WD: How to Toggle Background Pagination in Word

ID: Q78322

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

When the Background Pagination option is turned on, Word repaginates the document when the program is idle. This allows the page numbers on the status bar to remain current. If Background Pagination is on, Word inserts dotted lines to represent page breaks.

In some cases, the Background Pagination option can cause other operations to slow down. If this is a problem, you need to turn off Background Pagination.

NOTE: The Background Repagination option is not available when you are in print preview or page layout view or when you print the document. You cannot turn off background repagination when you are in page layout view or print preview.

MORE INFORMATION

To turn Background Repagination on or off in Word, use the appropriate precedure below for the version of Word that you are using.

Word 6.x, 7.x

1. On the View menu, click Normal View.

2. On the Tools menu, click Options.

3. Click the General tab.

4. Select or clear the Background Repagination check box.

5. Click OK.

Word 5.x

1. On the Tools menu, click Preferences.

2. In the Category box, select General.

3. In the Settings box, change the Background Pagination option by 

   selecting or clearing the check box.
4. Close the dialog box.

Word 4.0

1. On the Edit menu, click Preferences.

2. In the Settings box, change the Background Pagination option by 

   selecting or clearing the check box.
3. Choose the OK button.

Word 2.x

1. On the Tools menu, click Options.

2. In the Category box, select General.

3. In the Settings box, change the Background Pagination option by 

   selecting or clearing the check box.
4. Choose the OK button.

NOTE: This version of Word had the capability of doing a manual pagination if Background Pagination was turned off. To do this, click Repaginate Now on the Tools menu.

Word 1.x

1. From the Utilities menu, choose Customize (ALT, U, U).

2. Change the Background Pagination option by selecting or clearing 

   the check box.
3. Choose the OK button.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Word for Windows User's Guide," version 6.0 page 264

"Microsoft Word for Windows User's Guide," version 5.0 page 437

"Microsoft Word Reference to Microsoft Word:, version 4.0 page 238

"Microsoft Word for Windows User's Guide," version 2.0 page 731

"Microsoft Word for Windows User's Reference," version 1.x page 287

Additional query words: switch update 

Keywords          : kbui winword ntword macword word6 winword2 
Version           : 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;MACINTOSH:4.0,5.0,5.0a,5.1,5.1a,6.0,6.0 .1,6.0.1a
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: February 6, 1998