Wd 97 Graphics Disappear (WD 97 SR 2)

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We are using WD 97 SR 2 on an NT4 network to create documents which have a number of screen shots in them. We are quite experienced in this and our process is to paste the image into paint, make whatever changes are required, paste it back into word then hit CTRL+SHIFT+F9 to break any links.

For some reason over the last couple of months you can open a document and you have lost either all the graphics, or all of the graphics from a certain point forward. There appears to be no consistency in this.

We have tried – not using the usual template, copying the file to the local disc to make sure it is not a network issue. It also does not appear to be related to file size because although some files are quite large, we have created single page documents which experience the same problem. I think the issue is hardware related (graphics card or similar) but was wondering if anyone else had a similar experience so I could go back to the techos for resolution.

Cheers

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I can’t tell from your post if you first saved them as a file before placing them in Word.

For whatever it’s worth, I have learned the hard way to never copy and paste images. For the reasons you describe, I opt to save them as a file and then insert them into the document or presentation. Since then, I have never had problems with them disappearing.

LennyJo

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Thanks for that Jenny, no we don’t save them as a file and use the insert file. We work at a number of different locations and hence file path names can change a lot. In the past when we have used the method you describe we have ended up with the “red X” for unlinked files.

Any other suggestions?

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You have Fast Saves disabled? Tmp files cleared? Good amount of free space on the hard drive?

Reportidly, SR1 was supposed to fix the red-x’s. I think it did generally speaking but there were still some leftover problems with it. You still have those problems after SR1?

So, I guess you’re saying you cannot link them due to inconsistant paths. You cannot insert them unlinked for fear of red-x’s. And pasting is frowned on by many users. What’s a person to do?

All I can tell you, unfortunately, is in v97 I’ve been through the red-x’s and switched to linking and saw a multitude of challenges and odd behavior there. I resorted to pasting and got bitten several times with graphics vanishing. Since SR1 I returned to inserting as files and have had no more problems. I continue this practice today in version 2002.

Sorry I can’t be of more help.

LennyJo

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When you insert the file, you should have a choice of Linked or Embedded (perhaps under other, less obvious, names). If you embed the images, there is no link to break, and they take up no more space than when you paste – and often less.

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Hi Karen,

I have seen this occasionally. Sometimes it helps to switch a picture from inline to floating and back (or vice versa, depending on how you pasted it.)

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Hi Karen:
When you first said that you lost all your graphics, I was thinking that you might have Tools/Options/View tab/Picture placeholders checked. However, you said that in some of the documents, you only lose them from some point forward. I’m wondering if there is some kind of corruption.

First, I would try starting Word from the command line (Start/Run/ “winword.exe /a” (no quotes) & then opening the file. This will test whether a corrupt template or add-in is interfering. If that doesn’t work, try copying the document in portions to a new file. Don’t include the last paragraph mark. Unfortunately, we can’t search the Lounge right now because there have been other posts describing steps to try for corrupt documents. Places where documents corrupt more easily are sections breaks & the last paragraph mark.

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I just wanted to make a suggestion with regard to your procedure for creating/adding pictures to your Word documents. I create a signficant amount of manuals in Word for computer training which include a vast amount of screen shots. You may want to use a product known as SnagIt… it is a wonderful screen shot program which I never have problems with pictures that I copy/paste from this program (I’ve been using it for over 10 years). There is a 30-day evaluation – after the evaluation period a company logo is inserted in all screen shots. After that, a licence is 40.00. Here is the URL: http://www.techsmith.com/products/snagit/default.asp [/url]

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