default paper size will not change to 8.5 x 11

[craigibc]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: intel

I was using mac Office 2004 and now Office 2008 and the problem has traveled with me.

The default paper size is huge! It is something like 16x22 and the margin are many inches. I have tried to change the default paper size without results. I checked the help in Word and it tells me to go to system preferences and choose the default paper size under the printer. This does not resolve the issues. All of my print jobs are screwed up and I cannot fix it. It seems like there are some preferences somewhere that prevent me from correcting this problem. I have this same problem on two different computers.

Any ideas?

Craig

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Try this:

Format | Document. Click the Page Setup button. Change your paper size,
close Page Setup. Back in Format Document, click Default. Say "Yes" to
the "really change all documents?" prompt. Okay to exit. A new document
should now use your new paper size.

You'll need to change old docs one by one--you can do it by going
directly to File | Page Setup.

Either you misunderstood Help or it gave you the wrong information, or
you may have been looking in system help instead of word help--can you
give the Help topic you are referring to?

 

[Syd Polk]

I am having this problem as well, and the procedure outlined below still
gives me a document that is 11x17, no matter what I change in Page Setup.

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Syd -

I wish you'd posted as a new message rather than tacking on to a thread
that's been cold for a month so we'd have some indication of what version of
OS X and Office you're working with, but maybe this will help a little

There are actually several different possibilities here, one of which is the
System Preferences for Print & Fax referred to by the OP in this thread. I
don't think that's the issue here because Word doesn't pick up that default
- it's typically observed by apps that don't have their own page imposition
features such as Text Edit, web browsers, etc.

More likely is Word's Page Setup dialog which is where the paper/page size
can be determined for any individual document. Once a size is chosen it
should be retained for that document, but that doesn't change the default
for new documents. Which brings up the next possibility...

If you go to Format> Document, click Page Setup, then select the Paper Size
you want & click OK. That returns you to the Document dialog - click the
Default button there. You'll be prompted about having the change saved in
the Normal template & if you click Yes it should update the Normal template
which will cause all new docs created from then on to be based on that size
(assuming the doc is not based on a different template that calls for a
different size). Note that you must go to Page Setup through the Format>
Document dialog to make a permanent change - File> Page Setup doesn't have
the Default button.

If you're saying that you've tried this and it doesn't "stick", the 4th
possibility is that there is a corrupt preferences file, Normal template or
some sort of haxie or utility program preventing Normal from being updated.
Try the suggestion in the above paragraph again (once or twice). Should it
still not correct the problem post a new message giving all particulars &
we'll see about testing your Normal based on version.

One other thought - have you checked to be sure you have the most current
driver for your printer? That "could" have a bearing.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac



On 5/11/08 3:17 PM, in article
(e-mail address removed), "Syd Polk" <Syd

 

[Syd Polk]

No page setup changes were being saved, not with the current document, not
with the default. I replaced the default Normal file with the one on my other
machine (which did work), and all new documents started behaving. I then
migrated text from the file I was working with to a new document, and the
problem is solved.

Sorry about the faux pas. The problem is apparenly solved. I should have
saved the old Normal in case somebody wanted to look at it. I will be better
about that next time (hopefully there won't be one!).

 

[CyberTaz]

Not a problem - I'm just glad you got it resolved.

There are some who suggest that it isn't a particularly good idea to swap
Normal templates from one system to another. It's better to just remove the
suspected one while Word isn't running & let it create a fresh one on
startup. If the other Normal contains customizations you want, use Organizer
to copy them in. Hopefully it will continue to work out the way you did it
especially if there were no significant customizations included.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac