Formatting Inconsistencies in eScribe’s Microsoft 365 Document Editor

When editing Microsoft Word documents via eScribe’s Microsoft 365 browser-based editor, you may notice minor formatting inconsistencies compared to the desktop Word application. Complex layouts, multi-level lists, spacing, or specialized formatting may appear differently in “Edit Mode” (the online editing view) than they do in Word Desktop or in the final output. These discrepancies are usually cosmetic in the editing screen – the final saved document or PDF will typically retain the correct formatting. However, it’s important to be aware of these differences and take steps to ensure your document’s appearance is as intended.

How this impacts you: For example, you might see that an indented list doesn’t line up properly while you’re editing online, or that the spacing around an image looks off. These quirks can be confusing, but they don’t necessarily mean your final document is flawed.

Best Practice – Use “View Mode” for Verification: Always switch to View Mode (read-only view) to check your document’s final appearance. View Mode uses the same rendering engine as Word’s desktop version and shows nearly 99% fidelity to what the document will look like when exported or printed. In other words, if it looks correct in View Mode, it will look correct in the output. Use this mode to double-check layouts, page breaks, spacing, and other formatting before considering the document final.

Tips to minimize formatting issues:

Avoid overlapping elements: Do not overlap images, text boxes, or other objects. Overlapping images (for example, placing a logo on top of another image) can cause formatting issues in the browser editor. Instead, position images and text boxes so they don’t cover each other – e.g. use separate lines or proper wrapping.
Remove blank headers/footers: An empty header or footer in your template can introduce unintended white space or alignment problems when editing online. Ensure that every header and footer either contains the intended content (like a page number or title) or is completely removed if not used. This prevents mysterious large blank areas in the document.
Use standard wrapping for images: The online editor has fewer wrapping style options for images than desktop Word. For example, some intricate text-wrapping around images may not display correctly. Stick to simple wrap styles (like inline or square) for more consistent results. After placing images, always verify their placement in View Mode.
Keep layouts simple: Complex formatting (like multi-column layouts, elaborate indents, or custom styles) might not display perfectly in Edit Mode. Wherever possible, design documents with simplicity and consistency in mind – this reduces the chance of edit-view misalignment
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By following these practices, you can largely avoid or mitigate formatting inconsistencies when working in eScribe’s MS365 editor. Should you encounter a visual issue while editing, remember to check the final output. If the final output is affected (and not just the editing view), you may need to adjust the document’s formatting in Word Desktop or alter the template based on the tips above.

Use the read-only View Mode to see the document as it will appear in Word Desktop or PDF output. This mode shows the true formatting, helping you catch any layout issues that weren’t obvious in the edit view.

To summarize common formatting issues and their solutions, see the table below:

Formatting Issue or Symptom	Cause/Details	How to Resolve or Avoid
Content looks misaligned or odd in Edit Mode (browser) but fine in Desktop Word	The browser editor renders some layouts differently, especially complex ones.	Use View Mode to verify final layout. If issues persist in final output, simplify the layout or adjust in template.
Overlapping images or text boxes appear incorrectly	The online editor cannot reliably handle overlapping elements. One item may cover or shift the other.	Separate elements so they do not overlap. Place images and text in distinct areas or use proper text wrapping.
Large blank space at top or bottom of page	Often caused by an empty header and/or footer in the template. The system preserves that blank area.	Remove blank headers/footers or add intended content to them. This eliminates unintended white space.
Image wrapping not as expected	Advanced wrap styles (tight, behind text, etc.) are limited in Word Online. The image might default to inline or disrupt text flow.	Use simpler wrapping (e.g. “Square” or inline). After inserting an image, check arrangement in View Mode and adjust size/position as needed.
Multi-level bullet or numbered lists appear with wrong indentation or sequence in output^†	Known quirk during export: deeply nested list levels might not retain correct indentation or numbering order.	Keep list structures simple when possible. If you must use multi-level lists, review the final output (PDF or package) and manually adjust any numbering/indentation issues, or format those sections in Word Desktop if needed.

^† Our team is aware of the list formatting issue and working on a long-term fix. In the meantime, verifying the final document and making minor adjustments is the recommended workaround.