Odd cursor shape

[Prudie]

What does it mean if your cursor changes from its usual shape (arrow head in this case) to a vertical line with 3 horizontal lines beside it. I know it must denote a problem as it couldn't do what I was asking. This is Word 2003.

[bazwillrun]

sounds like you have changed from the normal cursor by selecting one of words functions, same as when you select the crop tool for a picture the cursor changes from an arrow to a the crop tool icon

[Prudie]

Thanks baz but that wasn't it. I was trying to paste from Excel as a bitmap into Word (something I do successfully on a regular basis). This time it wasn't having it (I'm thinking because the file was too big in dimension) and the cursor just sat like that on a blank page. It must be some kind of error?

[Gunvard]

I don't think that cursor shape itself indicates an error, it's something to do with showing the text justification when you double-click to enter text.
By moving the cursor about you can get the horizontal lines to move from left to right of the vertical.
This is the only reference I can find to it ...
http://superuser.com/...ers-mean-in-word-2010

[Prudie]

Thanks gunvard, that's a step in the right direction. I'll have another look although that doesn't explain why it wouldn't actually complete the edit.