Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated December 31, 2022)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Karyn wrote about problems she was having with leader dots not behaving properly in Word. It seems the dots would appear just fine in Print Preview, but then run beyond where they should when actually printing.
If you've checked to make sure that the tab stops are set properly (they are in the right quantity, of the right type, and in the right position) and that the alignment of the paragraphs is set as it should be (to Left or Justified), then there are a couple of other things you can check. First thing to do is to make sure you reset the printer to factory specifications. You may have to dig out your printer manual, but sometimes the firmware within a printer can get confused and resetting is necessary.
If the problem still isn't solved, then the next thing to check is the printer drivers or the drivers for your video card. You should download the latest drivers from the manufacturer's Web site. Download drivers both for the printer and the video card and replace your old drivers with the new ones.
If you have done this, and the problem still exists, a less-likely cause is that the drivers are too new. Strangely, it can sometime be the latest drivers that introduce a problem that previously wasn't evident. In such cases, particularly if the introduced fault is severe, it can sometime make sense to go back to using an earlier driver version.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (849) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.
Do More in Less Time! An easy-to-understand guide to the more advanced features available in the Microsoft 365 version of Word. Enhance the quality of your documents and boost productivity in any field with this in-depth resource. Complete your Word-related tasks more efficiently as you unlock lesser-known tools and learn to quickly access the features you need. Check out Microsoft 365 Word For Professionals For Dummies today!
Word does not keep printer information associated with documents. You can define a macro for each printer you use and put ...
Discover MoreIf you need to put information on a label that has both left- and right-aligned information on the same line, it can be ...
Discover MoreBy default, Word automatically changes the "Print What" setting in the Print dialog box to reflect what it thinks should ...
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