Microsoft KB Archive/211567

= WD2000: Dash in AutoSignature Is Autoformatted as a Dot =

Article ID: 211567

Article Last Modified on 12/6/2000

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Word 2000 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q211567





SYMPTOMS
If you use the AutoSignature feature in WordMail to create an e-mail signature that contains a dash (hyphen), the dash is converted to a bullet when you open the e-mail message in an e-mail editor other than WordMail.



CAUSE
When you create an AutoSignature that contains a hyphen, Microsoft Word automatically formats the hyphen as a hyphen bullet. When the text version of the e-mail message is created, the hyphen bullet is converted to the ANSI bullet character, which is a small dot.



WORKAROUND
To work around this behavior, do not let the automatic formatting feature change the hyphen to a hyphen bullet. When creating an AutoSignature with a hyphen before the signature, follow these steps:
 * 1) Type the hyphen followed by the first line of the AutoSignature. Word may format the hyphen as a bullet at this point.
 * 2) On the Edit menu, click Undo to undo the format of the bullet. The bullet should revert to a standard hyphen.
 * 3) Proceed with the rest of the AutoSignature creation process.

The AutoSignature now contains a standard hyphen rather than a bullet, and non-WordMail editors read it as a standard ANSI hyphen.



MORE INFORMATION
The conversion of hyphens to bullets is part of the automatic formatting feature in Word and WordMail. To make this feature unavailable, follow these steps:
 * 1) On the Format menu, click AutoFormat, and then click Options.
 * 2) Click the AutoFormat As You Type tab.
 * 3) Clear the Automatic bulleted lists check box.

