Problems printing page ranges

Question

A typical document generated in our laboratories is a certificate consisting of page 1, then a section break followed by all subsequent pages.

Until recently (viz dec 2020) if we wanted to print page 3, we could just enter 3 into the Pages: section of the print dialogue and page 3 would be printed.

Suddenly, in Jan 2021 we now have to enter p3s2.

From my research in various forums, this is the correct way to specify pages in a multi-section document. 

What I am wondering is why has a simple "3" worked correctly for the past 25 years in all versions of Word/Office?

Answer 1

In the following thread, user Matt has come up with the info that the first Section in the document must now be referenced as S0 and the second Section needs to be referenced as S2

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/word-custom-printing-range-of-pages-prints-nothing/3f3cd9cf-b7a7-48d5-98ea-cb2e27c8ee9c?LastReply=true#LastReply

Answer 2

I have just received advice that the issue has been fixed in Office builds 16.0.13420.20000 and above and Mac builds 16.43.20102000 and above. If you are still experiencing the issue, restarting your Office apps should do the trick.

Answer 3

I did an update this morning and then tested for the fault.  It would appear to have been corrected.

Answer 4

There have been reports in the Microsoft Community that the p#s# syntax isn't working properly in recent releases of Word. Microsoft has been made aware of the bug and it is being investigated (see for example the thread at https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/word-custom-printing-range-of-pages-prints-nothing/3f3cd9cf-b7a7-48d5-98ea-cb2e27c8ee9c).