Inserting an arrow drawing object in document only shows its point

[Sangeeta]

I am writing a company’s step by step test manual, which involves lot of
graphics.
These are the steps I took, where I am getting this problem:
Insert a drawing canvas in the document.
Insert a saved picture from PAINT inside the drawing canvas.
Right click the drawing canvas. Choose Format drawing canvas, The Format
drawing canvas dialog box would appear, click the Layout tab in there and
clicking the Advance button choose floating (Top and Bottom) wrapping style
from there.
Since the wrapping styles for the drawing canvas and the picture have to be
the same, now choose the same option of Top and Bottom for picture in Format
picture dialog box.
Select the arrow drawing object from the drawing toolbar and insert it on
top of the inserted graphic – this is my aim but I am not able to do that
because doing this would only show the corner pointers of the arrow but not
the drawing object itself. In fact no matter where in my document I am trying
to insert an arrow drawing object (weather it is on document itself or the
inserted graphic from a file which is not inside the drawing canvas or if I
am trying to insert on the cut and pasted picture.) it just behaves the same.
Please, help me out. It seems like some setting have been changed.
By the way, the Picture placeholder view option is not turned on and the
Drawing view option is checked and I am working in the Print layout view.

 

[Rae Drysdale]

Switch off the drawing canvas - it's a nightmare! Tools | Options | General
tab and deselect automatically create drawing canvas. Also on the Edit tab
Insert/paste pictures as Square or Tight. Hope this helps.

 

[Sangeeta]

Thank you so much Ray for taking time out to answer my question. I am sorry
it took me long time to get back to you. I tried doing that but unfortunately
it still didn’t work. I am still having the same problem of seeing the
pointers only.

I think it has to do with the changing the no line setting for the arrow to
some line setting as default. Because, at one time after selecting the
pointers of an arrow object, on the Drawing toolbar, I clicked the draw and
then click the Set AutoShape Defaults that brought the arrow line back.

Somehow, I am back to square one now where again I am seeing the pointer of
the arrow, I guess I need to get hold of the right default settings for the
drawing objects.

Also, like you were saying that I should turn off the automatic canvas
feature, I assume, it would be lot easier without it but I have to insert my
graphics inside the drawing canvas. The reason being is that almost every
time on top of my inserted graphics I have arrow and text box, being on the
canvas it makes it safe and easy to move as a group as oppose to when I was
not using drawing canvas many times the drawing objects which I was inserting
on top of my graphic would be floating just about anywhere in my document and
it was even more pain.
I am open to any suggestions if you have.

 

[Sangeeta]

Thank you so much Ray for taking time out to answer my question. I am sorry
it took me long time to get back to you. I tried doing that but unfortunately
it still didn’t work. I am still having the same problem of seeing the
pointers only.

I think it has to do with the changing the no line setting for the arrow to
some line setting as default. Because, at one time after selecting the
pointers of an arrow object, on the Drawing toolbar, I clicked the draw and
then click the Set AutoShape Defaults that brought the arrow line back.

Somehow, I am back to square one now where again I am seeing the pointer of
the arrow, I guess I need to get hold of the right default settings for the
drawing objects.

Also, like you were saying that I should turn off the automatic canvas
feature, I assume, it would be lot easier without it but I have to insert my
graphics inside the drawing canvas. The reason being is that almost every
time on top of my inserted graphics I have arrow and text box, being on the
canvas it makes it safe and easy to move as a group as oppose to when I was
not using drawing canvas many times the drawing objects which I was inserting
on top of my graphic would be floating just about anywhere in my document and
it was even more pain.
I am open to any suggestions if you have.

 

[Rae Drysdale]

Did you try using a the setting other than top and bottom? Does this not
force other objects away from it? Try tight. Also look at the Order on the
drawing menu, and bring to front. I tried to reproduce what you are
attempting, but I'm not sure I've interpreted it right. I just group objects
when I want them to stay together and stay clear of the drawing canvas.

 

[Sangeeta]

Thanks for helping me, but I am sorry it did not work.

I tried doing everything what you said (changing the wrapping style to tight
and setting the order to bring to front); it still would not work in my
manual document.

However, if I open a new document, insert a picture in there and insert an
arrow drawing object, it works in any text wrapping style weather its square,
tight or if it is Top and Bottom.

I think there is some wrong in my manual document settings; I don’t know
where to start checking from.
By the way thanks for giving me the grouping suggestion, I did not know how
to use it, I just learned it. It is very handy and easy to use.

Another thing like you were saying that Top and bottom text wrapping style
force another objects away from it, I am not sure if I am clear on that
concept because I had the understanding that using Top and Bottom is the only
right option for me because almost all of my graphics are big rectangular
about 6.5†in width so I did not want text on the document wrapping on the
sides of the graphic, coming in front of the graphic or going behind, I just
wanted it clean above and below the graphic. Please correct me if my
understanding is not right.

Sorry, for dumping everything at once.

 

[Rae Drysdale]

Since you are able to do what you want in a new document, then the problem
must be unique to the manual document. Did you inherit it from someone else,
or create from new? Would track changes be turned on? I'm not sure what else
to suggest except opening a new document, and inserting the manual document
into it (Insert|File). The following link might be some use for you, if not
now, in the future. http://homepages.tesco.net/keithhowell/

 

[Sangeeta]

Believe it or not copying the existing document to the new document worked.
Great, thank you so much.
I thought that copying the existing document to the new would not make any
difference because the old document is going to carry its all the set
properties to wherever I paste it. I would appreciate if you can tell me more
about that and clear my confusion about having Track Changes on can make a
difference.

Thanks a bunch again.

 

[Rae Drysdale]

Great! Glad your problem is solved. Sometimes things work and we don't
exactly know why! However pasting into another document doesn't necessarily
bring any settings with it - just formatting. Track changes was just a shot
in the dark. When you run out of 'obvious' ideas just try something else.

By the way, your understanding of text wrapping above and below graphic is
correct. I hope you manage to complete the rest of the manual trouble-free.