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: What Line Am I On?.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated October 1, 2019)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Word provides you a number of informational items on the status bar, all designed to help you know where your insertion pointer is located within your document. One of the items normally listed in the status bar is the line number on the current page. For instance, Ln 31 tells you that your insertion pointer is located on line 31 of the current page.
The line position indicator doesn't show up all the time in Word, however. For instance, the line counter never shows up if you are in Web Layout view. In addition, the indicator is disabled if you have the Wrap to Window check box selected on the View tab of the Options dialog box. Finally, you won't see a line indicator if you have background pagination turned off in Word.
You should also be aware that the validity of what you see in the line indicator is affected by various settings and conditions. Most notably, the number will not be valid if Word is in the middle of repaginating your document. If you have a very large document that you just opened, then Word can take quite a while to do the repagination, depending on the speed of your machine and how many other tasks the machine is performing.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1412) 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: What Line Am I On?.
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2016-11-15 05:29:49
Grrreat Jennifer - that's exactly what I was looking for!! Thanks
2015-11-13 13:01:35
Jennifer Thomas
Just in case you aren't seeing Line Numbers on your status bar ... right click a blank area of the status bar and then click Line Numbers.
Consider adding Section too (if you work with multi-section documents) - it's convenient to know that for use with the Go To command. Or you can type in the Page option of Go To as you would o print a specific page -- S3P4L20 would take you to Section 3 Page 4, Line 20.
2015-03-05 17:38:41
fay
Sorry. I can't find half the things you describe in your post. For example I cant find the "Wrap to Window check box" and don't know how to check whether the background pagination is turned on. I think you need to be more explicit for dummies like me!
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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:
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