This document was drafted in AbiWord in 13 point, Times New Roman font, which I typically use for my documents.  This line, as well as the four blank lines that follow are 13 point font.  The document was saved in Abi as an RTF file.

When the document is opened in MS-Word 2000, the beginning paragraph, with text, is properly formatted as 13 point type, although the paragraph ending mark appears in 10 point font.  The four blank lines also appear as 10 point font.

As prepared by Abi, the RTF code for the first paragraph and the following blank lines appears as follows:

\pard\s16\sl240\slmult1\tx720\tx1440\tx2160\tx4320\tx5040{\f0\fs26\lang1033{\*\listtag0}This document was drafted in AbiWord in 13 point, Times New Roman font, which I typically use for my documents.  This line, as well as the four blank lines that follow are 13 point font.  The document was saved in Abi as an RTF file.}
\par\pard\s16\sl240\slmult1\tx720\tx1440\tx2160\tx4320\tx5040
\par\pard\s16\sl240\slmult1\tx720\tx1440\tx2160\tx4320\tx5040
\par\pard\s16\sl240\slmult1\tx720\tx1440\tx2160\tx4320\tx5040
\par\pard\s16\sl240\slmult1\tx720\tx1440\tx2160\tx4320\tx5040

You will notice that in the first paragraph -- the one with text -- the text is enclosed in brackets { }.  There are several formatting codes that appear before and outside the text brackets.  These codes will remain in effect for all paragraphs until the occurrence of another conflicting code.  These codes are also repeated on the blank lines.  The font size code (\fs26), however is contained within the text brackets and therefore only applies to the specific text within the brackets.  It applies to nothing outside the brackets and is not repeated on the blank lines.  This is why even the paragraph end mark does not retain 13 point sizing when the file is opened in Word.  When this file is opened in Word, it treats the font size code as it is written in Abi, to apply only to the text within the brackets.  It then applies its own default font size code of 10 point to all text -- including blank lines -- for which Abi has not specifically assigned a font size code.

If the document had been prepared in Word, the RTF code for the first paragraph and subsequent paragraphs would have appeared as follows:

\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs26\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\cf1 
This document was drafted in AbiWord in 13 point, Times New Roman font, which I typically use for my documents.  This line, as well as the four blank lines that follow are 13 point font.  The document was saved in Abi as an RTF file.}{\cf1 
\par 
\par 
\par }{
\par 
\par }}

Again, you will notice that Word encases each paragraph of text in brackets { }.  However, unlike Abi, Word places its font size code (\fs26) outside and before the brackets.  This allows the font size code to remain applied to blank lines until another different font size code is encountered.

So, in my mind there are several solutions.

1.  Repeat font size codes in each paragraph as Abi currently repeats other formatting codes before each paragraph.

2.  Place the font size code outside and before the text brackets along with the other formatting codes.  Presumably this would automatically result in the codes being repeated on subsequent lines.  However, even if they are not repeated, they will remain in effect until another different font size code is encountered.

3.  Don’t put each paragraph of text within brackets { }, although I’m not sure what other unpleasant ramifications this would cause.  By way of example only, Atlantis does not use brackets around paragraphs of text.

I have no idea what the RTF specifications require with respect to font size codes, but I offer the above as possible solutions for greater RTF compatibility with Word.  Just my suggestions

Virgil

P.S.  For reference purposes, this entire document was prepared in, and should appear as 13 point Times New Roman font with the exception of the RTF code which was prepared in, and should appear as, 10 point Courier New font.