Drawing Layer Lines Print with Rounded Ends

ID: Q142953

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
Microsoft Word for Windows NT, version 6.0
Microsoft Word for Windows 95, version 7.0

SYMPTOMS

When you create a horizontal or vertical line using the drawing feature of Word, the lines are displayed and printed with rounded ends. At small point sizes, the end points appear square, however, as you increase the point size, the end points appear rounded. There is no option for changing the style of line ends.

This same problem occurs when you create an arc or a freeform object on the drawing layer.

CAUSE

The line-drawing engine is designed to draw lines with rounded ends.

WORKAROUND

To create a line with square end points, use one of the following workarounds.

Method 1: Use the rectangle tool in the drawing layer. To do this,

          a. Draw a rectangle.

          b. Click Drawing Object on the Format menu and make the
             following changes:

             1) Select the Size and Position tab, and reduce the height
                of the rectangle to 0.01 inch.

             2) Select the Fill tab and apply a fill color to the
                rectangle.

             3) Select the Line tab, and clear the Rounded Corners
                option.

             4) Click OK.

Method 2: Use the line tool in the drawing layer and a frame. To do this,

          a. Draw a line to the desired point size and length.

          b. Select the line and then click Frame on the Insert menu.

          c. Double-click the line to open the Word Picture Editor.

          d. Select the line.

          e. Place the mouse pointer over one end of the line. When it
             displays as a crosshair pointer, click and drag the line
             outward so that it stretches past the grid area. Repeat this
             step with the other end.

          f. Click the Close Picture button.

Method 3. Use a frame and table to create a line. To do this,

          a. Insert a frame into the document and size the frame to
             equal the desired line length.

          b. With the insertion point inside the frame, insert a 1 row,
             1 column table.

          c. With the insertion point inside the table cell, click
             Borders And Shading on the Format menu. Select the desired
             line style, apply a bottom border to the model under
             Border, and then click OK.

          d. Click Cell Height And Width on the Table menu, select the
             Row tab, set the Height to exactly 1 point, and then click
             OK.

Method 4: Use a table to create a line. To do this,

          a. Insert a one-row, one-column table into your document.

          b. With the insertion point in the table cell, click Borders
             and Shading on the Format menu, select the desired line
             style, apply a bottom border to the model under Border, and
             click OK.

          c. Click Cell Height and Width on the Table menu, select the
             column tab, and set the width to equal the desired line
             length. Select the Row tab, set the Height to exactly 1
             point, and then click OK.

             Note: You can also set the Alignment option or Indent from
             Left measurement for more precise positioning of the line.

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q101092
   TITLE     : Ends of Lines Drawn with Line Tool Are Rounded

KBCategory: kbusage KBSubcategory: kbgraphic

Additional query words: 6.0 6.0a 6.0c 7.0 drawing layer free form incorrect corner line rule round squared rounded curved winword ntword word6 word7 word95

Keywords          : kbgraphic
Version           : 6.0 6.0a 6.0c 7.0
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: January 20, 1999