A tiresome "bug" in Word

Do you have any advice as to how to deal with the following "bug" in Word? I
am using Windows XP and the version of Word supplied with the computer
(Microsoft Word 2002).


This is the problem:


1. User selects a word or a block of text by clicking and dragging in the
usual way.
2. User applies some characteristic to the selected text (e.g. bold,
italics, change font size, etc.)
3. Word applies the characteristic to the whole document, not just the
selected text.


This bug is also evident on earlier versions of Word, including the Windows
98 version I have at home. It does not always happen, but once it starts it
persists.


It can normally be worked around by the following:


4. User presses "ctrl + Z"


Normally, this results in the characteristic selected in 2 above being
applied as intended to just the highlight text and one can continue working.
Today, however, the program locks up, displaying the windows egg timer.
Pressing "ctrl + alt + delete" and then looking at the Windows task manager
reveals that the program is not responding. One can then end the program
with the task manager and start again with the last saved version. Things
are fine until the next time one wishes to change the font.


This problem obviously slows down the rate of work considerably. Any
suggestions for avoiding it would be greatly appreciated.


With thanks and best wishes,
Mike

Hi Mike,

See http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Formatting...eformatted.htm.

"Mike" wrote:

Do you have any advice as to how to deal with the following "bug" in Word? I
am using Windows XP and the version of Word supplied with the computer
(Microsoft Word 2002).


This is the problem:


1. User selects a word or a block of text by clicking and dragging in the
usual way.
2. User applies some characteristic to the selected text (e.g. bold,
italics, change font size, etc.)
3. Word applies the characteristic to the whole document, not just the
selected text.


This bug is also evident on earlier versions of Word, including the Windows
98 version I have at home. It does not always happen, but once it starts it
persists.


It can normally be worked around by the following:


4. User presses "ctrl + Z"


Normally, this results in the characteristic selected in 2 above being
applied as intended to just the highlight text and one can continue working.
Today, however, the program locks up, displaying the windows egg timer.
Pressing "ctrl + alt + delete" and then looking at the Windows task manager
reveals that the program is not responding. One can then end the program
with the task manager and start again with the last saved version. Things
are fine until the next time one wishes to change the font.


This problem obviously slows down the rate of work considerably. Any
suggestions for avoiding it would be greatly appreciated.


With thanks and best wishes,
Mike



--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://www.mvps.org/word

Thank you!!!

You are most helpful and, by getting rid of this problem, you have spared me
a great deal of frustration and annoyance. Thanks again!

"Jay Freedman" wrote in message
...
Hi Mike,

See http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Formatting...eformatted.htm.

"Mike" wrote:

Do you have any advice as to how to deal with the following "bug" in
Word? I
am using Windows XP and the version of Word supplied with the computer
(Microsoft Word 2002).


This is the problem:


1. User selects a word or a block of text by clicking and dragging in
the
usual way.
2. User applies some characteristic to the selected text (e.g. bold,
italics, change font size, etc.)
3. Word applies the characteristic to the whole document, not just the
selected text.


This bug is also evident on earlier versions of Word, including the
Windows
98 version I have at home. It does not always happen, but once it starts
it
persists.


It can normally be worked around by the following:


4. User presses "ctrl + Z"


Normally, this results in the characteristic selected in 2 above being
applied as intended to just the highlight text and one can continue
working.
Today, however, the program locks up, displaying the windows egg timer.
Pressing "ctrl + alt + delete" and then looking at the Windows task
manager
reveals that the program is not responding. One can then end the program
with the task manager and start again with the last saved version.
Things
are fine until the next time one wishes to change the font.


This problem obviously slows down the rate of work considerably. Any
suggestions for avoiding it would be greatly appreciated.


With thanks and best wishes,
Mike



--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://www.mvps.org/word