Removing red and green arrows from your form fields
This document explains how to resolve red or green arrows from fields on your form.
Document 6567 | Last updated: 04/02/2019 MJY
In certain scenarios, green and red arrows show up in specific fields of your forms.
TOTAL uses your computer's default printer driver to help render (display) the forms on your monitor. If the forms don't render properly, text extends further than a field allows. Green arrows ( ) indicate that the text in the field will print, but won't render on your monitor properly. Red arrows ( ) indicate that the text in the field will neither print nor render properly on your monitor. Choose one of the tabs below corresponding to which arrows are appearing on screen.
The most common cause of red arrows appearing in your report is usually caused by odd font sizes or styles. Typically, this happens when you receive a ZAP file from a fellow appraiser who has a different font set as their default than you do. To correct this issue, just change the font formatting for the fields that have the red arrow. Here's how:
- If you use TOTAL, click here for detailed instructions on changing the font on a field‑by‑field basis.
If changing the font on the fields that have the red arrows didn't work, they may be caused by a bad printer driver. Here's how to check:
- Close out of TOTAL and any other programs that are currently open on your computer.
- Press Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialogue box.
- Type (or copy and paste) control printers into the Open: field and press Enter or click OK.
The screenshots in this document display screens from Windows 7. If you're using a different Windows operating system, the screens may vary slightly, but the same steps apply. - In the next screen, take note of or remember which printer is currently set as the default printer (usually indicated with a green check mark).
- Right‑click a printer other than the current default printer and select Set as default printer.
That's it! If the arrows aren't present in your form fields, contact your printer manufacturer for an updated print driver. If the arrows are still present, please contact our technical support representatives for further support.
Zoom Level
The quickest way to remove the green arrows is to change TOTAL's zoom level. Typically when the green arrows appear, the zoom level is too high, so lowering the zoom will fix the problem.
For detailed instructions on changing TOTAL's zoom level click here.
Font issues
If adjusting your zoom level didn't remove the green arrows, the next step is to change what font you're using in your reports. Using a font that doesn't render correctly on screen, but does print correctly, can also cause the green arrows to appear. If you use TOTAL, click here for detailed instructions on changing the default fonts in your report.
Screen Resolution
If changing the zoom and fonts didn't resolve the issue, you may need to increase your screen resolution. By increasing your screen resolution, you are able to fit more information on your monitor in a smaller space. Follow the steps below to adjust your screen's resolution:
The screenshots in this document display screens from Windows 7. If you're using a different Windows operating system, the screens may vary slightly, but the same steps apply.
- Press Windows key + R.
- In the Open: field, type desk.cpl and click OK.
- In the window that appears, click the Resolution drop–down and use the slider to adjust your resolution to a minimum of 1024x768.
- Click OK and click Keep Changes when prompted.
Depending on your preferences and the size of your monitor, you can choose a higher resolution. It's a good idea to experiment with different settings to find what's right for you.
Formatting
Finally, you should rule out the possibility of invisible formatting issues. One way to do this is with Ctrl + K, which completely removes all text and formatting from a given field.
- Click into the field to select it.
- Press Ctrl + K to clear the field.
- Manually re‑type your data.
It's important to manually re‑type your data instead of copying and pasting it back. Pasting it can add the problematic formatting back into your field.
If the arrows are still present after trying all the steps above, please call 1‑800‑ALAMODE for tech support.
