WD2000: Dash in AutoSignature Is Autoformatted as a Dot (211567)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 2000
This article was previously published under Q211567

SYMPTOMS

If you use the AutoSignature feature in WordMail to create an e-mail signature that contains a dash (hyphen), the dash is converted to a bullet when you open the e-mail message in an e-mail editor other than WordMail.

CAUSE

When you create an AutoSignature that contains a hyphen, Microsoft Word automatically formats the hyphen as a hyphen bullet. When the text version of the e-mail message is created, the hyphen bullet is converted to the ANSI bullet character, which is a small dot.

WORKAROUND

To work around this behavior, do not let the automatic formatting feature change the hyphen to a hyphen bullet. When creating an AutoSignature with a hyphen before the signature, follow these steps:
  1. Type the hyphen followed by the first line of the AutoSignature. Word may format the hyphen as a bullet at this point.
  2. On the Edit menu, click Undo to undo the format of the bullet. The bullet should revert to a standard hyphen.
  3. Proceed with the rest of the AutoSignature creation process.
The AutoSignature now contains a standard hyphen rather than a bullet, and non-WordMail editors read it as a standard ANSI hyphen.

MORE INFORMATION

The conversion of hyphens to bullets is part of the automatic formatting feature in Word and WordMail. To make this feature unavailable, follow these steps:
  1. On the Format menu, click AutoFormat, and then click Options.
  2. Click the AutoFormat As You Type tab.
  3. Clear the Automatic bulleted lists check box.

REFERENCES

For additional information about the AutoFormat feature, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

212377 WD2000: General Information about Auto Features

212339 WD2000: How to Turn Off Word AutoFormat Features

212153 WD2000: AutoFormat Does Not Replace Hyphens with En Dash

For more information about the AutoFormat feature, click Microsoft Help on the Help menu, type autoformat in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/6/2000
Keywords:kbnumbering kbprb kbusage KB211567
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