printing black boxes

Question

When I view my project in network diagram I like to color code the boxes so it's easy for people to follow the flow throught the entire project.  I change the color of the back round of each box to match a certain category.  The color coding looks perfect during formatting but when I go to print all the colored boxes appear blacked out in the print preview.  The black boxes display in the print preview no matter which printer is selected even when i try to print to a pdf.  These are completely black boxes as in not very dark blue ones that may appear black once printed.  I've also tried changing the pattern of the back round in a colored box and the pattern appears in print preview but it's also black.  Help?

Russ

Answer 1

Russ,

Okay, but do your have SP1 installed?

Update: I did a test on a small file I created and I too see unexpected results in Print Preview. However the boxes weren't black, they were dark blue, not navy blue but dark blue. Based on that I'll say that having SP1 installed will not solve this issue, but you should install it regardless if you don't already have it. What I suggest is you check out the various KB articles associated with the hotfixes in the latest cumulative update. If this issue has been reported before, there is a possibility, but no guarantee), a hotfix was generated.

Let me know what you find. I personally don't keep track of hotfixes. Since they are not fully tested I shy away from installing them. If you can't find any hotfixes for this, I can float this up the chain to a contact at Microsoft, but to be honest, unless there are a lot of users with this issue, it likely won't be resolved. You might want to take a look at the pre-release of Project 2013 and see if it acts the same.

John

Answer 2

Russ,

You don't mention which version of Project you are using but first make sure you have the latest service pack installed. Go to, http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/office/ee748587, download and install the applicable service pack.

John

John,

I am running Project 2010.  Myh desk top is running XP and my laptop is running windows 8.  The exact same thing happens to both.  The black boxes appear when in the print preview screen and they in fact do print black no matter which printer i try including printing to pdf.  Thanks for the help.

Russ

Answer 3

Russ,

You don't mention which version of Project you are using but first make sure you have the latest service pack installed. Go to, http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/office/ee748587, download and install the applicable service pack.

John