Forum Discussion
Word Document Using Columns Not Modified, But Suddenly Displays Differently
I am using MS Word on my Windows 11 desktop. I have been using a Word document that I created a couple of years ago. The document uses Columns.
The last time I modified it was a year ago. I tend to print it out every two days.
Suddenly, the document displays differently and prints those differences. It now displays vertical lines below four of the five squares.
I moved the document to my Windows 11 laptop. Same problem there.
I sent the Word document to my son who opened it on his Mac computer. On his computer, it displays exactly as it should -- No erroneous vertical lines.
Again, I have not modified the document. I thought maybe a Windows update may have caused the problem, but I don't see any Windows update in about one month.
I am displaying two images below, a "before" and "after" image. The "before" (i.e., correct) image shows five squares and the alphabet displaying vertically. The "after" image shows vertical lines below the first four squares.
Can anyone suggest a fix for this? Repeating myself again -- I have not modified this file in a year.
Thank you.
Len Jacobson
First Image -- Correct display of the five squares and the alphabet displayed vertically
Second Image -- Incorrect display. Vertical lines appearing below the first four squares.
12 Replies
This is how your document appears when accessed on-line via the link that you provided
When the document is downloaded and opened in Word in Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise, Version 2607 (Build 20226.20078 Click-to-RUn) Current Channel, the document appears as:
Note that the Column Breaks inherit the border from the paragraphs at the top of the next column. If the border is removed from the Column Break, it is also removed from the three paragraphs in the next column and if it is removed from those three paragraphs, it is also removed from the preceding Column Break
Here, wher the document is saved as a PDF, the Column Breaks, being not-printing characters, do NOT appear and Neither do the borders that appear either side of the Column Breaks when the document is viewed in Word.
Given that the situaton created in your document is rather unique, it is unlikely that Microsoft will do anything about it, but if you want to, bring it to their attention via the Feedback facility under the Help tab of the Ribbon. Rightly or wrongly, the Microsoft Product Teams do not really follow this forum.
Hi Len,
It's not just Windows that gets updates — Office does, too. Try updating Office by going to "File | Account | Update Options | Update now".
Since this is an old document: Does it open in compatibility mode? If so, convert it to the new Word format.
In Word, you can set the program to display vertical lines between columns. This may have already been the case in your document, but depending on the printer driver, these lines aren’t always displayed.
Perhaps these lines were added by an update; if so, try removing them using the columns menu.
Lisa
I did try to update Office. It said I have the latest copy.
I should clarify -- the document is not THAT old. It's probably three or four years old, and the last time I updated it was about one year ago.
Len
I just clicked on the link and it brings up a very different image of the Word document. I don't know why.
Len Jacobson
How about if you use the Save as PDF Facility? Do the lines still appear in a PDF created in that way?
This is the third time I am replying to this question -- the previous two replies just disappeared. Don't know why.
Yes. When I create a PDF of the Word document, the unwanted vertical lines do appear.
Thank you.
Len Jacobson
NO!!!! MY MISTAKE!!!
The unwanted vertical lines DO APPEAR in a PDF!!!!
Sorry for the confusion.
Len
No. The unwanted vertical lines do NOT appear in a PDF.
Len
Do these print or show up in a pdf?
Yes. The unwanted vertical lines DO appear in a PDF.
Thanks for suggesting this. Does this help to figure out what the problem is?
Len
Yes, it does help.
Could you save a sample document with the problem on OneDrive or DropBox and post a share link here?
