New Doc Page size wrong

Question

I'm using Word 2016 for Mac. When I create a new document, it should create a page that is Letter size, 8.5x11, but no matter what I set, it looks like a square. I try to change page size, looks like a square. I have started to choose random templates and then deleting everything out just to get a standard 8.5x11 document. I have tried to save documents that are the right size as a new "Normal.dot" doesn't work. I've resorted to opening Word 2011, creating the base document there and then re-opening in 2016. Any ideas?

Answer 1

Please disregard the irresponsible suggestion from Ping Cheng.

The most likely issue & its solution is the one discussed here:

Word 2016, top margin is missing

Answer 2

"I have tried to save documents that are the right size as a new "Normal.dot" doesn't work."

Jacki,

Never, ever, ever, not even on a dare, save another document or template as the normal template. Only Word can create a fully-functional Normal Template.

If you did this, you should follow Ping Cheng's advice and delete or rename this normal template that you created so that Word can create one for you.

Bob Jones answered your original problem, this post is in answer to a problem that you may have created.

[This should have been a reply to the original post, but the forum site kept rejecting it saying that more than 6 characters were needed.]

Answer 3

Hi Jacki,

Thanks for share your experience with us.

Given your situation, we suggest you reset the normal.dotm template.

Please go to ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content/Templates and delete the normal.dotm file.

Then, create a new document in Word to check whether the problem persists.

If it doesn’t work, can you please tell us some information below?

1.Have you tried using other templates in Word to check whether the size is also not correct?

2.Please share a screenshot of the symptom with us.

3.Capture a screenshot of the Word version and share it with us. (Word > About Word)

Thanks,

Cherry

This is an understandable response given the phrasing of the question.

It is [almost] never a good idea to delete the normal template. Renaming that template will achieve the same goal without possibly removing permanently user customizations that are desired.

If it were actually the page size that was wrong (rather than the display of the page), renaming the normal template would have been a way to see if it fixed the problem.

Then, that original, renamed, template could be resized to letter size and then the new normal template deleted and the resized one restored to the original name.

Bob Jones' response was spot on and should be marked as an answer. Suzanne Barnhill addressed this some time ago in her article Elusive White Space.

Answer 4

Oh my gosh, thanks!! You just made my day!

Answer 5

Hi Jacki,

Thanks for share your experience with us.

Given your situation, we suggest you reset the normal.dotm template.

Please go to ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content/Templates and delete the normal.dotm file.

Then, create a new document in Word to check whether the problem persists.

If it doesn’t work, can you please tell us some information below?

1.Have you tried using other templates in Word to check whether the size is also not correct?

2.Please share a screenshot of the symptom with us.

3.Capture a screenshot of the Word version and share it with us. (Word > About Word)

Thanks,

Cherry