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General discussion

Word turns underscores to a whole page wide long line

Dec 4, 2005 9:11AM PST

As stated in the subject line , MS Word turns consecutive underscores to a whole page wide long line . I don't want it to change for me like that . How can I fix it ? And , some of my documents have those auto-generated lines and I can't delete them , how can I delete them .

Version : Word 2000
OS : Winodws NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 Pro

Discussion is locked

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It's a default option. You can change it.
Dec 4, 2005 9:37AM PST

With Word opened, go to the Tools menu for "Auto Correct Options", then "Auto format As You Type". Look for, and uncheck "Border Lines". (works with MS Word XP)

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Addemdum....
Dec 4, 2005 11:06AM PST

Or, you can press SHIFT together with "RETURN" OR "ENTER" to go to the next line without the underscore turning into a line.

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using a Shift+Enter
Dec 5, 2005 7:37AM PST

Using a Shift+Enter does stop THAT auto function from performing, but you have just entered a new line, and not a paragraph end. That might not be what you want.

If that is ok with you, then good, but it isn't what I would prefer.

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On my computer,
Dec 5, 2005 7:27PM PST

...."SHIFT + ENTER" stops the auto formation of the line or whatever. Of course, the carriage return moves to a new line. It is intended. It is "ENTER" which initiates the auto formation. "Ctrl+Z", on the other hand, elimates or delete what you tried to type, so is not useful if ypu want to type a line of a series of "=", for example.

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Not the same
Dec 6, 2005 4:20AM PST

A Shift+Enter is a new line and not an ending to a paragraph. I know you know the difference, but others may not. They might click on the [Show/Hide] to see the difference. A paragraph ends with a '

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If on your computer
Dec 6, 2005 4:37AM PST

If, on your computer and using Word, entering the Enter key after 3 dashes (or any of the four other border style character sets ~~~, ###, ***, or ___) and a full line of some border underlining is not entered, and then pressing just one ^Z removes what you had just typed, I believe your:
Tools>AutoCorrect Options>AutoFormat As You Type, Apply as you type, Border lines is turned off.

You might want to check that.

In order for the border lines to be automatically entered, when you press the Enter key, you need that ..., Border lines on.

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Yes-
Dec 6, 2005 7:06AM PST

you are right. I mis-read. I thought you said to press Ctrl+Z just after entering the character more than 3 times. Yes, Ctrl+Z after the autoformation removes it and restores what it intended.

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Just press ^Z
Dec 5, 2005 1:31AM PST

Anytime Word does any auto function, if you immediately press ^Z (Ctrl+Z) that auto-function will revert.

Such as you just typed in three or more consecutive underscores (_) or tilde's (~) or pound signs (#) or dashes (-) or equal signs (=) on a blank line and you press the Enter key.
Or if you just put a lowercase word on a new line or new sentence, and Word capitalizes it.
Or if you purposefully misspell a word and Word corrects it.

If any of these things (or more) automatically happen, you can just immediately press ^Z and Word will put it back the way you had typed.

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... so , one more question
Dec 5, 2005 9:32AM PST

If those 'auto-generated' lines originally exist in the document (assume someone else passed me that document) , how can I delete those lines ? What I can do with them is just to pull them up or down . Even if I highlight the upper and lower paragraph then delete , they're stil there ...

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Removing auto formed "line".
Dec 5, 2005 8:26PM PST
"If those 'auto-generated' lines originally exist in the document (assume someone else passed me that document)" ---if those lines exist on documents passed on to you, they probably were put there intentionally. However, if you want to remove the lines, you have to view them not as ordinary lines, but as "border lines", which they are. So to remove the lines, rest the mouse cursor just at above the "line" at the left side, go to the Format menu for "Borders and Shading", choose "None" and OK out. You then have to save the change. Hope this helps.
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Problem solved
Dec 6, 2005 11:31AM PST

Yes , thanks all replied . In my organization , I am called as a Word expert , but I know now what experts talk and answer like . Cheers .

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removing black line!
Jul 28, 2013 11:06AM PDT

Thank you soooo much, this really worked and helped me imminsely.