Microsoft Word

Question

Sometimes when I get word documents back from a client there seems to be 'hidden' commands within the document changing the formatting and even the papersize on the screen. Is there any way to stop this or change it, because just checking for the paper size doesn't change it on screen. I need it to have uniformity. See below the screen shot of the two different page sizes. The one on top is the correct size but I can't seem to change the second page without deleting it.

Answer 1

I see what you are referring to. The top page is slightly narrower than bottom page.

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I would guess that Top one is "A4" and the bottom is Letter. Depending on selected printer, ie PDF, it could have both printer types. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper_size

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Paper size is a document and "section" attribute. Check to see if you have any unwanted / unneeded section breaks.

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Try selecting the whole document and applying your preferred paper size.

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Specifically what other "formatting" issues do you have?

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I haven't worked with the "Protect/Lock" feature so you'll have to do some more digging, but you MAY be able to "Protect" your document from the types of changes causing you problems.

Here are a couple of articles

How to create a userproof locked editable form in Microsoft Word

https://vapromag.co.uk/how-to-create-a-userproof-locked-editable-form-in-microsoft-word/

Creating forms with Microsoft Word is useful and easy, but the challenge comes in when you decide to create fillable forms with options that you can send to colleagues or clients and have them fill out the form digitally. Whether you need a form for gathering information or if you are trying to create a survey to test out user response to software or a new product, Microsoft Word can assist in this process. It’s a slightly more technical job and requires access to the Developer tab in Microsoft Word, but is more than easily achievable with not too much hassle!

Protecting Document Areas from Global Replacements

https://wordribbon.tips.net/T010271_Protecting_Document_Areas_from_Global_Replacements.html

You may have boilerplate text that you need to include in your document, and it would be detrimental to accidently change anything in that text. The solution is to protect the unchangeable text, as described in this tip.

Answer 2

Can you share a word example file showing this problem?

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Upload Example File - Share via “Personal” OneDrive

There is no way to upload example files directly to this forum.
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Trouble shooting problems using this text only forum can be like a visit to the dentist without anaesthetics: a long, slow painful process of us trying to “extract” the clues needed to recognize the problem in a back and forth flow of questions and answers so that we hopefully can eventually come up with a / “the” solution.
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Often it is faster and easier for everyone if we have a “sample file(s)” get "hands on", to look at, and to “play with”. There are a couple of advantages of providing example files:

. * we have exactly the same data you are describing,

. * if your problem requires merging multiple files, we can work with that

. * you will often get different suggestions from users with points of view and experience.
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This next link provides some tips on setting up a sample file and specific instructions for uploading and "sharing" it for us to access:
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_other-winapps/trouble-shooting-share-onedrive-file/a231a097-bcbf-4e34-ad6c-a33118baf471?tm=1523189328156
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The above article includes links to a macros to randomize existing text in Word and Excel
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Note: make sure to upload to your Personal (consumer) OneDrive rather than your work OneDrive or SharePoint. Files in the Work cloud can be hard to share due to security restrictions placed by the work admins. Or use any other free storage service (anything other than business OneDrive or SharePoint).
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Another article explaining need for sharing example files:                 

Why a sample file is important for troubleshooting. How to do it. https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/why-a-sample-file-is-important-for-troubleshooting/9441ae3c-1e92-41c6-9a1f-5b377b08e5a5
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Answer 3

Yes, I've tried applying the fix to the entire document but then this will pop up again. It's like a hidden command or something and very frustrating as you think you've solved the problem.

Answer 4

If you look below there are two sizes of paper in the document.

Answer 5

You haven't uploaded any pic in your post, at least what you have uploaded is totally blank