WD: Screen Text Is Unreadable with Fractional Widths Enabled

• Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a, 5.1, 6.0, 6.0.1

SYMPTOMS

When you view a Word document on the screen, the text is unreadable; however, when you print the document, the printed text is readable. In addition, Font Substitution may be disabled.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when you select Fractional Widths and then print the document to a printer that supports the option. Fractional Widths allows more accurate character spacing in printed documents. However, when you enable this option, text that appears on the screen is less readable. In addition, when you select Fractional Widths, the printer driver cannot perform font substitution, even when you select Font Substitution.

NOTE: Printer drivers that support Fractional Widths include printer drivers for the Apple LaserWriter and the Hewlett-Packard (HP) DeskWriter.

Word 6.0 and 6.0.1

When you create a new document in Word 6.0 or 6.0.1 for the Macintosh, Fractional Widths is disabled by default. However, Fractional Widths is enabled if you select a LaserWriter printer.

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

     ARTICLE-ID: Q118835
     TITLE     : Word 6.0 for the Macintosh: Default Settings

Word 5.0, 5.0a, and 5.1

When you select a printer driver that supports Fractional Widths in the Chooser, and you create a new document in Word 5.0, 5.0a, or 5.1 for the Macintosh, Fractional Widths is enabled by default.

WORKAROUNDS

To display undistorted text on the screen, disable the default Fractional Widths setting. To change the default setting, use one of the following methods:

Word 6.0 and 6.0.1

1. On the Tools menu, click Options.

2. Click the Print tab.

3. Clear the Fractional Widths check box

4. Click OK.

   -or-

5. On the File menu, click Print.

6. Click Word Options.

7. Clear the Fractional Widths check box.

8. Click OK.

Word 5.0, 5.0a, and 5.1

1. On the File menu, click Page Setup.

2. Clear the Fractional Widths check box.

3. Select the Use As Default check box.

4. Click OK.

MORE INFORMATION

In Word 5.0, 5.0a, and 5.1, you can add the Fractional Widths command to a menu. To do this, use the following steps:

1. On the Tools menu, click Commands.

2. Click Fractional Widths.

3. Under Menu, click Add.

4. Click Close.

For additional information about Fractional Widths and how to customize Word, please see the following article(s) in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q76971
   TITLE     : Screen Text Is Unreadable with Fractional Widths Enabled