Word drawing question

[Guy Kudlemyer]

Version: 2004
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4.11 (Tiger)
Processor: PPC

I'm trying to do some simple diagrams (line drawings), perhaps a dozen. Some
of the objects will repeat from diagram to diagram; some objects will be
unique to their respective diagrams.

The repeatable items I have done separately, and have saved them as Word
documents, my thought being that I could simply copy them and paste them
into each new diagram as needed. Silly me!

When I begin a new diagram, I draw the items that are unique to that
particular diagram, then I open the document that contains the repeatable
item, and copy it. When I attempt to include it into the new diagram, it
shows up, but is unmovable. It is somehow tied to the cursor, and will not
budge no matter how I try to re-position it.

I have tried "Paste"; "Paste Special" (all options); "Insert>Picture>From
File..."; "Insert>File...", etc.

In other words, I've tried "everything" (I think...), and still no joy.

What I REALLY WANT is for Word's drawing function to work like the old
MacDraw program from the '80s (anyone remember that?), where each
individually drawn (or pasted) item is singularly manipulate-able, and not
tied to a cursor.

Can anyone give me some tips on how to achieve this lofty goal?

Thanks in advance for any help!

--Guy
Thurston, OR

 

[CyberTaz]

Hello Guy - You just need to make one of two adjustments:

Either change the Text Wrapping of each shape to something other than In
Line with Text, or (& better for what you describe your need to be) go to
Word> Preferences> Edit & change the "Insert/Paste Pictures As:" to whatever
type of wrapping would serve you best as the default.

An additional thought: Have you considered using the Scrapbook for your
commonly used objects?

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac