Microsoft KB Archive/86496

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Problems with Printing to FILE with Generic/Text Only Driver

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Q86496

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.1a, 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a

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SUMMARY
With Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.0 and 3.1, printing a Microsoft Word for Windows document to a file with the Generic/Text Only printer driver can cause text to be triplicated and sometimes truncated. The text triplication problem can be consistently reproduced. This problem occurs when text within the document has bold formatting. Truncation of text cannot be consistently reproduced, but it occurs most often when the Normal style is applied to the document.

Note: Any formatting or special characters may be lost or print incorrectly when you use the Generic/Text Only printer driver because the driver does not support these features.

Steps to Reproduce Problem (Triplication)

 * 1) From the File menu choose New. Press CTRL+B and type some text.
 * 2) Open the Printers icon in the Control Panel. Under Installed Printers, select the Generic/Text Only printer driver, then choose the Set As Default Printer button. Choose the Connect button, verify that the port setting for this driver is FILE, and choose the OK button.
 * 3) From the File menu, choose Print. Word should prompt you to type a file output name.
 * 4) Open the new file that was printed to FILE.

The bold formatted text has been triplicated. If you print the same file to the printer, instead of FILE, bold text will print without triplication.