Writer document appears differently on two differen PC's

users
#1

I have a document that spans two pages when viewed/edited on one
computer but is only one page when viewed/edited from the other
computer on my network.

All the page settings appear the same when viewed from either
computer (how could they be different?)

Can there be any personal settings influencing this? That's the only
(sensible) reason I can think of for the discrepancy, but I haven't
been able to find any.

Additionally, when printed from the computer that (correctly) shows
the document as being only one page, LO prints a second, blank, page
for each correct page of the document (when it's mail merged).

There are frames on the page and this/these seem to be rendered
differently on each computer. I started to check their options and
they appeared to be the same, but of course they do, it's the same
file! How can there be a difference in rendering?

Is this a known issue? If not I'll post it and the example file as a
bug report, but I thought I'd ask here first.

Regards
Mark Stanton
One small step for mankind...

#2

Mark Stanton wrote:

I have a document that spans two pages when viewed/edited on one
computer but is only one page when viewed/edited from the other
computer on my network.

All the page settings appear the same when viewed from either
computer (how could they be different?)

Can there be any personal settings influencing this? That's the only
(sensible) reason I can think of for the discrepancy, but I haven't
been able to find any.

Additionally, when printed from the computer that (correctly) shows
the document as being only one page, LO prints a second, blank, page
for each correct page of the document (when it's mail merged).

There are frames on the page and this/these seem to be rendered
differently on each computer. I started to check their options and
they appeared to be the same, but of course they do, it's the same
file! How can there be a difference in rendering?

Is this a known issue? If not I'll post it and the example file as a
bug report, but I thought I'd ask here first.

Regards
Mark Stanton
One small step for mankind...

First are the fonts used on both computers?

Second check the File-> Print libreOffice Writer tab and see if the Print automatically inserted blank pages box is checked.

Andy

#3

Hi.
I had this same thing. The document font was arial on both machines. But I found the arial fonts were not the same. I copied the arial font from the first machine to the second machine (deleting and replacing the font) and the layout was then the same.

steve

#4

Another thought that occurs to me, although I guess you'll have checked this. Do you have the same default printer on both machines?

//James

#5

Would you be willing to send this document to me - off the list? Then I could see if it shows up as two pages of text or only one. This will let "us" know how a third system displays your document. If I get the same as one of your computers, then we would have a base to help figure out what is going on.

You state that there are "frames" on the page. Is this being used like a newsletter, newspaper, or other text that need columned document and break up the "article" into section where the beginning is on one page and the rest on a different page? I rarely use "frames" outside of newsletters and the last time I did those I use PageMaker. I never really learned how to do this type of work with Writer.

The one issue I have seen with text/tables/images being printed on the next page after where I thought it should be, is some option that is checked somewhere that asks you if you want print a table out spanning two pages or do you want it to be kept whole [if possible] so it is printed out on the next page.

I just looked for the option setting [one of them]. Tools > Options > LibreOffice Writer > Table - Default - No Not Split checkbox. I do not find anything for "frames" but if Writer use Table print options for frames, then that could be a problem.

Sometimes, to fix a printing error, I need to get rid of the "personal" settings folder where your printer preferences and your other package preferences are stored. Once you remove that folder, the next time you open Writer, Calc, etc., the package recreates the deleted folder. If you have to enter in your personal information when you start Writer, like the first time you installed LibreOffice [or OpenOffice.org], then you should have all your preference settings reset to the system defaults.

If you wish to email your document to me, so I can see how it looks on my Ubuntu 10.10 LibreOffice package, my email address for this list is:

"webmaster@krackedpress.com"

I use that address for e-newsletters and email lists. [except 1 or 2 of them]

Tim L. - New York State, USA [5 hours away from NY City and wish it was farther away].

#6

Mark

When I have seen two pages print, one being blank, is when I have extra
lines below the text. Often I hit Enter several times and never removed
or forgot to remove the extra lines. This may be why you see two pages
on one computer. Are page views the same on both computers? Is one in
print layout and the other in possibly web layout under View?

#7

<snip>

I never heard of that issue. Maybe the TTF vs. OTF fonts would make a difference, but I use TTF for all my fonts if I have it in that format. I do make sure that any of my systems have the same list of fonts installed.

Actually, I remember now that I did see two different "authors" listed in some of my Arial fonts descriptions while viewing them in a font viewer package. Maybe there is "different" Arial fonts but called the same thing. After collecting over 100,000 fonts I have found that most san-serif and serif fonts are so close together, I tend to use/install 1 or 2 san-serif fonts and 1 or 2 serif fonts. The rest are all "specialty fonts".

Also, as another email asked, if there are two different printers in the mix, they could be printing the fonts a little differently if they have built in Arial and it is set to substitute their Arial for the TTF/OTF font.

#8

In news:VA.000009bc.04321341@vowleyfarm.co.uk,
Mark Stanton <mark@vowleyfarm.co.uk> typed:

I have a document that spans two pages when viewed/edited
on one computer but is only one page when viewed/edited
from the other computer on my network.

All the page settings appear the same when viewed from
either computer (how could they be different?)

Can there be any personal settings influencing this?

...

The main problem is printer drivers. In order for a document to look the
same on two different printers they need to be using the same drivers and
the author must have used fonts the other machine is going to have.
   Printer drivers have the most effect. It can be a lot different just on
two equivalent machines if they are set to different screen resolutions of
dpi, etc. etc..
  You might try .RTF and see if that allows them to become a little more
similar, but it's hard to get them to look the same. They may or may not
print properly too, dependin gon the drivers in each machine. Page Preview
uses the installed drivers to show what the page will look like when it is
printed, BTW.

HTH,

Twayne`

#9

Hi Jay,

When I have seen two pages print, one being blank, is when I have extra
lines below the text.

Thanks for the thought.
I'm (insanely) careful about extra blanks, either lines or spaces,
particularly when things start going wrong. So no, this isn't the thing
in this case.

It's part of why I was surprised because in my version of Writer I can't
move the cursor to a second page, the document stops properly on the first
one.

Thanx
Mark Stanton
One small step for mankind...

#10

Hi Tim,

Ok, YHM.

It's actually a renewal letter for a magazine, so it is a "form
letter", mailmerged in with the renewal list, which is why I could be
bothered to ask the question. If it was just one page I'd probably
just live with it. This issue we have just over a hundred renewals
though, so it was a bit more of a thing.

Yup, I understand about the "do not split" thing, but the boxes are
after some text and I need the whole thing to be on one page, which
wouldn't happen (I imagine) if I just force it not to split the box.

I want to get to the point that I can drive the whole thing from my
database (not Base!) application. I don't think I can do that from
InDesign (the Pagemaker successor). Even if I could I'd rather do it
with LO.

All the best
Mark Stanton
One small step for mankind...

#11

Hi Andy,

First are the fonts used on both computers?

Good thought! It turns out, when I look closer, the document is a bit of
a mish-mash of fonts and font styles.

I actually couldn't find one of the (two) fonts on my own machine. Would
LO substitute silently? Surely it should complain if it can't find the
font. But that looks like what's happened, because now that I've copied
those (TrueType) fonts over and restarted LO (not just closed Writer,
that didn't make any difference) the document now looks the same on both
machines. Brilliant Holmes! Thanks :smiley:

Second check the File-> Print libreOffice Writer tab and see if the
Print automatically inserted blank pages box is checked.

What the... ! Hmmm, when would someone want that?

Yes, you're right, that box is checked. That presumably explains it.
Why, though, is it checked? Is that always the default. In my own
Writer print options I that option *NOT* checked... :frowning:

Regards
Mark Stanton
One small step for mankind...

#12

Another thought that occurs to me, although I guess you'll have checked
this. Do you have the same default printer on both machines?

Yup. Small office setup, we only have one printer.

Thanx
Mark Stanton
One small step for mankind...

#13

Hi Mark,

Mark Stanton wrote:

Hi Andy,

First are the fonts used on both computers?

Good thought! It turns out, when I look closer, the document is a bit of
a mish-mash of fonts and font styles.

I actually couldn't find one of the (two) fonts on my own machine. Would
LO substitute silently? Surely it should complain if it can't find the
font. But that looks like what's happened, because now that I've copied
those (TrueType) fonts over and restarted LO (not just closed Writer,
that didn't make any difference) the document now looks the same on both
machines. Brilliant Holmes! Thanks :smiley:

Seen this type of thing quite often in the forum so it is one of the first to check.

Second check the File-> Print libreOffice Writer tab and see if the
Print automatically inserted blank pages box is checked.

What the... ! Hmmm, when would someone want that?

If you printing out for a book or such the odd pages are on the right. If you start a new chapter and the last page of the prior chapter ends on an odd page number then there is a blank page to put the new chapter on the next odd page.

Yes, you're right, that box is checked. That presumably explains it.
Why, though, is it checked? Is that always the default. In my own
Writer print options I that option *NOT* checked... :frowning:

I am not sure if it is the Default or if it is switched on by selecting a page style that has Left/Right attributes.

Andy

#14

Hi Mark,

Mark Stanton wrote:

Hi Andy,

First are the fonts used on both computers?

Good thought! It turns out, when I look closer, the document is a
bit of
a mish-mash of fonts and font styles.

I actually couldn't find one of the (two) fonts on my own machine.
Would
LO substitute silently? Surely it should complain if it can't find the
font. But that looks like what's happened, because now that I've copied
those (TrueType) fonts over and restarted LO (not just closed Writer,
that didn't make any difference) the document now looks the same on both
machines. Brilliant Holmes! Thanks :smiley:

Seen this type of thing quite often in the forum so it is one of the
first to check.

This is just the thing that drove me to suggest to have the option to
embed (package) a font in the odt file.
May be a handy hints page would be useful for users who come across
these idiosyncrasies.
The other "word processor" is almost uniformly used on one OS with one
set of installed fonts. LO being cross platform is exposed to a lot more
variance in operating environment that throws up little quirks.

steve

#15

Steve Edmonds wrote:

Hi Mark,

Mark Stanton wrote:

Hi Andy,

First are the fonts used on both computers?

Good thought! It turns out, when I look closer, the document is a
bit of
a mish-mash of fonts and font styles.

I actually couldn't find one of the (two) fonts on my own machine.
Would
LO substitute silently? Surely it should complain if it can't find the
font. But that looks like what's happened, because now that I've copied
those (TrueType) fonts over and restarted LO (not just closed Writer,
that didn't make any difference) the document now looks the same on both
machines. Brilliant Holmes! Thanks :smiley:

Seen this type of thing quite often in the forum so it is one of the
first to check.

This is just the thing that drove me to suggest to have the option to
embed (package) a font in the odt file.

Where was this made? The bug tracer would be the best place, if it is possible with the ODF standard.

May be a handy hints page would be useful for users who come across
these idiosyncrasies.

Maybe the Help wiki would be a good place.

Andy

#16

Steve Edmonds wrote:

Hi Mark,

Mark Stanton wrote:

Hi Andy,

First are the fonts used on both computers?

Good thought! It turns out, when I look closer, the document is a
bit of
a mish-mash of fonts and font styles.

I actually couldn't find one of the (two) fonts on my own machine.
Would
LO substitute silently? Surely it should complain if it can't find
the
font. But that looks like what's happened, because now that I've
copied
those (TrueType) fonts over and restarted LO (not just closed Writer,
that didn't make any difference) the document now looks the same on
both
machines. Brilliant Holmes! Thanks :smiley:

Seen this type of thing quite often in the forum so it is one of the
first to check.

This is just the thing that drove me to suggest to have the option to
embed (package) a font in the odt file.

Where was this made? The bug tracer would be the best place, if it is
possible with the ODF standard.

Made in this list. Not too popular.

May be a handy hints page would be useful for users who come across
these idiosyncrasies.

Maybe the Help wiki would be a good place.

True. LO is a great product and getting better all the time, but not
fully without bugs.
For the beginner there are some things, that without knowing your way
around can lead to frustration, for instance the save Auto-Recovery
doesn't work for .docs and can lead to image loss in writer documents.
Safe solution, turn it off and remember to save regularly.
When you know about them you can work around them easily.

Trouble is the wiki could bet real big when you look at the bug list and
then be a headache to maintain.

steve

#17

I just sent an email back with my result[s] from your document.
Nice document.

The issue could be, like I stated, if you have the document viewed on a Writer that uses a letter size paper, then you have 0.67 inches less space on the page for the document. Well forget that. Just noticed that your page is setup for A4. I just got messed up, due to the strain of the past few hours.

Now the text is in CG Omega [mostly] and if I reduce the text by 1 point for most of the page, it looks like it can fit. The margins of Left/Right/Top/Bottom - 0.59"/0.59"/0.59"/0.39" is something I wondered about. Your horse body actually shows above the margin "line" in Writer. Would changing the margin from 0.59 to a smaller one be a printing problem?

Actually by going from CG Omega to something like DejaVu Sans, you can reduce the font size without the actually letters being smaller. I notice the spacing above and below the actually letters "looked" like the lines was more than 1.0 line spacing. Can you change the CG Omega font to a similar one that noes not have all that extra space above an below the actually letters?
The problem with DejaVu Sans, it is letters are wider that Omega. But in most areas you have enough space at the end of the line to take up that extra area. Plus if you use Omega [11pt] in some places and DejaVu [10 pt] in the others, you will not notice the difference in the shape of the letters, but the amount of space between lines.

#18

It is indeed an issue. On my XP, I have Arial v.3.0, whereas on my Windows 7, I have Arial 5.06. From what I see, they are identical, except v.5 has better kerning pairs with accented letters ("Téléphone" doesn't look as bad) and more special letters. But other less basic fonts have been fine-tuned over the years, with sometimes unexpected results.
Also a bug was corrected between OOo 3.2 and LO 3.3: previously, line spacing at less than 100% was not rendered correctly. So I gained 1-2 lines per page on many documents.

#19

I gained 1-2 lines per page between Arial on my mac and Arial on my
Suse. Really mucked up a 40 page manual with copious diagrams.

#20

Hi Tim,

Thanks for looking at this.

Yeah, you're right, I don't even *like* CG Omega :frowning:
Unfortunately the editor does.

The problem wasn't that I couldn't make it fit, but that it was
different on the two PC's. The font not being on my PC makes it all
understandable now though.

Regards
Mark Stanton
One small step for mankind...