INCLUDEPICTURE field in Word 2003

[Jose Valdes]

Under some circumstances, linked (INCLUDEPICTURE field) graphics fail to
print (red X placeholder) even though they display fine on screen and
convert well to PDF. The problem graphics have one thing in common, I've
used Word's drawing utility (View -> Toolbars -> Drawing) to add a callout
or arrow. Unmodified graphics have no problem.

Steps to recreate problem

1. Insert drawing canvas (Insert->Picture->New Drawing).

2. Click inside drawing canvas.

3. Insert linked picture (Insert->Picture->From File and select Link to
File).

4. Display Drawing tool bar (View -> Toolbars -> Drawing).

5. Add an arrow or callout to drawing.

If there is no bug fix, I'm considering these workarounds:

Workaround 1 (frontrunner): Link only graphics that do not need to be
modified. For graphics that need callouts/arrows, use embedded graphics.
Word should run relatively fast in this scenario because I can cut the
number of embedded graphics in half.

Workaround 2: Use CorelDraw to add callouts/arrows to graphics, export from
CorelDraw, and link graphics in Word. This option is a lot of work when most
graphics only need a single arrow/callout. Also I haven't found an export
format (such as PNG, WMF, EMF, and EPS) that consistently works well in MS
Word (all graphics must display and print well in PDF). Also editing
graphics in CorelDraw significantly increases file size. Have not tried
Corel PHOTO-PAINT yet, but that's another option even though drawing
arrows/callouts is easier in drawing programs.

Workaround 3: Continue to link all graphics, but just live with the fact
that some graphics won't print from Word. That's painful, but workable.
Printing would require converting the book to PDF to avoid broken graphics.
In this workaround, I'd print less often because creating PDFs on my old
computer is agonizingly slow.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

I expect Bob Buckland or someone else will be along in a bit to answer your
question, but I just wanted to compliment you on the clarity of your problem
description. It is rare to see a question so well *asked* in these NGs!

I might suggest one more possible workaround that would be worth an
experiment. I have been very pleased with the capabilities of SnagIt to add
arrows, callouts, and the like to graphics of all sorts. It can export in
quite a variety of graphic formats. A trial version is available from
www.techsmith.com.