Create graphics which don't print?
 

My client wants to create a document which have graphics that show in the document, but don't print (they will be printing on a pre-printed letterhead).

I don't think that this is possible, and that I would just have to create a document with the proper margins so that the body of the letter will fit within the letterhead graphics, but they would like to be able to see the graphics as they are typing.

Short of a using a macro which either removes/replaces the graphics (or sets the transparency) before/after printing, is there any way to do this? They almost certainly wouldn't want to use any macros in this document.

Thanks.

It is possible to format the graphic as hidden, but if that happens, something else still may need to take the space. This could be done with the space allowed for the header or the graphic could be in front of a borderless empty textbox that takes up the same space.

You may want to review Setting Up Letter Templates - Ribbon

See the attached screenshot which contains both a picture and a shape in the header. When printed or in print preview neither of these show up. Both were formatted as hidden by selecting them and going to the Font dialog box (Home Tab) and checking the hidden option.

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Here is a print preview of the same document.

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If that's the case, that would do what I need. The margins will be set to print in the open area, and unless the client goes and edits something in the header/footer (which they shouldn't), nothing should print over the pre-printed graphics.

I'm not sure how you formatted the graphic to be hidden, I have't found any option to do that yet. I did read about setting hidden text, but if I understand that, it's up to the user's preferences whether the hidden text will be displayed on screen or in printed form, and I can't rely on that being set the way I need it since I have no control over who will be using this.

Well, it was formatted as hidden text, even though it is not text.
What you saw was my screen with hdden text showing (that is the default for me) but not printing. There is also a user setting for printing graphics but you cannot rely on that either.

You may want to bring to the client's attention the adage "You can't always get what you want!"
I was surprised when I was able to format the shape as hidden text!

Ok, thanks, that's what I thought.

I'll have to tell them that the template will be set up to constrain the text to fit within their letterheads, but it won't be visible on screen.

OK. Probably the simplest.
I would use a first-page header to give you that space rather than any margin settings. It could contain an empty borderless textbox or frame. See the article on letter templates.

See Show or hide instructions & graphics at print time in my Microsoft Word Date Calculation Tutorial at: http://windowssecrets.com/forums/sho...ation-Tutorial

Paul's suggestion will work so long as Word is set to update fields at print time. This is the default setting but is a user setting that can be changed. It is unusual for someone to change it, but they can.

Thanks for the extra info. That link is asking me for a password to download; don't have time right now to join another site to check it.

As unlikely it may be that the user will change a setting, I'd prefer to use something that is 100% reliable, as we won't be able to handle troubleshooting any issues if they do so.