Glossary Entry with Normal Style Doesn't Maintain Alignment

ID: Q81742

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Word for Windows, if you format an autotext (known as glossary entry in Word 2.0) entry with Normal style and then directly format it with an alignment that differs from the Normal style, the autotext entry loses the direct alignment formatting if you save the template. After saving the template, text inserted from the autotext entry is formatted with the Normal style alignment rather than the alignment you originally assigned to the autotext entry.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Word for Windows versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.1a, 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0b, 2.0c, and 6.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information here as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

Workaround

Format the text with a unique style prior to defining as autotext. When the autotext is expanded, the style is included with the expanded text.

1. Type the desired autotext text on a blank paragraph line.

2. Apply the desired alignment formatting to the text.

3. Press CTRL+Shift+S (CTRL+S in Word 2.0) to activate the Style box

   on the ribbon.

4. Type a unique style name (preferably the same name that you want to
   use for the autotext name), and press ENTER.

5. Select the paragraph.

6. From the Edit menu, choose AutoText (Glossary in Word 2.0). In the

   Name box, type a unique name (preferably the same name entered in
   step 4), and choose the Add (Define in Word 2.0) button.

7. From the File menu, choose Save All. Choose the Cancel or No button
   when prompted to save the current document. Choose the Yes button in
   response to the prompted to save changes to global template.

The next time the autotext is expanded, the text is formatted according to the uniquely-defined style.

Steps to Reproduce Problem

 1. From the File menu, choose New, then choose the OK button.

 2. Change the Normal style alignment to Justified with the following
    steps:

    a. From the Format menu, choose Style, and select Normal in the
       Style box.

    b. In Word 6.0, choose the Modify button and from the Format drop-
       down box choose Paragraph. In Word 2.0, choose the Define button,
       then choose the Paragraph button.

    c. In the Alignment box, select Justified, then choose the OK
       button.

    d. Check the Add To Template.

    e. Choose the Change button (Word 2.0 only). Choose the Yes button
       is response to the prompt "Do you want to change the properties
       of the standard style?"

    f. Choose the Apply button.

    g. From the File menu, choose Save All. Choose the Cancel or No
       button when prompted to save the current document. Choose the Yes
       button in response to the prompted to save changes to global
       template.

 3. Type the desired AutoText text on a blank paragraph line.

 4. Press CTRL+L to left-align the text.

 5. Select the current paragraph.

 6. From the Edit menu, choose AutoText, type "test" (without the
    quotation marks) in the Name box, and choose the Add
    button.

 7. Test the AutoText in the current document. On a blank line
    formatted with the Normal style (paragraph alignment is justified),
    type "test" (without the quotation marks), and press F3 to expand
    the AutoText entry.

 8. Position the insertion point in the inserted text. Note that it is
    left-aligned, as expected.

 9. From the File menu, choose Save All. Choose the Cancel or No button
    when prompted to save the current document. Choose the Yes button in
    response to the prompted to save changes to global template.

10. Repeat step 7.

Position the insertion point in the text inserted in step 10. Note that the alignment is now justified.

Reference(s):

"Microsoft Word for Windows User's Guide," version 2.0, pages 267-269, 700-704

"Microsoft Word for Windows User's Reference," version 1.x, pages 141-142, 69-70

KBCategory: kbusage KBSubcategory: kbformat kbtemplate Additional query words: 6.0 6.0a 6.0c winword2 winword word6 1.x 2.x wrong stored expand winword2

Keywords          : kbtemplate kbformat 
Version           : 1.x 2.x 6.0 6.0a 6.0c
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: February 7, 1998