Large Word Document spontaneously gains pages or loses words.

Anonymous
2018-03-02T21:38:27+00:00

When I transfered a large Word 2010 Doc to my new computer (into Word 2016) from the cloud, 1500 words disappeared. Nobody could figure out why or which words were missing.

Now that same file (Word 2016) has spontaneously added 10 pages (it went from 469 to 479 pages), but there are no blank pages and the page format and word count haven't changed. Can anyone tell me what could have happened?

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  1. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2018-04-08T09:04:18+00:00

    Even you say that you cannot identify the words that are missing.  So, how do you know that they are missing?

    If you are going by word count, that may not be precise.

    Are your comparisons between the document as it was in Word 2010  and as it is now in Word 2016, or are they between how you see the document in Word Online and in Word 2016

    As far as pages being added, that could well be because the printer that is active in Word 2016 is laying out the document in a different manner to the way that it was laid out in Word 2010

    If you want the matter investigated, provide a link to the document in the cloud and send me a copy of the document from Word 2016.

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-04-05T23:02:52+00:00

    I apologize for the delayed response. I’ve tried replicating the concern on our end. It looks like the issue is happening when documents are downloaded from Word Online or OneDrive and opened in Word 2016. I recommend that you post your concern to our Word UserVoice. This way our Word Team will be able to provide you updates on the progress of the investigation. I also encourage you to post the link of your submission in this thread so other community members can up vote it.

    Regards.

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-03-03T04:00:59+00:00

    Doug,

    Thank you for explaining how it might have been possible for the word count to change without actually losing the 1500 words. 

    Could you also explain how/why 10 additional pages suddenly appeared after I had already been working with this file on the new computer for several months?

    Did MS send out some weird update that could have affected this file but not any others?

    Thank you.

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-03-03T02:53:43+00:00

    Thank you for explaining Active Printer, Charles.

    Since the printer didn't change, we can rule that out as an explanation for the extra 10 pages.

    Your point about how the new Word program counts words is heartening so I hope it's true. I can't tell you how much time and angst losing 1500 words caused.

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  5. Anonymous
    2018-03-03T00:03:26+00:00

    Hi Doug,

    Thank you for your reply.

    Would you please explain "Active Printer"? I can't find it. If you're referring to Read Mode, Print Layout, Web Layout, under View, that hasn't changed. It's always in Print Layout.

    I uploaded the file from my old computer into the cloud, then downloaded the file from the cloud into my new computer. The "Word Count" showed that there was a 1500 word difference. 

    I appreciate your help.

    Sue800

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