EPS files and preview images in Word

[RussC]

I have some EPS files that were generated without preview images (by a
program written in our lab). On some of our machines, when I try to
import these files into Word 2000, I get a box containing text
explaining that there is no preview image available-- not surprising.
But on other machines running the same OS (Win2000) and the same
version of Word, they show up fine (i.e., the image is displayed). The
same thing happens when importing into Powerpoint.

My question is: what is it that is enabling some installations to
display the EPS image even when it lacks a preview? All of the
machines have all of the Word 2000 image import filters installed.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

 

[Jeroen Dekker]

If there's nothing to distinguish between the machines other than the
behavior you describe, then I don't really have an explanation for you
besides the information that Microsoft quietly added a PostScript
interpreter to recent versions of MS Office. Not a good one, from what
I read in groups like these, but I guess the machines that display
your EPS files do have that filter working.

What you could do, and what many companies and organizations have done
before you, is use our (commercial) ps2vector software to batch
convert the EPS files to EMF for native import into MS Office as
scalable and editable vector graphics. More info about our software,
customers and company at the URL below.

If interested, you're welcome to send me a couple of EPS sample files
from your lab application for testing.

Best regards,

Jeroen Dekker

 

[Al]

Maybe the systems on which you can see the preview have
PostScript printers installed. Or maybe someone has
installed a utility (GhostScript can view PS & EPS files,
but I don't know if it can lend that functionality to
Word).