RE: Preplexing MS Word Style Problem

["Tammy Van Boening" <Tammy -dot- VanBoening -at- healthlanguage -dot- com>]

I would be sobbing too if I had to go from FM to Word. That said, I have
had to use Word in conjunction with FM to satisfy my development staff
who wanted to use Word. Many, many, many of the issues that you are
encountering I encountered as well and this site saved my life and some
of my sanity as well:
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/index.html

It answered all of my questions such as styles reverting to
an indent and tab stop that I did not specify in the .dot file -
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/numbering/OutlineNumbering.html

Give this site a shot (if you don't shoot Word first) and see if this
helps somewhat in the usual vexations with Word - 

TVB


(short of a stiff Margarita with extra salt and some painkillers on top,
really nothing helps completely alleviate Word frustration!)

TVB


 

Tammy Van Boening
Senior Technical Writer 
Health Language, Inc. 
Office: +1 (303) 307-4400 x254 
www.healthlanguage.com 

-----Original Message-----
From:
techwr-l-bounces+tammy -dot- vanboening=healthlanguage -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+tammy -dot- vanboening=healthlanguage -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techw
r-l.com] On Behalf Of Caroline Anne Richardson
Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2007 12:15 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Preplexing MS Word Style Problem

Hi Folks,

Upon recently changing jobs, I have also changed authoring tools from
Adobe
FrameMaker to Microsoft Word 2003. While familiar with Word, I am
finding
myself inevitably vexed by the Styles tool, which I am slowly becoming
re-familiar with after so much time in Frame. *sob*

Here is my specific problem.

I have created a .dot file with the styles for my documentation. Looks
snazzy, I'm happy with it. I've used it several times with no problem. I
have attached this .dot file to the document I am currently creating. So
far, so good. Some tweaking, but its Word, I have to allow for some
*grumble* weirdness.

However, I have noticed that every time I save and close this document,
then
re-open it, two of the styles (namely both Outline Heading styles)
revert to
an indent and tab stop I did not specify in the .dot file. I have
repeatedly
changed the style back to its original (in the document, not the
template),
with several options turned on or off, and get the same result each time
I
re-open the (re-saved) document. Specifically, I have:

- Ensured that the style is not based on another style.
- Ensured that the following style is a body text style which has
straight
forward formatting (no bullets or indents)
- Ensured that the style is updated in the template attached to the
document. (clicked yon left-side "Add to template" check box in Modify)
- Checked/Not checked the Automatically Update box, with no change in
effect
either way.

Of course, there are other weirdness factors associated with this
template I
have created. If I want to auto-number, it automatically assumes a Level
1
Outline Heading and goes all wonky. I also have issues with bulleted
lists... but this is nothing new to Word.

I implore you fine writerly folk out there to send me a nugget or two
about
where I may be formatting wrong within my styles. I may yet redo the
.dot
and re-apply it to the document to see if it works... Saving that, I may
break down and buy a good "Learn Word 2003" book. Any recommendations?

Thank you for your time and brain cycles, I look forward to your
replies.

~Caroline A. Richardson
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats
or 
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007

Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as
Tammy -dot- VanBoening -at- healthlanguage -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit
http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/tammy.vanboening%40he
althlanguage.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.


NOTICE BY HEALTH LANGUAGE, INC.
This message, as well as any attached document, contains information from Health Language, Inc. that is confidential.  The information is intended only for the use of the addressee named above.  If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this message or its attachments is strictly prohibited, and may be unlawful.  If you have received this message in error, please delete all electronic copies of this message and its attachments, if any, destroy any hard copies you may have created, without disclosing the contents, and notify the sender immediately.  Unless expressly stated otherwise, nothing contained in this message should be construed as a digital or electronic signature, nor is it intended to reflect an intention to make an agreement by electronic means.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007 
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.