WD97: Equation Editor Expands Equation and Causes Error Message

ID: Q185670

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Word 97, when you open a document created in a previous version of Word, and then double-click an equation in that document, the equation may expand to be wider than the physical page width, and you may receive the following error:

   This equation is the maximum size allowed. Please save the equation
   immediately. If you want to continue, you must divide it into smaller
   pieces.

CAUSE

This error message occurs if the equation was created in Equation Editor version 2.x, and contains small spaced characters (created by pressing CTRL+ALT+SPACE). When Word 97 opens the equation, Equation Editor version 3.0 converts these special small spaced characters to full-sized spaces, The expanded equation that results may be wider than the physical page width, and may cause the error message.

WORKAROUND

To correct the expanded equation, follow these steps:

1. Open the document in Microsoft Word 97, and double-click the equation.

   NOTE: If Microsoft Equation version 3.0 displays the error message
   stated in the "Symptoms" section, click OK until the message is
   no longer displayed.

2. On the Format menu, click Spacing.

3. Scroll down the list of items and click to select Spacing Adjustment.

4. Change the setting to 40% and click OK.

5. Click somewhere in the document to close the equation.

6. On the Edit menu, click Select All.

7. Press F9 to update all fields in the document, including the equation

   fields.

NOTE: You can also select and delete the spaces, but depending on the number of equations and unwanted spaces in the document, this solution may not be practical.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

The following table indicates which version of Microsoft Equation ships with which version of Microsoft Word:

   Microsoft Word version          Microsoft Equation version
   ----------------------          --------------------------
            2.x                              1.x
            6.x                              2.0
            95                               2.1
            97                               3.0

Additional query words:

Keywords          : kberrmsg kbdta kbconversion word97 kblayout kbeqedit 
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbpending

Last Reviewed: February 13, 1999