Microsoft KB Archive/81144

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{| The information in this article applies to:
 * width="100%"|
 * Microsoft Word for Windows versions 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0

SUMMARY
In Microsoft Word for Windows, if you print white text on a shaded black background (sometimes referred to as reverse video), the entire paragraph may print as a solid black box.

MORE INFORMATION
The following are the two major reasons that white text on a black background prints in black:

 The printer does not support white text. Most Hewlett-Packard PCL Level 4 printers (or compatible printers) and dot-matrix printers do not support the printing of white text. This includes all printers that use the EPSON24.DRV, IBMPRO24.DRV, and HPPCL.DRV Windows printer drivers. -or- The printer supports white text, but the printer driver has an incompatibility with 256-color video drivers. Some printer drivers cannot print reverse text when a 256-color video driver is installed in Microsoft Windows. A driver known to have this problem is the HP LaserJet Series III driver HPPCL5A.DRV (versions prior to 3.85). Installing HPPCL5A.DRV version 3.85, which ships with version 2.0 of Word for Windows, or updating to version 3.86 of this driver corrects the problem.

This information applies to version 31.3.89 of the HP LaserJet III driver (HPPCL5A.DRV), which ships with Windows 3.1. Note: updated versions of the hppcl.drv printer driver do not correct this problem.

Workaround for Word 6.0:

 * 1) Select the text to be printed in reverse color of the background
 * 2) From the Format menu select Font and choose White from the Color drop-down dialog.
 * 3) From the Format menu select Borders and Shading and choose the Shading dialog tab. Choose the Custom button and in the Background dialog choose Dk Blue.
 * 4) From the File menu select Print. Choose Printer. Choose Options. select the option &quot;Print Truetype as graphics&quot;. Choose OK

Workaround for Word 2.0:

 * 1) Select the text to be printed in reverse color of the background
 * 2) From the Format menu select Character and choose White from the Color drop-down dialog.
 * 3) From the Format menu select Border and choose the Shading button. Choose the Custom button and in the Background dialog choose Dk Blue.
 * 4) From the File menu select Print Setup. Choose Setup. Choose Options select the option &quot;Print Truetype as graphics&quot;. Choose OK

Reference(s): &quot;Microsoft Word for Windows User's Guide,&quot; version 2.0, pages 377-379, 459-460
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Last reviewed: June 26, 1998

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