This problem occurs in all versions of Word, from 97 to 2003.

When creating an Index Entry (XE field), with "Show/Hide ¶" enabled, the
Hidden Text XE fields become visible, distorting the layout of my document,
and making a 345 page document blow out to 349 pages.

I have "Show/Hide ¶" enabled just about all the time so that I can check for
tabs, extra spaces and other formatting. No other formatting (other than
hidden text) shown by "Show/Hide ¶" causes the format of the document to be
distorted in such a manner.

In order to overcome these problems, I have the Options/View/Formatting
marks all switched on, except for "Hidden Text" and "All". It is exceedingly
annoying to have to go to Options to turn off these hidden items when I
should be able to do so from the toolbar with one click.

I want to be able to edit my documents with "Show/Hide ¶" enabled or
disabled, and still be able to edit the document in Print Layout mode without
index entries distorting the layout.

I would like XE fields and similar to be treated as any other field, so that
they are shown only when the text in which they reside is highlighted,
right-clicked, and "Toggle Field Codes" is selected. Perhaps there could be
an option with two states: "Treat XE Fields as Hidden Text" and the
alternative "Treat XE Fields as Fields". Another alternative could be to
have an extra toolbar item, separate from "Show/Hide ¶", which is "Show/Hide
Hidden Text" or "Show/Hide Index Entries".

As a side issue, I would like to be able to choose a different colour for
the non-printing elements that are shown when "Show/Hide ¶" is enabled.

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