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Footnotes in word do not format correctly

Anonymous
2016-12-30T01:48:24+00:00

Have looked at referenced items - not on target

I have spent many hours on this - please be patient - lots of info due to lots of digging in on this end before calling on you.

280 page document with 206 footnotes

Recently noticed that some of the reference #s in the body were not superscript, and not in correct font.

Also, font of reference # was variable in the footnotes.

Altered style of footnote reference, which seemed to work. But lo and behold, all footnotes were in superscript - text too!

In spite of the superscripted footnote text, styles reports the text is not superscript switching superscript on and off - no change

Note: template file referenced as the default for this document is not present. (Original file came with that reference) I assume normal.dot was therefore in use. Worked fine for a long time, so didn't notice.

I therefore created and applied a template. Not a help. (It did affect other issues, so I am sure it is actually attached, but I have to do that manually each time.)

Copied a page into a blank document with my template attached. Chose "destination format" from paste menu. No help, footnote still superscriped. Added a footnote to my test doc, and it formatted correctly.

Body of doc is palatino linotype 11 pt, footnote text is palatino 10 pt.

Document developed on word 2007, but when I put it into current word 2016, the same issues arose.

Daughter-in-law, who is pretty damn good at this stuff also put in 2 or 3 hours and couldn't find an answer. Going back and doing all the format changes by hand is not an answer here, as I don't know what happens when I add one more footnote or...

Appreciate patience,

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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Answer accepted by question author

Paul Edstein 82,861 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2016-12-30T04:44:29+00:00

Your description suggests the footnotes themselves have the Footnote Reference Style applied; they should only have the Footnote Text Style (or another suitable Style) applied. The following macro will re-format all footnotes with the Footnote Text Style, leaving the references superscripted (and in the Footnote Reference Style).

Sub RepairFootnoteFormats()

Application.ScreenUpdating = False

Dim FtNt As Footnote

With ActiveDocument

  .Styles("Footnote Text").Font.Superscript = False

  .Styles("Footnote Reference").Font.Superscript = True

  For Each FtNt In .Footnotes

    FtNt.Range.Style = "Footnote Text"

    FtNt.Range.Font.Superscript = False

    FtNt.Reference.Style = "Footnote Reference"

  Next

End With

Application.ScreenUpdating = True

End Sub

For PC macro installation & usage instructions, see: http://www.gmayor.com/installing_macro.htm

For Mac macro installation & usage instructions, see: http://word.mvps.org/Mac/InstallMacro.html

Do be aware that any intended superscripting in the footnotes will have to be re-done after running the macro.

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-12-30T16:16:06+00:00

    Worked like a charm, though not being macro educated, I struggled a bit getting it in. Referenced instructions are long but clear. Kudos there too.

    Your MVP is well deserved. Thanks a bunch.

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