Re: Outlook 2007 paragraph spacing, reprise by Chris
Chris
Wed Jul 09 06:40:01 PDT 2008
Okay, so here's the best "solution" I've come up with: I've edited the
NormalEmail.dotm template to add a new Quick Style Set to match the default
set of styles (which includes a single-spaced Normal, with 10pt
below-paragraph space); I've then added the Quick Style Sets gallery to the
Quick Access Toolbar; now, every time I reply to a message, I select my new
Quick Style Set from the Quick Access Toolbar. It makes some quoted message
text from Gmail look a little funny, but at least it makes my text look good
to me and people reading my messages.
So, two less-than-ideal aspects of this solution: (1) I have to hit two
extra mouse clicks every single time I reply to a message, and (2) this
quoted message history gets a little goofy-looking.
If I could figure out from where Outlook pulls its style set for
reply/forward, then I could update that style set and be done with it. Sadly,
I can't find it anywhere!
Chris
"Nikki Peterson" wrote:
> Gosh, the general consensus is that plain text is the answer.
> Not a happy for me either.
> The Control + Enter will give you a single return char, but
> that isn't a very good answer either.
> I will play with this for a while, but at this point I would have
> to agree with you that this seems to be an "irritation" not a feature.
>
> Nikki
>
> "Chris" <Chris@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:AA256805-37BE-4A4E-B8B9-5AB086805E3E@microsoft.com...
> > Thanks for your suggestion. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to correct
> > it.
> >
> > Perhaps the most succinct way to state my problem is this: when I hit
> > Enter
> > at the end of a line, when writing a message, I want to see a visible
> > break
> > between my first paragraph and my second (so that I am not tempted to hit
> > Enter twice and thus unwittingly send readers a message with huge spaces
> > between paragraphs); by modifying the Normal style to have a 10pt space
> > after
> > paragraphs, I am happy when writing new messages; however, when replying
> > to
> > messages sent by Gmailers and others, the Normal style temporarily loses
> > its
> > 10pt space setting and thus requires two Enters to see any space between
> > paragraphs (resulting, then, in loads of extra space to others).
> >
> > All I want is to have messages look correct (a) to me when I'm writing,
> > and
> > (b) to those who read my messages. Amazingly, I have so far found this to
> > be
> > utterly impossible.
> >
> > Chris
> >
> > "Nikki Peterson" wrote:
> >
> >> I am not sure but there is a thing called "Smart Paragraph" that
> >> when you copy something, it will always grab the paragraph
> >> mark and include it, thereby making your line breaks to appear
> >> double.
> >>
> >> To turn Smart Paragraph Selection off in:
> >> - OL2007: Tools -> Options -> Mail Format tab -> Editor Options...
> >> button -> Advanced -> deselect Use Smart Paragraph Selection.
> >> - Word2007: Office Button -> Word Options -> Advanced and
> >> deselect Use Smart Paragraph Selection.
> >> - OL2003: Tools -> Word Options -> Edit tab and deselect Use
> >> Smart Paragraph Selection.
> >>
> >> Now, having stated this, I do not think this is quite the same,
> >> however maybe a bit of perusing in this area may unveil something
> >> more towards that which you seek. If you do find something or
> >> if this works, please write back and let us know.
> >>
> >> Nikki Peterson
> >>
> >> "Chris" <chrislrobert@gmail.com> wrote in message
> >> news:6a8ddc43-c548-4aa6-b326-345ab96ae634@r66g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
> >> > Hello,
> >> >
> >> > Perhaps in response to the earlier outcry, the Outlook 2007 (with
> >> > Vista Ultimate) that I just installed came with the Normal Style
> >> > defaulting to 0 space after paragraphs. This meant that, typing a new
> >> > message into the HTML editor, I had to hit Enter twice in order to
> >> > have any visible space between my paragraphs. This, then, had the
> >> > effect of sending my messages with an extra paragraph (nbsp) between
> >> > each paragraph. Still, it looked okay in Outlook.
> >> >
> >> > However, it did not look okay to others, in Gmail and elsewhere. And
> >> > it did not look okay when echoed back to me in the form of replies.
> >> > So, what to do? I searched and read up on the problem.
> >> >
> >> > I changed the Normal style to have a 10pt space after each paragraph.
> >> > This way, when I hit Enter once in the editor, I can see a space
> >> > between the paragraphs, and I am happy. Also, the resulting messages
> >> > still look okay (at least in Gmail and Outlook both). So far so good.
> >> >
> >> > However, when I reply to a message sent from Gmail, or try to carry on
> >> > a sequence of replies with anybody, I still have problems. Here is an
> >> > easy sequence to replicate:
> >> >
> >> > 1. Write message to Gmail user. Looks good to both me and him.
> >> >
> >> > 2. Gmail user replies. Looks good to me and him.
> >> >
> >> > 3. I try to reply to the Gmail reply. I have the Normal style as the
> >> > default, but suddenly the Normal style no longer has 10pt spaces after
> >> > paragraphs. That aspect of the Normal style has been stripped by
> >> > Gmail. So, again, in order to see space between my paragraphs, I am
> >> > forced to hit Enter twice. This then causes double-spacing and the
> >> > well-known annoyances.
> >> >
> >> > 4. To avoid the problem, every single time I reply I must change the
> >> > Normal style to add back in the 10pt space.
> >> >
> >> > Notice that the 10pt space is only stripped for replies. If I compose
> >> > a new message, the Normal style is as it should be, complete with its
> >> > 10pt space.
> >> >
> >> > So, I ask: is there any way, with Outlook 2007, to carry on a
> >> > conversation with non-Outlook users, and not have spacing problems
> >> > creeping in?
> >> >
> >> > Thank you very much,
> >> >
> >> > Chris
> >>
> >>
> >>
>