WD97: Text Doesn't Wrap Around Object (193108)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
This article was previously published under Q193108

SYMPTOMS

When your document contains text that should wrap around a drawing object, text box, or "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.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when both of the following conditions are true:

  • The drawing object, text box, or "Float over text" object is formatted with either Square, Tight, or Through wrapping style.

    -and-
  • The text that should wrap around the drawing object, text box, or "Float over text" object has been formatted with a symbol font.
This functionality is by design of the wrapping style 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 character, which is a high-value Unicode character. Because the wrapping style (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.

WORKAROUND

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

MORE INFORMATION

A symbol font is a font family, which consists of novelty typefaces of both variable and fixed-pitch fonts. Word uses symbol fonts to insert symbols (on the Insert menu, click Symbol) in your document and may include the following fonts:

  • 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, which may cause this problem and are available for use in Word are listed in this article.

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

192971 WD97: Definitions of Typography Terms in Word

160070 WD97: Symbol Dialog Different from Previous Versions

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

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

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:2/28/2005
Keywords:kbnofix kbprb KB193108
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