Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Adding a Horizontal Watermark with a PostScript Printer.
In other issues of WordTips you discovered how to print a diagonal watermark across a page if you are using a PostScript printer. There may be times, however, when you do not want the watermark to be diagonal. The following command, when placed in a field inserted in a header or footer, will print the word DRAFT in a 100-point font across the center of your page.
Print \p page " /Wmark (DRAFT) def /WSize 100 def wp$x wp$right sub wp$left add 2 div wp$y wp$top sub wp$bottom add 2 div translate /Helvetica-BoldOblique findfont WSize scalefont setfont .7 setgray 3 setlinewidth Wmark stringwidth pop 2 div neg WSize .4 mul neg moveto Wmark true charpath stroke "
Remember that all the text shown here must be placed within a field. You can insert the field braces by pressing Ctrl+F9. The font used is bold italics Helvetica; if you do not have that font in your printer, you can change the font name in the code to a font you do have. You can also change the word that is printed by changing the word DRAFT on the first line.
Finally, don't forget that this tip will only work if you are using a printer that understand PostScript and are using a PostScript printer driver with that printer. Some printers understand multiple printer control languages, including PostScript, so it is important to determine which language the printer driver itself uses. If the driver uses a different language, such as the HP Printer Control Language (HPPCL), then the field will not display the watermark.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (460) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Adding a Horizontal Watermark with a PostScript Printer.
Do More in Less Time! Are you ready to harness the full power of Word 2013 to create professional documents? In this comprehensive guide you'll learn the skills and techniques for efficiently building the documents you need for your professional and your personal life. Check out Word 2013 In Depth today!
If you need to print more than one copy of your document, you need to become familiar with the options in the Print ...
Discover MoreAdd a bunch of drawing objects to your document, and you may wonder how to make sure they all appear on a printout. How ...
Discover MoreWord can be used for printing a variety of document types. You may want to use the program to print a festive banner for ...
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.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2019 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: 
Comments