Word XE fields should be toggled fields, not Hidden Text.

[Monty]

This problem occurs in all versions of Word, from 97 to 2003.

When creating an Index Entry (XE field), with "Show/Hide ¶" enabled, the
Hidden Text XE fields become visible, distorting the layout of my document,
and making a 345 page document blow out to 349 pages.

I have "Show/Hide ¶" enabled just about all the time so that I can check for
tabs, extra spaces and other formatting. No other formatting (other than
hidden text) shown by "Show/Hide ¶" causes the format of the document to be
distorted in such a manner.

In order to overcome these problems, I have the Options/View/Formatting
marks all switched on, except for "Hidden Text" and "All". It is exceedingly
annoying to have to go to Options to turn off these hidden items when I
should be able to do so from the toolbar with one click.

I want to be able to edit my documents with "Show/Hide ¶" enabled or
disabled, and still be able to edit the document in Print Layout mode without
index entries distorting the layout.

I would like XE fields and similar to be treated as any other field, so that
they are shown only when the text in which they reside is highlighted,
right-clicked, and "Toggle Field Codes" is selected. Perhaps there could be
an option with two states: "Treat XE Fields as Hidden Text" and the
alternative "Treat XE Fields as Fields". Another alternative could be to
have an extra toolbar item, separate from "Show/Hide ¶", which is "Show/Hide
Hidden Text" or "Show/Hide Index Entries".

As a side issue, I would like to be able to choose a different colour for
the non-printing elements that are shown when "Show/Hide ¶" is enabled.

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[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

I would stop short of wanting XE and TC fields treated the same as other
fields,* but I would definitely second the notion of having a separate
toggle for Hidden text. Like you, I routinely keep nonprinting characters
displayed; when I'm working with an indexed document, I have to check all
the other options so that I can toggle between NPC with and without the
Hidden text (and then to see the document without any NPC, I have to switch
to Print Preview).

*Judging from the questions frequently asked here, it is clear that most
users (a) don't know what a field is, (b) don't know what a field looks
like, (c) freak out when they see a field code, and (d) don't know how to
toggle field display. Given that Word automatically displays Hidden text
every time you insert an XE field, if the same behavior applied to field
codes generally (that is, whenever you inserted an XE field, Word would
display all field codes), users would stay freaked out a lot!

This problem occurs in all versions of Word, from 97 to 2003.

When creating an Index Entry (XE field), with "Show/Hide ¶" enabled, the
Hidden Text XE fields become visible, distorting the layout of my document,
and making a 345 page document blow out to 349 pages.

I have "Show/Hide ¶" enabled just about all the time so that I can check for
tabs, extra spaces and other formatting. No other formatting (other than
hidden text) shown by "Show/Hide ¶" causes the format of the document to be
distorted in such a manner.

In order to overcome these problems, I have the Options/View/Formatting
marks all switched on, except for "Hidden Text" and "All". It is exceedingly
annoying to have to go to Options to turn off these hidden items when I
should be able to do so from the toolbar with one click.

I want to be able to edit my documents with "Show/Hide ¶" enabled or
disabled, and still be able to edit the document in Print Layout mode without
index entries distorting the layout.

I would like XE fields and similar to be treated as any other field, so that
they are shown only when the text in which they reside is highlighted,
right-clicked, and "Toggle Field Codes" is selected. Perhaps there could be
an option with two states: "Treat XE Fields as Hidden Text" and the
alternative "Treat XE Fields as Fields". Another alternative could be to
have an extra toolbar item, separate from "Show/Hide ¶", which is "Show/Hide
Hidden Text" or "Show/Hide Index Entries".

As a side issue, I would like to be able to choose a different colour for
the non-printing elements that are shown when "Show/Hide ¶" is enabled.

----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.

http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...1a566b80a&dg=microsoft.public.word.pagelayout