Re: Word 2004 and random 'Hidden' characters

John

I don't think it's the fonts. This happens for files where I have the same
OpenType (PostScript) font installed on both Mac/Win or when the file is
using the default Times/Times NR fonts. Track changes doesn't appear to be
it either as it hasn't been used on these documents (or if it has, there are
no un-accepted changes).

As a simple test I created a new file in Word 2003 with two lines. The first
is styled as "Header 1" with the last word styled with the "Emphasis"
character style (both styles are built-in). Save the file as RTF, copy to my
Mac, open in Word 2004 and the file appears empty (except the status bar at
the bottom of the window estimates 14 characters in the file). Toggle show
hidden and the Header 1 line appears with the dotted underline indicating it
has a 'hidden' character format.

As a second test, I took an existing file and reset all the formatting back
to the base (Times NR 12 pt, single space, left align, no indent, auto
color). Open that in Word 2003, save as RTF, copy to Mac, open in Word 2004
and nearly all content is visible except that three paragraph styles now
have 'hidden' as part of their formatting.

I'd be more than happy to provide you (or anyone else) with sample files.
It's definitely a major annoyance right now and we're desperate for a
workaround.

ciao,
Caleb

On 9/26/06 8:08 AM, in article C13F5560.4CA77%john@xxxxxxxxxxx, "John McGhie
[MVP - Word and Word Macintosh]" <john@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Hi Caleb:

The first place I would look would be the Font in use.

Word 2004 supports Unicode fonts, Word X does not. However, both Mac
versions (and Word 2003) run in Unicode internally.

I would be surprised if it's "styled" text that is the problem. A "Style"
in Word is simply a binary pointer to a property table. If the style is
good in one part of the document, it will be good everywhere.

This really sounds like a character set issue, which is why I am wondering
about the fonts. I would also investigate to see if Tracked Changes have
been used during the editing process. If they have, low-level document
corruption is quite likely, unless the users know what they are doing.

There were a couple of Windows patches affecting the WMF and RTF mechanisms.
RTF, as you know, is an evolving standard. Word 2003 is a level ahead, and
thus capable of producing RTF objects that Word 2004 should ignore. But
that's what it should do: ignore it, not mark it "hidden".

I would carefully examine the hidden text to see exactly which styles are in
play (there may be several: one for the paragraph, a character style, a
table style etc...).

Word 2003 also creates "Linked Styles" if the 2003 user has left "Keep Track
of Formatting" enabled. Try turning that off (Tools>Options>Edit...). Try
round-tripping the document to HTML or XML before saving to RTF. That will
clean the internal structure up.

But the first place I would look is tracked changes: try "Accept All Changes
In Document" before saving to RTF.

Hope this helps


On 26/9/06 9:36 PM, in article C13E88ED.735F%cclauset@xxxxxxxxxx, "Caleb
Clauset" <cclauset@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Just trying to figure out what's changed that is causing RTF files created
in Word 2003 (Windows) to suddenly have arbitrary text take on the 'Hidden'
character format when opening the files with Word 2004 (Mac). Open the same
file with Word v.X and no problems. We're running Word 2004 (11.2.3; 060202)
and Word 2003 (SP2; 11.8026.8036).

We've also had a couple of files (again RTF) where not only has random text
become 'hidden' (huge chunks, not just individual characters), but also have
white space characters show up as '??' (white space being both spaces and
paragraph returns). Not all white space characters are 'corrupted', it tends
to happen to text that has been extensively styled (i.e., the para style is
more than just adjusting the typeface, point size, alignment, and/or basic
line spacing).

If anyone has experienced either of these problems and knows how to fix
this, I'd be most grateful. Everything had been working fine before so we're
not sure what changed (and are hoping that it's something that we can simply
toggle on/off). And no, switching to .DOC is not an option, we need to stick
with RTF.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Word 2004 and random Hidden characters
    ... Word 2004 supports Unicode fonts, ... This really sounds like a character set issue, which is why I am wondering ... There were a couple of Windows patches affecting the WMF and RTF mechanisms. ... white space characters show up as '??' ...
    (microsoft.public.mac.office.word)
  • Re: Word 2004 and random Hidden characters
    ... I don't think it's the fonts. ... character style. ... I took an existing file and reset all the formatting back ... Open that in Word 2003, save as RTF, copy to Mac, open in Word 2004 ...
    (microsoft.public.mac.office.word)
  • Re: Word 2004 and random Hidden characters
    ... are apparently some passages of text which have the hidden character ... 'clear formatting' doesn't remove the hidden attribute). ... Open that in Word 2003, save as RTF, copy to Mac, open in Word 2004 ... white space characters show up as '??' ...
    (microsoft.public.mac.office.word)
  • renee.rtf.xaa
    ... renee is RTF parser/macro processor I wrote. ... Character Stream\ ... Write Output Buffer to Files\ ...
    (comp.lang.tcl)
  • Re: Word 2004 and random Hidden characters
    ... (that content takes on a 'hidden' character attribute when edited with Word ... that will address this RTF import issue. ... 'clear formatting' doesn't remove the hidden attribute). ... also have white space characters show up as '??' ...
    (microsoft.public.mac.office.word)
Loading