Drawing Problem in Word 2003

[tedoniman]

Re: tomfs53 and larryranTX posts in "'Microsoft Drawing"
(and w/ due respect to advice from Bob Buckland ? and Mary Sauer)

My sentiments exactly. Would love to see a rollback to the earlier version
of 'Draw'
-although my needs (and handle on the subject) are quite elementary.

I came to search for a solution. The post is all ready, such that it is. So
here's my
gripe as well. Hopefully someone can advise (I will look into possible
solutions I've
seen here [@ Microsoft Drawing] already, 'tho' don't think can take full
advantage
w/o a bit more detail).

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11-Mar-06/ Microsoft Drawing; Word Drawing & Graphics

Drawing problem in Word 2003.

Win XP SP2 / 256 Mb RAM / Office 2003

How can I re-configure Word 2003 to get back the old Word Draw
characteristics?
This "canvas frame" thing is a real pain for me. I undid that in Options but
then I had problems placing one drawing object on top of another.

I tried different sorts of "frames" for each object and also used the "Alt +
drag"
method but no luck. Even if I copy the already formatted objects into a
"canvas"
(after re-enable that option in Tools, Options), the objects still jump and
won't
superimpose. I don't know what type frame is best. I prefer no frame for
objects
(like the old way) but don't know how to get rid of them completely.

Had to start all over from scratch on a new canvas before things would align.

My point is, we didn't have to mess with confusing 'canvases' and 'frames'
with earlier Word versions. It was pure simplicity, no clutter and a joy to
create drawings in Word (even w/ the obvious failings). Now it's a mess and
extra work ('tho I'm sure there must have been a good reason why the
'canvas' ploy was adapted).

Is there any way to get back the old and simple way?

Thanx for your ears...

 

[Ken Johnson]

Hi Ted,

Before Word 2003 and its drawing canvas, whenever I ungrouped a drawing
that had text wrapping, the wrapping disappeared and I ended up with a
mess of text and ungrouped drawing overlaid. So, I guess using a
drawing canvas would prevent that happening. Generally I don't like the
canvas so I keep it disabled.
I can't comment about Microsoft Drawing, I've never used it, I always
use the autoshapes and freeform builder etc. I don't have much trouble
with these tools, and I don't know where those frames you mention are
coming from.

Ken Johnson

 

[tedoniman]

Appreciate that, Ken.

I was born confused - and still am. By "Microsoft Drawing", I think I meant
the
title / subject of the post I mentioned and visited earlier somewhere in here.

By "frames", I meant "text wrapping" - like those many options you get for
that in that drawing object Format menu (tight, square, etc.). I don't like
those things. They mess up my page and confuse the living heck out of me.
Can't fit things
where I want when those funny extra gray lines show up all over the place.
Ugly.

As for un-grouping 'text wrapped' drawings and winding up w/ a mess, never
had that problem - 'cause rarely used text wrapping for anything. Horrifies
me.
God help us all! Maybe if I understood it better...

Anyhow, just had the same problem (what a mess! - and non-repairable via
'undo') with the 'canvas' - which itself is a form of 'text wrapping'. I
think I might
have grouped the drawings while in the canvas, then just 'cut' the drawing
and pasted it elsewhere to get rid of the canvas frame. Then, when un-grouped
the pasted drawing, all hell broke loose. Took an hour to get all back into
shape.

Basically it's same problem as you describe - except that in this case
'canvas'
didn't prevent it; it *caused* it. That's because, to my mind, 'canvas' is
nothing but a 'text' or 'object' *frame* or *wrap* or whatever you want to
call
it - and those things are nothing but trouble to me. That's why I'd like to
get
back to the oldie but goodie way of doing things. There should by rights be
such an option.

I wonder if there's some 'understandable' explanation in Word Help somewhere
for why 'canvas' was introduced in the first place, and all that...

 

[Mary Sauer]

I am not sure I understand what you are doing...

Insert a .wmf image, (select any wrap but inline) select ungroup, click yes to
the query, the image is now on the canvas, select the canvas, in the draw menu,
select ungroup again... the canvas is gone with only the ungrouped image. You
can re-group the image at this point or edit the image.

 

[tedoniman]

Well here we go again. Don't know why these things always happen to me. I
thought I just sent off a post successfully, in reply to response from Mary
Sauer.
After I sent and closed, I had to sign in again to hotmail - and then this
'Reply'
window popped up again - but sans my reply.

I can't remember all that I said now. Please let me know if you've received
that post. In meantime, I'll just say again, thanks very much for that info.
Will give that
a try right away and see what happens.

Please note 'though that my problem occurred with "drawing objects" I
created and then grouped in Word - not with any 'image' per se (or of what I
normally perceive
an image to be - like a *.jpg image, for example); but perhaps an *.wmf image
is basically just a collection of drawing objects (wouldn't know); and you
are
merely suggesting that this is a better and faster way to test the 'canvas'
properties. So be it. I'll go check shortly.

Anyway, thanks for putting me on the right path...

 

[Mary Sauer]

You cannot ungroup raster images, .jpg, tif or .bmp.

 

[Keith Howell]

Hi Mary,

This thread has left me worrying a bit. I use Word 2002 and have been asked
to run part of a summer school session (my bit being drawing with word) and I
use overlaying a lot (take a look at the Health and Safety cartoons in the
art gallery at www.drawingwithword.com). Am I going to come unstuck if the
summer school is using 2003 on its pc's?. What are the differences in drawing
features between 2002 and 2003?

Best regards

 

[Mary Sauer]

The link you sent is excellent. I am not a Word person. I do know it is easier
to draw with Office tools in PowerPoint and Publisher.
As far as the differences in 2002 and 2003, if Publisher is any indication, the
drawing tools are very much alike.

 

[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

Hi Keith,

I would think that your students are in for a good deal of fun in your class.

From your excellent work at http://DrawingWithWord.com there aren't any changes in Word 2003 that come immediately to mind that would prevent you from creating and manipulating those graphics. You may, for ease of editing for the class, have folks set the "Insert/Paste pictures as" choice in Tools=>Options=>Edit to something other than 'inline with text'.

In going through your 'Drawing with Word' tutorial there are a couple of places where the terminology you used to name Word drawing tools may be something that is due to regional/locale settings (U.K. for yours), which wouldn't matter in a local class

For example on the drawing toolbar, using Word 2003 with U.S. settings

You list Word Tool Tip
======== =============
Elipse tool Oval
Line density Line Style
Annulus shape Donut

(at other spots you did use the 'Word Tool Tip' title)

There are a few broken links on the web site, so you may want to walk each page using the next and previous buttons. (One example under Drawing with Word the 'next arrow' on 'Tutorial page 9' doesn't lead to a next page, but to a '404 - page not found' error. (/500dw10.htm should be /500dwp10.htm) and I'm looking forward to you having the 'download' page complete soon for the original documents.

For Word 2003 some flexibility added allows WordArt, to now be text wrapped as inline (with text) where in previous versions of Word WordArt could be floated and anchored but not inline text wrapped.

=========
Hi Mary,

This thread has left me worrying a bit. I use Word 2002 and have been asked
to run part of a summer school session (my bit being drawing with word) and I
use overlaying a lot (take a look at the Health and Safety cartoons in the
art gallery at www.drawingwithword.com). Am I going to come unstuck if the
summer school is using 2003 on its pc's?. What are the differences in drawing
features between 2002 and 2003?

Best regards >>
--
Let us know if this helped you,

Bob Buckland ?
MS Office System Products MVP

Pricing and Packages for '2007 Microsoft Office System'
http://microsoft.com/office/preview

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Another point that Keith may have missed, judging from a previous post:
Keith, in a question about centering text vertically in AutoShapes, you
mentioned creating text boxes in front of the AutoShapes and dragging them
to the center. Though this may be the most efficient method in such cases,
the user who was asking the question had doubtless right-clicked on the
AutoShape and used the Add Text feature, which creates a text box inside the
AutoShape. This text box can be formatted to some extent (you can change the
internal margins, for example), but you can't change its size or shape. It
does, however, have the advantage of being firmly glued to the AutoShape so
that it moves with it (without the need for grouping).



"Bob Buckland ?" <75214.226(At Beautiful Downtown)compuserve.com> wrote
in message Hi Keith,

I would think that your students are in for a good deal of fun in your
class.

From your excellent work at http://DrawingWithWord.com there aren't any
changes in Word 2003 that come immediately to mind that would prevent you
from creating and manipulating those graphics. You may, for ease of editing
for the class, have folks set the "Insert/Paste pictures as" choice in
Tools=>Options=>Edit to something other than 'inline with text'.

In going through your 'Drawing with Word' tutorial there are a couple of
places where the terminology you used to name Word drawing tools may be
something that is due to regional/locale settings (U.K. for yours), which
wouldn't matter in a local class

For example on the drawing toolbar, using Word 2003 with U.S. settings

You list Word Tool Tip
======== =============
Elipse tool Oval
Line density Line Style
Annulus shape Donut

(at other spots you did use the 'Word Tool Tip' title)

There are a few broken links on the web site, so you may want to walk each
page using the next and previous buttons. (One example under Drawing with
Word the 'next arrow' on 'Tutorial page 9' doesn't lead to a next page, but
to a '404 - page not found' error. (/500dw10.htm should be /500dwp10.htm)
and I'm looking forward to you having the 'download' page complete soon for
the original documents.

For Word 2003 some flexibility added allows WordArt, to now be text wrapped
as inline (with text) where in previous versions of Word WordArt could be
floated and anchored but not inline text wrapped.

=========
Hi Mary,

This thread has left me worrying a bit. I use Word 2002 and have been asked
to run part of a summer school session (my bit being drawing with word) and
I
use overlaying a lot (take a look at the Health and Safety cartoons in the
art gallery at www.drawingwithword.com). Am I going to come unstuck if the
summer school is using 2003 on its pc's?. What are the differences in
drawing
features between 2002 and 2003?

Best regards >>
--
Let us know if this helped you,

Bob Buckland ?
MS Office System Products MVP

Pricing and Packages for '2007 Microsoft Office System'
http://microsoft.com/office/preview

 

[Keith Howell]

Hi Bob and Mary,

Thanks for your kind words. I am about to go off to an evening class
(learning not giving) so I will take a look at the things you have raised in
the morning. I appreciate you taking the trouble to go through my stuff. If
you would care to email me I am sure I can sort something out re files (if
you are interested).

Best regards

Keith Howell

 

[Keith Howell]

Hi Suzanne,

I just got back from my evening class and saw your post. You are quite right
- I had not thought it totally through. I also forgot to tell the guy that he
needed to group the autoshape and ovelayed text box but if he followed the
tutorial page I mentioned he would have got there. In my defense, it is
probably because I almost never use the autoshapes as most of my work is
freeform. Hopefully, one day, I will catch up with the knowledge you guys
have and until then I suspect I can be confident in the fact that I will drop
some more clangers. The good thing about the forum is we can come back and
correct or clarify any mis-understandings.

Best regards

Keith