Knowledge Base |

# PPT: Narrowest Line Style Prints Thicker than Expected

Article ID: 120410

Article Last Modified on 8/16/2005

APPLIES TO

- Microsoft PowerPoint 95 Standard Edition
- Microsoft PowerPoint 3.0 Standard Edition
- Microsoft PowerPoint 4.0 Standard Edition
- Microsoft PowerPoint 4.0a
- Microsoft PowerPoint 4.0c
- Microsoft PowerPoint 3.0 for Macintosh
- Microsoft PowerPoint 3.0b for Macintosh
- Microsoft PowerPoint 3.0b for Macintosh
- Microsoft PowerPoint 4.0 for Macintosh

This article was previously published under Q120410

## SYMPTOMS

The narrowest Line Style available in PowerPoint has a width measurement of one point (1/72 inch). When printed to an output device that supports line widths of less than one point, the line may print thicker than desired.
For example, the Hewlett-Packard (HP) LaserJet III printer is capable of printing line widths as narrow as 1/300 inch. This is less than 1/3 the width of the narrowest line printed from PowerPoint.
PowerPoint prints line widths less than one point only if they are contained within OLE objects or are pasted from an application that supports narrower line widths.

## RESOLUTION

Microsoft Word versions 6.0 and 7.0 for Windows and Microsoft Word 5.x and 6.0 for the Macintosh support line widths as narrow as .25 point.
To insert a Microsoft Word object into your PowerPoint presentation:

1. In PowerPoint, choose Object from the Insert menu. In PowerPoint 3.0, choose Insert from the Edit menu and select Object.
2. From the list of OLE applications, choose Microsoft Word Document and Insert.
3. Click the Line Tool on the toolbar.
4. Click the page and draw a line.
5. Select the Line Style tool, and choose the desired width.
6. From the File menu, choose Close And Return TO <FILENAME>, where <FILENAME> is the name of your presentation.

For more information about how to use Microsoft Word's drawing tools, refer to the "Microsoft Word User's Guide."

## MORE INFORMATION

Many output devices are capable of printing lines narrower than one point, sometimes referred to as a hairline, which is defined as the narrowest line that is displayable on a printed page. Many software publishers specify an actual measurement for a hairline. These measurements will vary from program to program.
Microsoft Draw, which is packaged with Microsoft Word 2.0 for Windows and Publisher 2.0, also supports a line width of less than one point and is an OLE server application. Use the steps outlined above to insert a Draw object instead of a Word object into PowerPoint. In Microsoft Draw, the Hairline format is equal to 0.75 point.

Additional query words: powerpoint powerpt object linking pasting macppt winppt ppt95 printing 3.0 4.0 5.0 5.1 6.00 pt pt. component

Keywords: kbprint kbprb kbgraphic KB120410