> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.apryse.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.apryse.com/web/get-started/faq/docx-editor-highlighting-and-shading-faq.md).

# DOCX Editor highlighting and shading FAQ

Learn why DOCX Editor highlights save as text highlighting or character shading, and how to apply a highlight that other DOCX editors recognize.

DOCX files can put a colored background behind text in two ways: text highlighting and character shading. They look the same on screen, but other DOCX editors can treat them as different features. This page explains the difference, how the WebViewer DOCX Editor decides which one to save, and how to apply a highlight that Word recognizes.

### Highlighting vs. shading

#### What's the difference between text highlighting and character shading?

Text highlighting is the digital equivalent of a highlighter pen. In the DOCX format, it draws a reader's attention to a span of text. Because it models a real highlighter, the DOCX format only permits a fixed palette of named colors (yellow, green, cyan, and so on).

Character shading represents a background fill applied to the characters themselves. Semantically, it's a formatting or styling property, not a way to mark up text. It describes how the text should be painted, much like font color or borders, and is meant to be part of the document's visual design. Because it's a general fill, it accepts any color.

This distinction matters when the file is opened in another DOCX editor. Editors such as Microsoft Word usually have a separate tool for each: the highlight tool edits or removes text highlights, and the shading tool edits character shading.

|                     | Text highlighting                        | Character shading |
| ------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | ----------------- |
| Purpose             | Draws attention to text                  | Formats the text  |
| Colors              | A fixed set of standard highlight colors | Any color         |
| Usually edited with | The highlight tool                       | The shading tool  |

### Saving highlights

#### Why does my highlight save as character shading?

When you save a DOCX file, the DOCX Editor checks each highlight's color. If it matches a standard highlight color, it's saved as a text highlight. Any other color is saved as character shading because DOCX only allows standard colors for text highlighting.

#### Why can't I remove a highlight in Microsoft Word?

The highlight was probably saved as character shading. Word's highlight tool, including **No Color**, only affects text highlights. To remove shading in Word, use the shading tool instead.

### Applying highlights

#### How do I make sure a highlight saves as a text highlight?

Use a standard highlight color. In the UI, the highlight color picker offers the standard highlight colors, so highlights you apply there save as text highlights.

In your code, use a value from [`Core.Document.OfficeEditor.HighlightColors`](https://sdk.apryse.com/api/web/Core.Document.OfficeEditor.html#.HighlightColors). For examples of usage, you can see our [Text Formatting guide](/web/docx-editor/format-text.md#apply-highlight-colors).

#### Can I use a custom highlight color?

Yes. The text formatting APIs accept any valid color. Colors outside `HighlightColors` display normally in the DOCX Editor, but they're saved as character shading, so highlight tools in other editors won't recognize them.


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.apryse.com/web/get-started/faq/docx-editor-highlighting-and-shading-faq.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.