Space between text and underline ((all, but target is word97sr2)

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(I’m Word97/SR2, but I’d appreciate feedback in case this is possible in later versions.)

I have a text box, text lies within. I want the first line of the text to be underlined. Select the text, choose Format, Font, Single underline. There it is.

Now I’d like to have a tad more space between my text characters and the underline line.

Can this be done without resorting to tables, cell borders etc?

My constraint is for text in a text box, and I’m not anxious to clutter up the limited space with any fancy stuff. I’ve known for years that tables are the answer to everything…..

If you can do it in anything later than Word97SR2 I’d be interested to hear how, in case that feature appears in a slightly different guise in Word97SR2.

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Hi Chris,

Nope, the space between the underline and the character is built into the font.

Probably exposing my ignorance here, but have you tried applying a bottom border to the characters, possibly through a character style. Well, I just tried that and all I could get is a box, not just a bottom border. However, you can do it with a paragraph style. The advantage is that you can format the distance for the underlining. This will only work with underlining something that goes on one line or less in your textbox.

Very complex work-around.
Two paragraph styles for use in your textbox, one which has the border, and one that is exactly the same but does not. If you need to have some underlined and some not underlined on the same line, put in different paragraphs anyway and mark the paragraph marks between things that should be on the same line as hidden. (This is the recommended method for putting body text and headings on the same line before Word 2002.) You may be able to do this more easily in Word 2002, don’t know.

Have you ever considered Italics? Underlining developed as the typewriter’s substitute for Italics.

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One more possibility: Use an EQ field with the x (box) switch and the bo (bottom only) qualifier…

{eq xbo(Your text here)}

Works in any version of Word, all the way back to 2.0 and maybe earlier.

A possible drawback is that the line extends a point or two to the left and right of the text, since it’s part of an enclosing box. Your choice.

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> x (box) switch and the bo (bottom only) qualifier

Hmmmm, Verrrrry Interesting.

I do believe that that gives me the “tad” more space I was looking for, as well as a chance to explore more about fields.

Now, for extra points (ugh!) can the spacing between the text and the border be adjusted?

I didn’t see any reference to a “bo” switch when i checked the options on the {EQ}. from where did you dig up the information?

Thanks for making me grow.

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There’s no adjustment I’m aware of. These fields are pretty primitive, as I don’t think this part of the code has been touched in 10 years. The spacing is probably a fixed percentage of the font size, since it always seems to clear the descenders by the same visual space.

BTW, I discovered a limitation while I was playing with it: The text in the parentheses can’t contain a comma. That’s because EQ fields use the comma as a parameter separator. Including a comma makes the field interpreter think you have two parameters, but the x switch only accepts one parameter.

In W2K, in the Help topic on the EQ field, go to the subsection on the x switch and click the button to see the four options to, bo, le, and ri. They aren’t independent switches, just options for the x switch.

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> applying a bottom border to the characters,

Neat trick. Worth remembering, thanks! It’s going to be complex with text in a text box. Text Boxes always leave me feeling that I’m losing a bit more control over what goes on.

>Underlining developed as the typewriter’s substitute for Italics

Yes. Italics seem to get lost every now and then, depending on the font. I don’t mean LOST, really lost, but in some fonts the italicizing (?) doesn’t seem to have enough oomph! to catch the eye.

Speaking of Italcs, saw a great movie last night: Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. I’d pay money to see it again.

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