Word 2003 oddity with numbered lists

[OneGrassRoot]

I've never encountered this before, nor can I find anything addressing it via Google, so I'm stumped.

After typing my work documents in Word 2003, I go back when I'm done and manually insert numbered lists; I don't like the automatic feature as it tends to number things when I don't want it to.

On my screen, it looks fine. When I print out the first batch (one document can contain many pages), it prints fine. When I go back and print select pages from within that document (to send copies, for example), the list prints out as all zeros.

Yet on the screen, it still looks numbered correctly. And, print preview also shows it as it SHOULD look. It's strictly the printout that is faulty.

I went into the tools area and made sure nothing automatic was checked regarding lists and styles...I'm just clueless as to how to fix this. I've restarted the computer and printer in case it's something to do with their connection, but it still happens periodically.

Help, please! :hi:


Edit to add that this is random. There is no consistency at all.

[Jersey Devil]

1. One suggestion

If it looks good on the screen and prints accurately when you print the entire document but not when you print select pages, try printing it to pdf (File - Print - Adobe PDF, then save it as a pdf file). Then open it up as an Acrobat file and print the select pages and see what happens.

Another suggestion - Try a different printer if you have another available. This sounds like it may be a printer driver problem and not a Word problem. Make sure you have the latest printer driver for your printer and if you do then try another printer and see what happens.

[OneGrassRoot]

2. print driver

I was Googling again and that's the suggestion I just came upon, to make sure the print driver is up to date.

I will do that. Thanks for that, and the other, suggestions.

Much appreciated. :hi:

[OneGrassRoot]

3. Well, that didn't work....

any other suggestions?

We removed and reinstalled all printers/drivers.

First test of a page that looks correct but printed out incorrectly yesterday printed the numbered list fine, as it should be.

Test #2 was a printout of that very same page, printing the list as all 0's again.

Oy. This is really a mystery!

:shrug:

Thanks. :)

[Jersey Devil]

4. Try my other suggestion

I know nothing about your printer. If it is old then no matter what drivers you have it may not have the capability to carry out the instructions from Word.

As I said, print your document to a pdf file on your computer. Then try printing it to your printer from the pdf file. If that won't work then you know for certain that your printer is the problem.

[OneGrassRoot]

5. ooops, sorry....

I'll try that early tomorrow with fresh eyes. I forgot about the PDF suggestion.

It's a fairly new printer though. This one is a real mystery and its randomness is so frustrating.

Thanks again for your help. :hi:

[OneGrassRoot]

6. I unchecked background printing at someone's suggestion....

I printed two batches this morning and, so far, so good.

I don't understand what background printing is all about, but perhaps that was all that was involved?

We shall see. :)

Thank you again for your assistance and for being here. :hi: