Microsoft KB Archive/23287

Word: Converted Documents Have Boxes at Start of Every Line PSS ID Number: Q23287 Article last modified on 08-17-1993 PSS database name: APpsConV

3.00 3.01 3.02 4.00

MACINTOSH

Summary:

When a text file created on another computer is opened in Microsoft Word versions 3.0x or 4.00, a box may appear at the start of every line. These boxes are linefeeds introduced during the file transfer.

To learn the exact ASCII code of the character, select one of the boxes and press COMMAND+OPTION+Q. The ASCII code of the character (for example, the number “10”) will be displayed in the lower-left corner of the document window.

To delete the boxes, do the following:


 * 1) Place the insertion point at the beginning of the document; make sure that nothing is selected.
 * 2) If you are using Word 3.0x, choose Change from the Search menu; if you are using Word 4.00, choose Change from the Utilities menu.
 * 3) In the Find What box, type a caret (^), followed by the ASCII code. (Using the example above, type “^10”, without the quotation marks). The caret is created by pressing SHIFT+6.
 * 4) Leave the Change To box blank. Click the Change All button.

More Information:

When files are translated from other computers, many characters may be converted incorrectly. The example given above is the most common, as the ASCII 10 character is used on many computers as a linefeed.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1993.