Word file won't print text 'Centered'

I am having some trouble formatting a word document to print the way I need
it to. It may be a problem with the printer, but if I set up a similar
document in Wordpad, it seems to print out OK.

What I'm doing should be very simple, I'm trying to print a name at the top
of a page...what could be easier. I center the text, type the name, no
problem, at 8.55" x 11", it works fine. I need to be able to print this to
varous sizes of paper, but when I try to print it on narrower paper, it just
won't work-it doesn't stay centered.

Here is what I've done:
-open a new doc
-go to Page Setup/Paper
-set width to 6" (for example)
-click OK
-click the toolbar button to "center" the text
-type name (John Q. Public for example)

If I click on print preview, I see a narrow piece of paper with the name
centered just as it should be. Now when I try to print it I get an error
message saying "The margins of section 1 are set outside the printable area
of the page. Do you want to continue?" If I say yes, it prints out, but not
centered on the paper. I don't understand this message, and it seems to pop
up regardless of what the margins are set at.

I am using a HP PhotoSmart 7260 printer and I put the paper in on the right
side of the tray as per the manual. If I put in regular letter size paper
instead, it seems to be perfectly centered. I have also tried to output the
image to a pdf file and it also shows up as a letter size image.

I know that I can trick the settings with some trial and error till I get
the output OK, but I need to be able to quickly change names and paper sizes
and this shouldn't be that difficult.

Has anyone come across this before? Any ideas?? tia

Hi Bt,

I've seldom had much luck with custom paper sizes (HP Laserjet 4). I've always
found it best to use a standard size paper, then set the MARGINS to emulate the
smaller size. When you center, Word centers between the margins.

If these are paper sizes you need regularly, set up a TEMPLATE for each size.
You can then use File/New to create a new document from that template.

I am having some trouble formatting a word document to print the way I need
it to. It may be a problem with the printer, but if I set up a similar
document in Wordpad, it seems to print out OK.

What I'm doing should be very simple, I'm trying to print a name at the top
of a page...what could be easier. I center the text, type the name, no
problem, at 8.55" x 11", it works fine. I need to be able to print this to
varous sizes of paper, but when I try to print it on narrower paper, it just
won't work-it doesn't stay centered.

Here is what I've done:
-open a new doc
-go to Page Setup/Paper
-set width to 6" (for example)
-click OK
-click the toolbar button to "center" the text
-type name (John Q. Public for example)

If I click on print preview, I see a narrow piece of paper with the name
centered just as it should be. Now when I try to print it I get an error
message saying "The margins of section 1 are set outside the printable area
of the page. Do you want to continue?" If I say yes, it prints out, but not
centered on the paper. I don't understand this message, and it seems to pop
up regardless of what the margins are set at.

I am using a HP PhotoSmart 7260 printer and I put the paper in on the right
side of the tray as per the manual. If I put in regular letter size paper
instead, it seems to be perfectly centered. I have also tried to output the
image to a pdf file and it also shows up as a letter size image.

I know that I can trick the settings with some trial and error till I get
the output OK, but I need to be able to quickly change names and paper sizes
and this shouldn't be that difficult.


Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 8 2004)
http://www.word.mvps.org

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