Word: skip one line, not two

Re

Sorry for my late reply...
I don't have the 2003 version of Word, but for the past twenty years, I've always seen a "format" command in the general menu of various versions of Word (File, Edit, etc...) with options like "paragraph, characters, tabs, etc..."
I would be very surprised if it had disappeared...

Click in the problematic paragraph, then go to Format/Paragraph, and look for the section regarding line spacing or "space before/after," you should find something.

As for the "template": every "new document" is created as a copy of a basic "template."
All templates are ".dot" files while documents are ".doc"
It may be that the templates are grouped in a folder ....\templates somewhere
A template opens and saves exactly like a .doc file
The base template has always been called "Normal.dot"

Do a "search" on ".dot" files, and you will know where they are

I will still try to check a recent version of Word.
If I find something, I'll get back to you.

Talk soon

Nyctaclope

Thank you very much! Already, I found how to fix the "issue by issue":
- select the paragraph
- right-click
- check "do not add space between paragraphs of the same style"

Then, to make sure that all new documents are in the same vein...
I did a search for .dot files which found me plenty of .dotx but no "normal"!

Well, otherwise, I dug out my old installation CD of Word 2003... if worse comes to worst, I'll fix my problem that way...
+++

RE
1//
Go to the File menu (and not on the "new document" icon!!)
Ask for "new document" or something like that
If I remember correctly, you should be asked which template you want to create your document from, and you should be able to display the list.
The default choice will let you know which is the current template.
Otherwise, choose one, take note of its name, and always use the same.
It is this template that you will need to open and modify so that the base paragraph is changed
Do a search for its name to find out where it "lives".
Open it, edit it, and save it..
2//
Easier, create a blank (.doc) document with a paragraph that you edit according to your method.
Save this document as a template (give it the .DOT extension) by selecting "Save As" and choosing the .DOT file format and call it something like "Standard.DOT"
It's likely that a storage folder will be imposed on you (otherwise note it) so that it can be offered to you when you request File/New
3//
Even simpler:
create a blank (.doc) document with a paragraph that you edit according to your method.
Save this document as Standard.DOC
You will use this file, without ever modifying it, as a starting point for your work, to open it and then "Save As" a new name, and on which you will work. Thus, you will never ruin your "template" (which is not a template in the Word sense, but a simple file that YOU consider as a template)
You can "enrich" Standard.DOC by adding your preferred "constants" such as indents, margins, font, preformatted address, etc.

Also, take a look at Format/Style for the current paragraph, if that command still exists....

Also check TOOLS/OPTIONS to see if there is a standard line spacing option for paragraphs...or for spacing before/after...

Hoping I've provided you with something useful...

A+

Nyctaclope

there's an easier way with Windows XP (I think the process is the same for Vista)
1) go to format
2) then paragraph
3) go to spacing
4) set the value to 0 points in "before" and "after"

and it's back to normal like in '40