Text does not wrap around an object in Word 2000 or in Word for Mac (193107)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 2000
  • Microsoft Word X for Mac
  • Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition
This article was previously published under Q193107

SYMPTOMS

When your Microsoft Word 2000 document contains text that should wrap around a drawing object, a text box, or a "Float over text" object, the text does not wrap around the object. Instead, the text splits from the top to the bottom of the object.

Note You may also experience this issue in Microsoft Word X for Mac or Microsoft Word 98, Macintosh Edition. This occurs when you insert text and a picture into a text box. The text splits from the top to the bottom of the picture. Additionally, you cannot change the wrapping style for the text.

CAUSE

This problem occurs in Word 2000 when both of the following conditions are true:
  • The drawing object, text box, or "Float over text" object is formatted with the Square, Tight, or Through wrapping style.
  • The text that should wrap around the drawing object, text box, or "Float over text" object has been formatted with a symbol font, such as the Tahoma font.
This functionality is by design of the wrapping style that you selected. Symbol fonts, such as Symbol or Wingdings, do not contain a normal space character that Word uses. Instead, they contain a different space that is a high-value Unicode character. Since the wrapping style that may be set to Square, Tight, or Through needs a normal Word space for wrapping to occur and none are contained in the symbol font, Word cannot wrap the text around the object.

This issue of when you cannot change the wrapping style for text in a text box in Word X for Mac and in Word 98, Macintosh Edition occurs by design.

WORKAROUND

Format the text that should wrap around the drawing object, text box, or "Float over text" object with a non-symbol font, such as Times New Roman.

MORE INFORMATION

A symbol font is a font family that consists of novelty typefaces of both variable and fixed-pitch fonts. Word uses symbol fonts to insert symbols in your document. Symbol fonts include the following fonts.

NoteTo insert a symbol font, click Symbol on the Insert menu.
  • Bookshelf Symbol 3

  • Greek Symbols

  • Iconic Symbols Ext

  • ITC Zaph Dingbats (D1)

  • ITC Zaph Dingbats (D2)

  • ITC Zaph Dingbats (D3)

  • ITC Zaph Dingbats (DS)

  • ITC Zaph Dingbats (DV)

  • Marlett

  • Math Ext

  • Monotype Sorts

  • MS Outlook

  • MT Extra

  • Symbol

  • Tahoma

  • Typographic Ext

  • Webdings

  • Wingdings

  • Wingdings 2

  • Wingdings 3
Note Not all of the symbol fonts that cause this problem and are available for use in Word are listed in this article.

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

192973 Definitions of typography terms in Word

For more information about Microsoft Typography, please see the following Microsoft World Wide Web Site:

http://www.microsoft.com/typography/

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:2/28/2005
Keywords:kbnofix kbprb KB193107
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