Zoom Problem
I’m not exactly sure why, but many of us have problems using Ctrl+Wheel to zoom to increase the size of text in Word (Word 2007 especially, but also in Word 2003) in Vista. I recall having a problem with zooming Word 2007 in Windows XP as well, but not in Word 2003. One of these days, I’ll fire up an old XP computer and see if my memory is correct.
Those of us who experience the problem find that in order to zoom in Word, you have to twirl the mouse wheel really fast. The problem also occurs in Outlook message and Notes areas (not Outlook note items, but in the notes area within Outlook items such as Contacts, Journal, and Task entries).
I don’t know if the problem is specifically IntelliPoint related, but when I remove IntelliPoint (using version 6.2 with a Microsoft Natural Wireless Mouse 6000), the problem does not relent. Nor does it relent when using different kinds of wireless Microsoft laser Mice.
When I connect the no-name mouse that came with my computer, oddly enough, Ctrl+Wheel in Word and Outlook work perfectly. So, it’s clearly some kind of problem with wireless Microsoft laser mice. I don’t have any old optical or ball-based Microsoft mice lying about (I’ve given them away to family members with mouse problems), so I can’t fully test the extent of the problem.
In any event, one purpose of this blog entry is for those of you who are also having this problem: you are not alone. As nearly as I can tell, the problem is due to how Word and certain Microsoft mice “talk” to each other. I’d be interested in knowing if other enhanced mice (such as those from LogiTech) exhibit the same zoom problem.
So, if the issue could be resolved simply by switching to the mouse that came with this computer, then why don’t I? First, I’m addicted to the programmable buttons on my Microsoft mice, and have programmed them to do nifty things, like closing windows/applications, going back/forward in browsers, etc. The mouse that came with my computer doesn’t have extra buttons. Furthermore, it doesn’t have a tilt wheel function for horizontal scrolling either.
So, I remain in search of a solution. I tried X-mouse, but that while it solved the zooming problem, it introduced a number of other problem, so I ultimately retreated back to IntelliPoint.
Mind you, there are other ways to zoom in Word, but they are either too clunky (too many steps) or require too much manual precision. One, for example, is to click the – and + on the zoom slider on Word’s status bar. I’m a bit of a klutz, however, I and keep misfiring, clicking along the line rather than hitting the – and + tools.
In the meantime, I’ve found myself a macro-based keyboard shortcut for zooming that takes a lot of the edge off. I’ve also added tools for the macros, placing them onto the Quick Access Toolbar for zooming that requires less precision-clicking. I’m implemented a similar solution (toolbar only) in Outlook, since Ctrl+Wheel doesn’t cooperate there either.
The macros are quite simple:
Sub ZoomIn()
On Error Resume Next
With ActiveWindow.ActivePane.View
.Zoom.Percentage = .Zoom.Percentage + 5
End With
End Sub
And:
Sub ZoomIn()
On Error Resume Next
With ActiveWindow.ActivePane.View
.Zoom.Percentage = .Zoom.Percentage - 5
End With
End Sub
I assigned ZoomIn and ZoomOut to Ctrl+Alt+< and Ctrl+Alt+>, respectively. Note that I’ve set the zoom granularity to 5. The default for the – and + buttons is 10—it’s also that for Ctrl+Wheel, when it works. But, I preferred a little more granularity. I tried 1, but it was a bit too slow. I’ve also put zoom arrow onto the QAT for easy mouse access when the mouse is near the top of the screen.
2 Responses to “Zoom Problem”
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June 2nd, 2008 at 2:24 pm
That’s interesting problem you had there - any progress?
I have another problem which may not be related, but still concerns zooming in Word 2007 and I’m wondering if you had the same effect. I have some nice circular text boxes which the base text wraps around nicely. When I zoom out or in the text boxes actually move slightly so the wrap effect is no longer great as there is no longer a gap between the text box and the base text. Hope that makes some sense!
Jb
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:59 pm
I haven’t found a solution, though another MVP tells me that he can make the problem occur by enabling hardware acceleration. In theory, that would mean that I could make the problem go away by turning hardware acceleration off. I’ve been through all of the settings here, however — Windows and BIOS — but there doesn’t seem to be a way to turn it on and off. So far, I’m living with the problem, having adapted other solutions to deal with it.
For your issue, I assume that you’ve set the wrapping to tight. Zooming should not affect the actual position (I inserted a circular text box, checked the position settings, then zoomed and re-zoomed a lot, and the position settings were unchanged), but can affect how it appears on screen. I suspect that any setting other than 100% is not actually WYSIWYG. Still, if things shift too much, then I might suspect that the video driver isn’t handling Word’s zooming and redisplay instructions properly, and would see if an updated video driver resolves the issue.