WD: Word 5.1 Document May Not Print

• Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, version 6.0
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a

SYMPTOMS

If you open a document that was created or edited in Word 5.1 for the Macintosh, when you attempt to print the document, the printout may be a blank document, or the document may not be printed at all.

CAUSE

This problem is caused by an invalid page number value that, when converted to Word, causes the document not to print.

WORKAROUND

To correct this problem in Word 6.0 for the Macintosh, update to Word version 6.0.1 for the Macintosh. If you cannot upgrade to Word 6.0.1 for the Macintosh or if you are running Word 7.0 for Windows 95, use either of the following methods to reset the document's starting page number.

Method 1: Use a Macro to Reset the Page Number

If multiple documents are affected, you may want to use the following macro to reset the starting page number automatically.

WARNING: ANY USE BY YOU OF THE CODE PROVIDED IN THIS ARTICLE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. Microsoft provides this macro code "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose.

   Sub MAIN
      FormatPageNumber
   End Sub

Method 2: Manually Reset the Page Number

To manually reset the page number, follow these steps:

1. Open a document.

2. On the Insert Menu, click Page Numbers.

3. Click the Format button.

4. In the Page Numbering box, click OK.

   When you click OK, the page numbers are inserted.

5. Click Close.

After you use either of these methods, you should be able to print the document. However, if you are still unable to print the document correctly, you may be able to fix the document with one of the following methods.

Method 3: Save the File in Rich Text Format (RTF)

To do this, follow these steps:

1. On the File menu, click Save As.

2. On the Save File As Type list, select Rich Text Format, and click the Save button.

3. Close the document and re-open it.

Select everything except the last paragraph mark by pressing COMMAND+END, and then press COMMAND+SHIFT+HOME. Copy everything except the last paragraph mark to a new document.

Word for the Macintosh associates a wide variety of formatting with the last paragraph mark, especially section and style formatting. If you copy everything except the last paragraph mark to a new document, the corrupt page number may be left in the original document. In the new document, reapply the section or style formatting if necessary.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Word version 6.0 for the Macintosh and Word 7.0 for Windows 95. This problem was corrected in Word version 6.0.1 for the Macintosh. Microsoft is researching this problem for Word 7.0 for Windows 95 and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.