Unstable tree

[stockton]

Hi folks, as iv'e stated here before not technical at any level,
iv'e written out 4 little family tree's using Word 2003, from my
point of view they look smashing, but when i take them to my local
library for A3 print outs i find some dates and words have moved,
i know nothing about using " Tabs " not all dates move and its only
the odd place name that moves, how do i stabalise my tree documents.
Iv'e had about anout 16 A3 tree documents printed out all with same problem.
Help!!!!!!!! please.
All the best.
Derek

[JAKnighton]

If I had to guess the document settings aren't calibrated for A3 paper, so when you print it out the alignment of the text doesn't reflect what you see on the screen.

Without seeing screenshots and/or printouts of the document in question I can't offer much help however. I also haven't used Microsoft Word for anything like this in years, I would use a program called Adobe Indesign, although I am a graphic designer by trade.

Do you use family tree software? You can print out charts that will be much easier to set up correctly.

[SmallTownGirl]

Do they look correct when printed on A4, or haven't you tried that?

Or, if you've not used Tabs that could probably explain why things don't line up.

STG

[stockton]

Hi SmallTownGirl, iv'e not tried A4 but you are right about not using tabs, i'm just not a technical person at any level, just scraping through, will probably get there in the end, just cant see any light at the minute, thanks for reply.
All the best.

Derek

[SmallTownGirl]

As you see it on the screen, things probably look as if they're lined up, but if you click on Print and then Print Preview, it will show you what the document will look like when it's printed.

If items don't line up there, it's because you've not used Tabs. 

Bit of technical stuff [simplified] - back in the days of manual typewriters, each letter of the alphabet was set up so that they took up the same amount of space regardless of how narrow/wide they really were.  An i is much narrower than a w, but they were made to be the same width and that made lining things up quite easy by using the space bar.  Then they invented proportional fonts, where an i wasn't as wide as a w, and that made it extremely difficult to line things up using the space bar, because although things could look lined up, when they print, they're not.

Hope this makes some sort of sense!

STG

[stockton]

Its ok SmallTownGirl, as i said i will get there in the end, will have to try and learn how to use
Tabs
Again thanks for reply.

All the best.

Derek

[hallmark]

It is easy enough to do but one would need to see the print out to see what is what...

If, for example, one date is going over onto a new line in printout, you would need to click in front of that date and hit Backspace.

Plus, if you hit the Enter at the end of text that becomes a Fixed piece of Document (you are telling it to put in a new line) which is different to text going onto a new line itself as part of the text flow!

[stockton]

Thanks hallmark, the penny will drop eventualy
will start to have a little go and see what happens

Thanks all.

Derek.

[hallmark]

Thanks hallmark, the penny will drop eventualy
will start to have a little go and see what happens

Thanks all.

Derek.

OK.. when you look at your Document, there is a lot there you will not see!

For example, where you see an empty space between two words, there is something there, every time you press Spacebar  or any key something is put in that does not show in Print or Print Preview!!

Just look at the dots between these words, they don't show!!

If you open your Document and the go View> you should get a choice to view non print characters or words to that effect!