Text Area Measurements Are Always Displayed on Ruler

ID: Q121610

The information in this article applies to:

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

SYMPTOMS

Column-width measurements are permanently displayed on the ruler, or when you set tab stops by clicking on the ruler, the ruler displays horizontal lines and shows the distance to each margin.

CAUSE

There are two potential causes of this problem:

The right (secondary) mouse button is accidentally being activated along with the left (primary) button.
Word was installed when the Swap Left/Right Buttons option was activated and is using the mouse driver that shipped with Windows 3.1 or Windows for Workgroups 3.11. (To locate this option, open Control Panel and choose the Mouse icon.)

RESOLUTION

If the right (secondary) mouse button is accidentally being activated, do the following:

Remove the bottom cover of the mouse and check for any debris that may be impairing the functionality of the mouse. Replace the cover and physically lift the right mouse button. This procedure usually resolves the problem.

If Word was installed when the Swap Left/Right Buttons option was activated, do the following:

Deactivate the Swap Left/Right Buttons option or upgrade to a later version of the Microsoft Mouse driver. (This problem has not been reproduced with the driver version 9.01 or later.)

MORE INFORMATION

In Word 6.0 for Windows, you can see the exact measurements of a text area by holding down the ALT key and clicking the horizontal ruler.

KBCategory: kbenv KBSubcategory: kbhw Additional reference words: 6.0 7.0 word7 word6 word95 stuck length inches measure points centimeters picas winword ruler display doesn't won't change permanently changed number stop right click

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

Last Reviewed: January 20, 1999