Microsoft KB Archive/173047

= XL97: Printing at Non-Square Resolution Distorts AutoShapes =

Article ID: 173047

Article Last Modified on 9/7/2001

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q173047





SYMPTOMS
When you print or print preview a worksheet or chart in Microsoft Excel 97, drawing objects and AutoShapes may appear distorted. For example, you may notice the following problems:


 * Arrowheads are distorted and uneven with the lines they are attached to.
 * Thick lines do not end squarely; instead, they are cut off at an angle.



CAUSE
This behavior occurs when the following conditions are true:


 * The active printer is a dot matrix printer. -and-


 * The printer driver is set to a non-square printer resolution: that is, with different values for horizontal and vertical resolution, such as 360 x 180 dots per inch (dpi).



RESOLUTION
To prevent this problem from occurring, set the printer driver to print using a square resolution, such as 360 x 360 dpi or 180 x 180 dpi. To do this, follow these steps:


 * 1) In Excel 97, click Print on the File menu.
 * 2) In the list of Printers, click to select the dot matrix printer, and then click Properties.
 * 3) On the Graphics tab, click to select a square resolution in the Resolution list, and then click OK.
 * 4) In the Print dialog box, click OK, Preview, or Cancel, depending on whether you want to print, print preview, or return to the worksheet or chart.



STATUS
This is a known problem that occurs only when printing to a dot-matrix printer that is set to use a non-square resolution. Note that the problem does not always occur when printing using non-square resolution.



MORE INFORMATION
Most printers, including laser printers, PostScript printers, and some InkJet printers, print using square resolution: that is, the horizontal resolution equals the vertical resolution. For example, a laser printer might use a resolution of 300 x 300 dpi or 600 x 600 dpi. However, some dot matrix printers can print using non-square resolution.

Additional query words: XL97 epson lq-1170

Keywords: kbprint kbprb KB173047

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