

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

In the Conversion box, select Text With Layout.

In the Conversion Option box, select Width=80. In the Setting box, type the maximum number of characters that you want to appear on a line.

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

Word for Windows versions 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-cd, 2.0b, 2.0c

The settings are stored in the [TextLytConv] section of the Win.ini file. You can view and change the options for each converter in Word using the following steps:

On the Tools menu, click Options.

Under Category, select Win.ini.

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

In the Startup Options box, select the converter option you want to modify. For example, select Width=80.

To modify the setting, type the new information in the Setting box, and then click Set. For example, change 80 to 72 in the Setting box and then click Set.

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

Click Close to close the Options dialog box.

Word for Windows version 1.x

For more information on how to modify these settings, see the Convinfo.doc document located in your Word program directory.

Word for Macintosh versions 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.1a

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.

On the Tools menu, click Macro.

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

In the Conversion box, select Text With Layout

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.

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

Word for the Macintosh versions 5.0, 5.1

The same two options are available in the "MS Word Conversion Options" file located in the Word Commands sub-folder in 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.

Additional query words: smart txtwlyt

Keywords : kbconversion wordnt winword ntword macword word6 word7 word95
Version : MACINTOSH:5.0,5.1,5.1a,6.0,6.0.1,6.0.1a; WINDOWS:1.0,1.1,1.1a,2.0,2.0a,2.0a-CD,2.0b,2.0c,6.0,6.0a,6.0c,7.0,7.0a; winnt:6.0
Platform : MACINTOSH WINDOWS winnt
Issue type :