Thanks for the suggestions. I appreciate the help.
We are in the middle of our busy season. My XP computers on stage will probably last through the rest of it, and then I'll resume searching. In retrospect it was probably foolish of me to even think about this during the height of the tourist season.
If worse comes to worse I could convert them all to .pdf files, but with 550+ songs, it's something I'd rather not spend the time on.
The default page orientation when firing up WordPad is tied to the settings of the default printer. I just checked here selecting 'Microsoft Print to PDF' as default printer and selected 'Landscape' in the printer settings.
Now WordPad opens up saved documents in landscape mode (Windows 10).
I tried that and as many times as I set the default to landscape, click "Apply" and/or "OK" it's stubborn and reverts back to portrait.
I went to Control Panel > Devices and Printers > set Microsoft Print to PDF as the default > Right Click > Select "Printing Preferences" > Choose "Landscape" in the drop down box > Click "Apply" > Click "OK" and it immediately reverts to portrait.
Instead of "Printing Preferences" I chose "Printer Properties" > "Preferences" > "Landscape" etc. same results.
I even tried "Change Properties" the "Do you want to allow..." dialog box comes up > "Yes" > "Preferences" > "Landscape" > Apply > "OK" and it immediately reverts to Portrait.
I did notice one thing that might be a clue. In the status bar at the bottom of the Devices And Printers dialog box, when complete, it says "Status: Setup incomplete because of a metered connection".
I have no idea what that means.
I have an early gig today, so that is the next mystery.
I tried the same thing with the Nitro PDF Creator that came with my ThinkPad, and it does the same thing.
If you start the Open Office interface, minimize it, and then use Windows Explorer to open a document file, it will open quickly and windowed exactly the way you saved it.
I think my computer guy put one of my computers on a metered connection and instructed me to to the same to the others.
This was in the Win 8 to Win 10 days. Microsoft was using Leilani's computer as a distribution source to other computers. Since we live too far away from the fiber optics, we can only get DSL light, so whenever Leilani's computer was on, our DSL connection slowed to a crawl (dial-up speed).
We have a St Patty's party every day of the week, s next week I'll do a fresh disk image and try those links.
Not sure whether metered connections are responsible for the recalcitrant behavior of your printer settings. I just set my system to 'metered connection' and tried this printer-settings-to-Landscape gymnastics. Worked flawlessly and WordPad opens documents in Landscape mode even with metered connection settings.
I did not see your reported warning "Status: Setup incomplete because of a metered connection", though. This might well be due to the fact, that I am on a DSL connection, which bypasses any mobile connection restriction, of course.
However, it sure appears somewhat unlikely, that this metered connection business should interfere with these printer settings at all. After all, printer settings may flawlessly get changed with any mobile or Wlan connection cut off.
If your printer settings keep being stubborn, this may be a case for a chat with some Microsoft Support guy - they have this Live Chat feature these days. Check it out.
One of my links was from Microsoft. They are aware of this setting affecting printers .. just saying. IT nerds run into every weird thing you can imagine.
Bob mentioning the error was a huge help (clue) in what was happening. Anyway, worth a shot.
From MS - "You might receive this message when you connect a device and it tries to connect to the Internet using a metered connection to check for new device software. To avoid unexpected data charges, your PC won't allow the device to automatically check for new software when you use a metered connection.
To always download device software on a metered connection:
Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, select Settings > Change PC settings. (If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, choose Settings, and then select Change PC settings.) Select PC and devices. Select Devices, then make sure Download over metered connections is set to On.
Once you've finished downloading your devices updates, you can turn this setting off to avoid unexpected charges when you're on a metered network."
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
This is really weird. If I save in landscape mode it should open in landscape mode.
I can save a page in MS Publisher in landscape mode and it opens in landscape mode, but WordPad in Win10 will not.
I can save a page in Word as a doc in landscape and it will open as a landscape in Word or Libre Office but not WordPad (wordpad doesn't really like doc files as the formatting confuses it). So I saved it as .rtf, opened in WordPad and it opens in letter mode.
Hey Notes, did you get a chance to try Rharv's metered connection links? I'm still wondering if that could be part of the problem. At least to see if we can rule that one out.
WordPad was a Windows 95 replacement for Microsoft Write and was always just a barebones editor one step above Notepad, but allowing for a limited amount of rich text formatting. And the issues with opening DOC files are known by MS, in that they even dropped DOC support with Windows Vista.
I would agree that the problem is probably WordPad itself.
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 8TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 11TB SATA
I liked the bare-bones Notepad with fonts and the ability to paste an image and nothing more. It make a great full screen display, perfect for lyrics with perhaps a line or two of music pasted from a notation app.
I think the thing to do is find a replacement. My XP and 7 computers are still working fine so I'm OK on stage. I just need to be ready with a substitute for the eventuality that one fails.
You probably have no idea how many people for how many years have been trying to find the answer you have just given to the problem of Wordpad retaining its orientation settings when reopening a RTF document. It is probably the most neglected piece of information Microsoft have never had the heart to supply. I have read so many expressions of frustration over this little known if not UNKNOWN fact.... that the page orientation is connected with the printer page orientation setting.
Some who have received your tip have unfortunately gone about it the wrong way. Going through the control panel doesn't work.
The right way is to have a RTF page open in Wordpad and go to print... at that point adjust the page print orientation to landscape or the default of portrait. When you save the page and close it, on reopening it will open in the orientation you set in the printer setup.
I believe it has also saved my tab margin settings too.
Thank you Martin for contributing in writing, this simple solution to the preservation of sanity in this age of the Covid-19 Devil
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
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-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
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MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
Playable RealTracks Set 5
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SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
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FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
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Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
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Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
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Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
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All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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