Why, oh why?!

sneakers145 · Sep 18, 2007

I'm trying to print out 3 chapters of novel #2 to send in for critique for a conference I'm attending next month. So I cut, paste, save, in Courier New 12. Hit print. Tell me why the last few pages print out in 10 point??

I select all. I hit Courier New. I hit 12 point. It looks fine and dandy on my computer screen. But still prints the last few pages in 10 point.

Why, oh why, are computers and printers possessed? When I finally start to submit, it will be THIS that drives me over the edge.

AAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

FloVoyager · Sep 18, 2007

What word processor are you using? And you say it "looks fine" on your computer screen. Can you click in the area giving you trouble and see exactly what the font size is there? It might look fine but not be what you think.

sneakers145 · Sep 18, 2007

The original document says 12 point Courier of all areas in question. Why would it change if you cut/paste into a BLANK document?

FloVoyager · Sep 18, 2007

Well, again, it would help to know which word processor. I know more about Word, for example, than other programs.

That said, my first guess is that the text picked up the font size of the destination page. What's the default there?

sneakers145 · Sep 18, 2007

Oh, sorry. It is Word. I don't know which version.

sneakers145 · Sep 18, 2007

Because after I cut and paste, it goes all wonky. One sentence is 10 point, then 12, then after a paragraph or two it's ALL 10 point.

FloVoyager · Sep 18, 2007

Okay. Cool.

Now, so I understand you... You have a novel. You want to print some of it. You Copy and Paste a portion into a blank document. And the font comes out in two sizes. Right?

tjwriter · Sep 18, 2007

In word, on the Formatting toolbar, there is a drop down box for Style. Click that drop down box and select "Clear all formatting".

Then select all and set the formatting to Courier 12.

tjwriter · Sep 18, 2007

Crap, I had to chase down a toddler and forgot to tell you that you should select all before you do the clear all formatting thing.

Sage · Sep 18, 2007

Next to the font drop box in Word do you have a formatting drop box (or it says "style" in the box that appears if you hold your cursor over it)? If so, maybe select all, & go to that drop box & try "clear formatting." Then try to do the font, size, spacing, etc again.

sneakers145 · Sep 18, 2007

FloVoyager said:
Okay. Cool.

Now, so I understand you... You have a novel. You want to print some of it. You Copy and Paste a portion into a blank document. And the font comes out in two sizes. Right?

Yes. That's it, exactly.

sneakers145 · Sep 18, 2007

tjwriter said:
In word, on the Formatting toolbar, there is a drop down box for Style. Click that drop down box and select "Clear all formatting".

Then select all and set the formatting to Courier 12.

Question: Why would a blank page be pre-formatted?

Sage · Sep 18, 2007

The text you selected was pre-formatted. Sometimes pasting just does funky stuff.

tjwriter · Sep 18, 2007

Yup, Sage has it. Word does funky stuff period. You have to learn to work around its quirks.

And it seems Sage and I are sharing one mind tonight...

FloVoyager · Sep 18, 2007

Okay, here’s my quick, down and dirty solution, to avoid this kind of problem.

If you want the first three chapters, go to the end of the third chapter. Press Ctrl+Shift+End. That will take to you the end of the document and select everything in between. Now press Delete. You’ll see all you have left is what you wanted to print. Yes, you’ll get any title page you have in front of Chapter 1 as well, but it’s easier to just toss it than try to remove it – especially if it’s like mine, several pages and broken into sections.

You should be able to print now without spontaneous font changes.

And of course, be careful not to save this document or you'll lose the stuff you deleted. You can save it under another name, if you want to.

Hope this helps.

sneakers145 · Sep 18, 2007

Back when I was printing my first novel I do remember that when it would print, there would be lines that were suddenly 7 or 8 point and I had to go through all 500 pages and fix them...

sneakers145 · Sep 18, 2007

Yeah, it's quirky. That's what's maddening! LOL

Duncan J Macdonald · Sep 18, 2007

FloVoyager said:
Okay, here’s my quick, down and dirty solution, to avoid this kind of problem.

If you want the first three chapters, go to the end of the third chapter. ...

What's wrong with going to the end of the third chapter, noting the page number, and printing with the option "Pages __ to __" and filling in the appropriate blanks?

sneakers145 · Sep 18, 2007

Duncan J Macdonald said:
What's wrong with going to the end of the third chapter, noting the page number, and printing with the option "Pages __ to __" and filling in the appropriate blanks?

Because the real chapter one was really a prologue and I wanted to clear the page numbers and put on new ones. So chapter 2 became 1, 3 became 2, etc.

I'm anal retentive, LOL.

FloVoyager · Sep 18, 2007

Duncan J Macdonald said:
What's wrong with going to the end of the third chapter, noting the page number, and printing with the option "Pages __ to __" and filling in the appropriate blanks?

Okay, I'm obviously too tired to think of anything so simple. Been a long day.

Mr. Macdonald makes a valid point, sneakers145. That just might work.

Good luck.

FloVoyager · Sep 18, 2007

Ah, page numbers. Now that's a whole nuther can of worms.

My method (or his) would still work, depending on how you did the page numbers. You could just delete the page numbers you have and redo them. Again, don't save under the same name or you'll lose stuff.

How did you do them?

lkp · Sep 18, 2007

Why don't you just figure out on which page ch. 3 ends and then just print only those pages? My Word will do that.

Your problem is why I hate word BTW, and why I almost never use it. Grr. So typical

Sage · Sep 18, 2007

You can also choose a specific page for the page numbers to start (I think).

sneakers145 · Sep 18, 2007

I just did the original page numbers by using the task bar and clicking on page numbers.

For my submission, I wanted them to be 1-40, not 13-53, because I cut the prologue/orignal ch. 1 which isn't necessary for the critique (and stinks, too, LOL). So I cut the 3 chapters in question, pasted them, then added a new header, page numbers, and printed. And that's when it went all wonky...

I've fixed it but it was a PIA.

FloVoyager · Sep 18, 2007

sneakers145 said:
I've fixed it but it was a PIA.

Yea! Good for you. And good luck on your submission.

Why, oh why?!

sneakers145

FloVoyager

Will write for chocolate

sneakers145

FloVoyager

Will write for chocolate

sneakers145

sneakers145

FloVoyager

Will write for chocolate

tjwriter

Emerging Anew

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Sage

Our Lady of Parentheticals

sneakers145

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tjwriter

Emerging Anew

FloVoyager

Will write for chocolate

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Duncan J Macdonald

Plotting! Not Plodding!

sneakers145

FloVoyager

Will write for chocolate

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Will write for chocolate

lkp

Sage

Our Lady of Parentheticals

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FloVoyager

Will write for chocolate