Microsoft Publisher - Long Webpage tables don't keep same formatting when printed

Author

Long Webpage tables don't keep same formatting when printed

Billiam

2007-08-29, 6:15 pm

Thanks for the input.

I tried making the default width of the publication 700px wide and that is
working fine for the width now.

My new problem is printing long webpages, especially where I have a table of
individuals and their phone numbers etc. The tables will not print with grid
marks, and where the page is printed in two or more sheets, the first page
prints with a blank background (no fill colour) but the subsequent pages
print With Fill colour. Any ideas appreciated.

My goal is to have the grid marks show as there are 5 columns and lots of
info so the grid lines make a nice "sight break", and no fill colour on the
page would best as well.

Thnks again for your help!
"DavidF" wrote:

> Billiam,
>
> Hummm...perhaps I am just lucky that my pages print ok, or perhaps it is the
> printer default margins? Some printers will not print as close to the edge
> as others. Did you perhaps try printing your pages on a different printer?
>
> I certainly understand not wanting to maintain two sets of files. I would
> first ask whether the cropping is the full length of the page, or is it just
> one design element? Did you run the Design Checker tool? Is it possible that
> you have some elements in the scratch area? Are those the ones being
> cropped? If you have a text box where all the text is being cropped on one
> side, and it is all on your page and not in the scratch area, then indeed it
> is probable that even a 760 pixel page is too wide for your printer. And
> yes, the best answer is to increase the margin guide or guides slightly
> until the page fits. Once you increase the margin guide(s), be sure to have
> the Snap To function enabled under Arrange in 2003. Then it will be
> relatively easy to move your content within the margins. Once you find the
> width that will print correctly, then you can add margins to all pages, or
> you could resize your pages to that width.
>
> DavidF
>
>
> "Billiam" <Billiam@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:59DCF0EE-4FCD-4F56-BEBA-4401D6CBDDB5@microsoft.com...
>
>
>

DavidF

2007-08-29, 10:15 pm

Billium,

I sure would not have thought that you needed to go that narrow, but...

As to the print output, that is printer dependent. I have my browser and
printers set to not print the background, but others may vary. I don't know
how you would over-ride the settings on my computer and printer. There may
be some code that does that for you, but I sure don't know it.

As per the table, I have only one idea off the top of my head, and that is
to copy the table and then paste special back on the page as an image.
Tables generally are converted to images during the html conversion process
anyway, so doing it in advance may print better. But then if you are
printing from web page preview and having those problems, then I don't know
what to say.

It is interesting that you are having problems going from web format to
print format, while most people that post here have the opposite
problem...well, interesting to me anyway ;-)

Personally I think the table you describe is one of those things that
deserve a PDF version. Layout the table on a separate Pub file, and convert
it to PDF. Upload the file to your host, and link to it. I don't remember
which version you are using but 2007 has the pdf add-in that you can use, or
you can download and install www.primopdf.com which is a freebie, but good
pdf conversion tool. And to remind you of how to link external files,
reference: Including external files in a Publisher web :
http://msmvps.com/blogs/dbartosik/a...1/07/80561.aspx

Sorry I don't have better ideas...DavidF

"Billiam" <Billiam@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F6F49033-9FB0-43E2-B838-2F8F8E394E3F@microsoft.com...[color=darkred]
> Thanks for the input.
>
> I tried making the default width of the publication 700px wide and that is
> working fine for the width now.
>
> My new problem is printing long webpages, especially where I have a table
> of
> individuals and their phone numbers etc. The tables will not print with
> grid
> marks, and where the page is printed in two or more sheets, the first page
> prints with a blank background (no fill colour) but the subsequent pages
> print With Fill colour. Any ideas appreciated.
>
> My goal is to have the grid marks show as there are 5 columns and lots of
> info so the grid lines make a nice "sight break", and no fill colour on
> the
> page would best as well.
>
> Thnks again for your help!
> "DavidF" wrote:
>

Billiam

2007-08-30, 6:16 pm

Good advice on the pdf i think...I was thinking I would have to manually
update both, when in fact I would still only be updating the Publisher 2007
table and converting it to a .pdf. I like this idea better then what I was
doing to solve the problem, which was to break the tables in half, and
provide links to and from them within the publication to ease the printing,
which works, but is still labour intensive. Will try it your way as I think
this makes the most sense. By the way, it is an HP 3050 laserjet i am
printing to, less than a year old, so why I am having the width issue, who
knows... I have managed to convert to the smaller width, so hopefully someone
trying to print won't have the same problems from their home.

Many thanks again for your help and suggestions!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bill

"DavidF" wrote:

> Billium,
>
> I sure would not have thought that you needed to go that narrow, but...
>
> As to the print output, that is printer dependent. I have my browser and
> printers set to not print the background, but others may vary. I don't know
> how you would over-ride the settings on my computer and printer. There may
> be some code that does that for you, but I sure don't know it.
>
> As per the table, I have only one idea off the top of my head, and that is
> to copy the table and then paste special back on the page as an image.
> Tables generally are converted to images during the html conversion process
> anyway, so doing it in advance may print better. But then if you are
> printing from web page preview and having those problems, then I don't know
> what to say.
>
> It is interesting that you are having problems going from web format to
> print format, while most people that post here have the opposite
> problem...well, interesting to me anyway ;-)
>
> Personally I think the table you describe is one of those things that
> deserve a PDF version. Layout the table on a separate Pub file, and convert
> it to PDF. Upload the file to your host, and link to it. I don't remember
> which version you are using but 2007 has the pdf add-in that you can use, or
> you can download and install www.primopdf.com which is a freebie, but good
> pdf conversion tool. And to remind you of how to link external files,
> reference: Including external files in a Publisher web :
> http://msmvps.com/blogs/dbartosik/a...1/07/80561.aspx
>
> Sorry I don't have better ideas...DavidF
>
> "Billiam" <Billiam@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:F6F49033-9FB0-43E2-B838-2F8F8E394E3F@microsoft.com...
>
>
>

DavidF

2007-08-30, 10:15 pm

Thanks for posting back. I am at a loss to explain why your printer would
not print a 750 pixel width, or even a 760 width without cropping. Is there
any setting in the print dialog about "print to fit" or the opposite that
might affect the way the page is scaled? If you go to printers and look at
the properties of the printer, are there any settings that might affect or
set the default margins such that you end up with a more narrow page?

Its a lot of fun switching back and forth between print and web media, isn't
it? ;-) Trial and terror sometimes. As per the work involved with updating
the site, that is just part of web building I am afraid. If you went with
dynamic web site software, you might find a better and easier way for
updating, but with Publisher pretty much producing a static site, about the
only thing you can do is build and design your site so that it is as easily
managed as possible. That's one of the reasons building a site using
multiple Publisher files and subfolder on your host can be helpful.

Hope it works out for you.

DavidF

"Billiam" <Billiam@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:EEE8B5C5-9503-4DF4-B575-6F09C7FB68AB@microsoft.com...[color=darkred]
> Good advice on the pdf i think...I was thinking I would have to manually
> update both, when in fact I would still only be updating the Publisher
> 2007
> table and converting it to a .pdf. I like this idea better then what I was
> doing to solve the problem, which was to break the tables in half, and
> provide links to and from them within the publication to ease the
> printing,
> which works, but is still labour intensive. Will try it your way as I
> think
> this makes the most sense. By the way, it is an HP 3050 laserjet i am
> printing to, less than a year old, so why I am having the width issue, who
> knows... I have managed to convert to the smaller width, so hopefully
> someone
> trying to print won't have the same problems from their home.
>
> Many thanks again for your help and suggestions!!!!!!!!!!!!
> Bill
>
> "DavidF" wrote:
>