ed.mvps.org - Publisher - FAQs
In here you will find answers to
questions which I normally answer. Not all commonly-asked
questions are in here, as most are covered in other sites on the
Links page.
Q: How do I merge two Publisher files into one?
A: Use PubCat, found at the
Tools page.
Q: How do I insert a
PDF file into Publisher?
A: See this tutorial.
Q: How do I set the default font in a Publisher document?
A: See this tutorial.
Q: Why can I not see images/shapes/lines when editing my
publication?
A: You may have pictures hidden. Try View >
Pictures > Detailed Display.
If this fails, this is almost certainly a
problem with your video driver.
By going to Display Properties > Settings >
Advanced > Troubleshoot, and dragging the Hardware Acceleration
slider down three notches, you will be able to disable Publisher
from making the calls on the video driver that cause this problem.
If this does fix your problem, it means that the
problem does indeed lie with the video driver. You can leave your
computer running at this lower hardware acceleration, but it may
cause problems with other programs. It is a better solution to try
and find a driver update for your graphics card. Normally, the
latest drivers from the video card manufacturer will do the trick,
but ATI (and recently Intel and Dell) tend to be slower in
perfecting their drivers, so some newer ATI and Intel cards to not
yet have drivers available that do not exhibit this behaviour. The
solution here is to nag ATI/Intel/Dell for better drivers.
Important: Changing the hardware acceleration
does not solve
the problem. It is merely a method by which
you can see that the problem lies with the
video driver.
(Please also note that even if your computer
is brand new, you won't necessarily have the latest drivers.)
Q: Why am I getting psychedelic
colours in a pre-2002 version of Publisher on Windows XP?
or
Why is Publisher on LSD?
or
Why has Publisher gone blue & purple?
A: This is a commonly-reported problem with Publisher 2000 and
earlier on Windows XP. Try the following steps (in order).
a)
Disable "Screen and printer color matching"
b)
Right-click the desktop, click Properties, go to
Appearance, check the settings there,
c) Update your printer driver
d) Update your video driver
e) Update to the latest Service Pack/Release
Q: Where is the Page Sorter in Publisher 2007?
or
Why can't I change pages in Publisher 2007?
A: Somehow, Publisher 2007 mysteriously adds a Registry key that
hides it, and then provides no UI option to show it again. Following
a long conversation with Microsoft Support, the cause and solution
were found, and a long script was given on how to change the
Registry key back. I've condensed that into a
single file. Download and
run the .reg file, and it will change the registry key back to what
it should be. You'll need to close all running instances of
Publisher and start it again to see the changes work.
Q: How do I do postal barcodes via Mail Merge?
A: There is an
article on postal barcoding in Publisher
here. This is the current recommended source for information on
barcoding in Publisher, the information below is from before the
article existed, and is not being updated.
First, you need
to set up your merge database with a barcode field. This is a
normal text field, but it needs to be formatted right.
[Quote]
Bar codes used by the USPS for discount mailing
purposes are 12-digit numbers - Zip plus 4, County code (2) and a
check digit (sum of the other digits subtracted from the next
highest multiple of 10.)
[End Quote]
You will also need to provide
documentation proving that the barcodes and addresses are verified
before the barcodes will be of any use.
Now you've set up your merge
database, you're ready to merge. You insert the merge field as
if it were another normal field. You might like to put it in
its own text box. Now, you set the font of the merge field to
a barcode font. For font info, check out the
alt.binaries.fonts newsgroup - to start you off, there are some
barcode fonts
here. Make sure the font you get is specifically a
postal barcode font, as not all barcode fonts are postal barcode
fonts.
One more point: the barcode
normally has to be about size 12.
For a detailed explanation of postal barcoding (à la ScanTips),
go to
www.savepostage.com
Thanks to Mike Koewler for clarifying many of those
points, and providing extra info and the quote above.
Q: Why do I get a white space at the end of my
document when it does not appear in the on-screen version?
A: This is a physical limitation of your printer.
To find the maximum print area of your printer, go
here. To avoid this happening,
either print to oversized paper, adjust your publication so it falls
within the print area, or buy a new printer that supports full bleed
(edge-to-edge printing). These are mroe expensive than normal
printers.
Q: I have adjusted my publication to fall within
the printable area, but now my three-fold leaflet does not fold into
three properly. How can I avoid this?
A: This is because the margin on one side is larger
than the other, and this reverses when you print the other side.
To avoid this, find the larger value from the top and bottom margin,
and put it in as both top and bottom. Then find the larger
value from the left and right margins, and put it in as the left and
the right margin. Adjust your publication to fall in this new
are. After you've printed, trim off the excess white paper,
and then fold.