why cant i draw a straight line or arrow in word 2013?

Anonymous
2014-01-04T08:05:17+00:00

hi

in word 2013 when I want to draw an arrow or a line it cant be straight in 180 degree in page and it is always a bit curve to up or down for example draw a rectangle and on its border line draw an arrow ( the arrow must be exactly on rectangle border line ) and you will see that the arrow is curve and is not on rectangle border.

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Anonymous
2014-03-21T15:41:48+00:00

This is easy to recreate, but can be solved by setting the height or width to zero in the ribbon.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-03-04T09:17:15+00:00

    Just insert an arrow then drag the end around. Can you make it straight? 

    Word 2010 was fine, this is Word 2013 only.

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  2. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2014-03-04T10:08:57+00:00

    For "straight", read "vertical" or "horizontal"

    I can replicate the issue, it is not possible to drag either end of the arrow so that it is aligned either vertically or horizontally.  It jumps between the two alignments shown below:

    As Pete says, the issue does not occur with an arrow in Word 2010, or with a simple line in Word 2013.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-03-20T21:11:54+00:00

    Turn on Guidelines and zoom in 300% or so. Click one end of the arrow or line and hold down the Alt key while dragging for fine adjustments.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-03-21T09:07:43+00:00

    Sorry, it didn't work.

    With alt held down it's even more noticeable when it jumps over the straight line. 

    it happens on the vertical and horizontal, up down or left right.

    Sometimes I can get an ordinary line to work ok, but arrows - once moved - will never be straight again.

    I'm surprised that this happens to so many people, yet nobody talks about it.

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