Member Avatar for tez

Word 97/XP Designed a page for a poster, added border all round, which shows in Print Preview as OK but when it prints the bottom border is not there. I have tried adjusting the borders, and 'kidded' the printer that the paper is a different size but still NO GO! It does not print.
Any advice appreciated. Thanks, Tez

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Dani AI

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Short answer: this is almost always a printer limitation, not a Word bug. Many desktop printers have a nonprintable “imageable” area at the edges, so a page border placed too close to the paper edge will be omitted on the physical print even though Print Preview shows it. That is exactly what ’s diagnosis describes and what fixed ’s poster. (support.microsoft.com)

Practical Word 97 note: change the page-border behaviour so the border is measured from the text area (not the edge of the page) and, if necessary, increase the bottom/border margin slightly. Word 97’s documentation shows the menu path and explains that measuring from Text makes the border move with the margins; Microsoft also documents that Word’s default border offset can fall into a printer’s nonprintable region, so a small margin increase (a few points or about 10 pts) will usually restore the missing line. (jeffpar.github.io)

If you really need full-bleed (edge‑to‑edge) printing, the document alone won’t help: use a borderless-capable printer/driver or print on larger stock and trim. Check your printer’s manual or run its diagnostic/print-quality report to learn the exact printable area and driver options (many drivers expose a “borderless” or “oversize/clip” mode). For stubborn cases, try an updated PostScript/manufacturer driver or generate a PDF and use a driver or print shop that supports borderless output. ()

Quick checklist based on the thread and official guidance: set Page Borders to “measure from Text,” nudge the bottom/border margin up a few points, verify printer driver settings (borderless/PS), print a test/diagnostic page to map the imageable area, and if needed print larger and trim or use a shop. These steps expand on ’s helpful post and reflect Microsoft’s documented fixes. (jeffpar.github.io)

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Member Avatar for MidiMagic

I had the same trouble.

My printer knows it can't print that close to the edge of the paper, so it won't do it.

Telling the printer that the paper is a different size just moves the definition of the bottom of the page. But the software still wants to put the border too close to the new bottom. The printer still thinks the border is too close to the edge.

Most Lexmark printers have this problem, because the rollers let go of the paper before the printhead gets that low on it.

Do this:

- Go into the page layout dialog box and set the bottom border higher.

- Go into the Page Borders dialog box and make the border you want. Then, before leaving the dialog box, use the Options button.

- In the new dialog box, select to measure from the edge of the text, rather than the edge of the paper.

- Click OK for each dialog box.

I tested this on Word 2003 and 2007. I have no earlier version of Word.

commented: Great help. Brilliant, clear solution. +6
Member Avatar for tez

Yes it worked! Thanks for your help, have been trying to solve this for ages. Cheers matey.

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