Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated August 10, 2024)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Elizabeth recently upgraded her version of Word. She got a new computer that came with the newer version of Word installed. She noticed that one of her documents—a family history manuscript—doesn't look the same on the newer version of Word as it did on the older version and she was wondering why.
There are two possible causes for this. The first has to do with fonts and the second with printers. It is possible that the newer system has different fonts on it than the older system does, and this affects the way that the text flows in the document. Even if you checked to make sure that the same fonts are on the new system as the old, there could still be differences. Most notably, the old system could have used TrueType fonts, and the new system may use OpenType fonts. If the metric tables aren't exactly the same for the OpenType version of the font as they were for the TrueType version, then the text flow could occur differently on the new system. (Metric tables define how different characters in a font are positioned in relation to each other. They are created by whoever creates the font and can't be changed by mere mortals like you and me.)
The second and more likely culprit is your printer. When people get new computers, they often get new printers. New printers mean new printer drivers, and printer drivers affect how fonts are displayed and printed in Word. This means that the same document won't look the same when printed on different printers; there is no way around it.
Because Word works so closely with both the font definitions (the metric tables) and the printer drivers on various systems, the only way you can ensure that a document will look exactly the same on two different systems is to not use Word. Instead, convert your document into a PDF file using a program like Adobe Acrobat.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (75) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.
Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 365 applications with VBA programming. Written in clear terms and understandable language, the book includes systematic tutorials and contains both intermediate and advanced content for experienced VB developers. Designed to be comprehensive, the book addresses not just one Office application, but the entire Office suite. Check out Mastering VBA for Microsoft Office 365 today!
If you are creating small flyers (two per page), you may want to include a watermark graphic in the background of each of ...
Discover MoreIf you want to have a blank page at the end of a document section, you can insert one manually or you can use the ...
Discover MoreWord provides a built-in shortcut to change the case of a text selection. Understanding how that shortcut works (and the ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments