Drawings/graphics don't print

G

glvaughan

When I print or preview documents created in Word 2004 with drawings or graphics embedded in them, the drawings don't show up or print. What gives? How do I get the graphics in a document to print?
 
D

Daiya Mitchell

In Word | Preferences | Print, make sure that "drawing objects" is
CHECKED (under "include with document").
 
G

glvaughan

Yep, "drawing objects" is already checked in Printing prefs. Still no objects.
 
J

John McGhie

The only other thing I can think of is that the graphics may be mounted on a
paragraph whose font has been set to "Hidden"?

If it's all graphics, it may be a style setting in the Graphics style.

Is this ALL documents? Or only "some" documents?

The only other thing I can think of that does this is document corruption.
Have you de-corrupted?

Hope this helps


Yep, "drawing objects" is already checked in Printing prefs. Still no objects.

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory, Australia
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]
 
J

Jason Andersen [MSFT]

Are you still having trouble with this issue?

Can you perform a simple test?
1. Insert a shape or picture in Word 2004.
2. Save the document
3. Open the saved document in Word 2008.
4. Try to print.

Does this work? If not, can you provide some additional information, such as
your machine configuration, printer you are using, etc? Do the graphics
preview if you use the Preview button in the Print dialog?

- Jason
Yep, "drawing objects" is already checked in Printing prefs. Still no
objects.
 
J

John McGhie

Probably.

If you describe your problem fully and exactly, and provide your CPU type,
OS Version and Word version, we can have a look at it.

Cheers


I am having the same problem. Is there a solution?

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Sydney, Australia. S33°53'34.20 E151°14'54.50
 
C

Carolyn Taylor

Hi,
I too was having this problem of drawing objects not printing, despite having the appropriate preferences checked. Grouping the drawing objects with their text box labels solved the problem. Now the objects print. :smile:
 
J

John McGhie

Thanks Carolyn:

That's an interesting work-around. I assume you're in Word 2008?

This must mean we have another "layers" bug.

When you group drawing objects, effectively you have converted them to a
single layer. In doing so, I guess you have moved them to a layer that is
visible. Which means there is at least one layer that isn't. Which spells
"bug" if you read it backwards :)

Cheers


Hi,
I too was having this problem of drawing objects not printing, despite having
the appropriate preferences checked. Grouping the drawing objects with their
text box labels solved the problem. Now the objects print. :smile:

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Sydney, Australia. S33°53'34.20 E151°14'54.50
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]
 
C

cmkudija

I tried the workaround above and it does not work for me :-( . I'm using an iMac 2.8ghz intel core 2 duo w/2 Gb 667 MHz DDR@ SDRAM, Word 2008, on Leopard 10.5.2, with Word 2008, v.12.1.0, having just installed the 15 May patch. I've checked all the settings for viewing & printing drawing object images and they conform to what's described above. I've grouped, ungrouped, moved to front, checked the wrapping (default setting is top & bottom), saved in .docx format - still nothing works.

Curiously, when I insert some drawing objects or jpg images into a text box they will print - but then I can't rotate them at will. It's the strangest thing. This has happened with jpgs imported from a pdf file and with Google map images.

I'd hoped that the new patch would have resolved this issue. I must use Word because of office compatibility issues. Any thoughts on fixing this problem? It's very, very, very annoying.

Christine
 
C

CyberTaz

Hi Christine -

I'm running 12.1 in Leopard 10.5.0 and can't recreate what I think you're
referring to. Unfortunately - even though your config description is
excellent - it really isn't clear [to me, at least] exactly what the problem
is... There are a couple of different issues in the thread which involve
separate systems & configurations, and they all predate the release of SP1.

Can you provide a more precise explanation - preferably in a new message,
since your specs are much more current than the earlier posts in this
thread. Starting a clean slate will make it easier to focus on your issue.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac
 
J

John McGhie

Hi Christine:

Please carry out this diagnostic test for me:

1) Create a new blank document

2) Place ONLY ONE drawing object in it (and that's all)

3) Print it.

If that does not print either, YOU do not have the Layers Bug, you have
something else happening.

The Layers Bug affects only multiple drawing objects: if you have only one,
it will print. If it still won't print with only one, then we need to
explore down a different path.

Hope this helps


I tried the workaround above and it does not work for me :-( . I'm using an
iMac 2.8ghz intel core 2 duo w/2 Gb 667 MHz DDR@ SDRAM, Word 2008, on Leopard
10.5.2, with Word 2008, v.12.1.0, having just installed the 15 May patch. I've
checked all the settings for viewing & printing drawing object images and they
conform to what's described above. I've grouped, ungrouped, moved to front,
checked the wrapping (default setting is top & bottom), saved in .docx format
- still nothing works.

Curiously, when I insert some drawing objects or jpg images into a text box
they will print - but then I can't rotate them at will. It's the strangest
thing. This has happened with jpgs imported from a pdf file and with Google
map images.

I'd hoped that the new patch would have resolved this issue. I must use Word
because of office compatibility issues. Any thoughts on fixing this problem?
It's very, very, very annoying.

Christine

--

Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP, Word and Word:Mac
Nhulunbuy, NT, Australia. mailto:[email protected]
 
C

cmkudija

Wow, two responses so quickly! Thanks, gentlemen! Okay, just to reiterate - this is my configuration:

- iMac 2.8ghz intel core 2 duo
- 2 Gb 667 MHz DDR@ SDRAM,
- Leopard 10.5.2
- Word 2008, v.12.1.0, SP-1 (the 15 May patch).

This is the problem I experience: I work with +/- large Word documents that originate from a Windows XP-dominated network. Besides writing new text, I insert as needed photographs, engineering drawings in pdf or jpg format, cut-out sections from a pdf image, images from the web, etc. I have no problems inserting the images in my document and having them show up on screen. However, when I go to print - the images don't show up in the print preview pane in the print dialog box, nor do they print. Images that came with the original document DO print. Images I add to the document don't.

If I create a new document, as Andrew suggested, I can insert images and print them with no problems (so far). I performed the exercise he outlined and it worked.

I just tried something else: I copied several pages with both text and images from my company's document into a new document. All four pages printed fine (and the images appeared in print-preview pane). But when I tried the "select all" command to extract the document contents and place all of it in a new document, the error migrated over - the images refused to print.

I am starting to wonder if there is an inherent bug in the document templates I receive from my (engineering & municipal services) company! I also don't understand why I can select the contents of a few pages and insert them into a new document and print successfully - but can't when I "select all." It's a mystery.

BTW, I'm in the Pacific time zone (California) - so the Australian comments that show up first thing in the morning are great!

Christine
 
C

CyberTaz

Hi Christine -

This is somewhat perplexing. I don't recall having seen a situation such as
you describe - Isn't it nice to be one of a kind?:) I think we may need to
gather a bit more information, but in the meantime...

Have you checked the mfr's site for an update to your printer driver?
Especially if you are using a network printer - not only does the driver
need to be current, but you need a copy of it on your system if using a
print server.

I'd also suggest that you update the OS to 10.5.3, repair permissions,
restart the Mac & see where you stand. (Use the Combo Updater from the Apple
site <http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosx1053comboupdate.html>.)

Now - It would also be helpful to know the following if the above doesn't
put things on the right track & other avenues need be explored:

What version of Word (incl. Service Packs) is creating these documents ? Are
they "regular" documents, Forms, protected in any way?

What format are the files - .doc, .docx, .rtf...?

How are you receiving the files - network server, email attachment, USB
stick? What software is involved?

In the instances where the images don't print, what shows up on paper where
the images are *supposed* to be? Are there specific spots in the document
which are "reserved" for the images to be placed? If so, what type of
placeholders are being used?

Is this a condition that just recently started? If so can you think of
anything else that may have been changed around the same time - new software
installed, updates applied, hardware changes?

What specific software are you using to obtain the images - browser, PDF
viewer, etc.?

How, exactly, do you insert the images - Insert> Picture, copy/paste,
drag/drop - and does it make any difference if you use different technique
to bring in the same image?

If this isn't enough to keep you busy for a while I'm certain John will have
some additional requests:)

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac
 
C

cmkudija

One more thing:

Since I found that I could successfully print a few pages after copying them into a new doc, I started pasting the original several pages at a time into a new document. Somewhere between pages 5 and 13 some gremlin turned a switch - I'd looked at the print preview box after pasting pages with images, and kept seeing that all was okay - until I inserted a new tabloid-size page with a section break. Then no images appeared in the print preview - same problem as before. Removing that image did not make the document revert to its previous state. So there's either a resident problem in Word 08 or something migrated from my company document. Or something else.

Christine
 
C

cmkudija

And one more (for Bob):

I updated Leopard to 10.5.3, rechecked the permissions for my project folder items, and nothing changed w/respect to images & printing.
The problem occurs in .doc and .docx format. I receive my files both by email and USB stick - sometimes by transfer from a CD. The present files were from a USB stick - I think.

When I try to print a page where an image should be, there's simply a large blank space the size of the image. I have attached text boxes to several of the images - the text still prints in the proper location (where the text box is on the page). So the computer knows there's something there. I don't use specific placeholders - should I be?

This condition has been going on for some time, including two prior versions of Word. I sorta hoped that W2008 would have fixed it without being told...

I've had this specific iMac since last October; seems to me that the problem's occurred on my Powerbook, but I use it rarely at this point 'cause it's a little arthritic.

The software to obtain the images can be anything from a pdf reader (Acrobat Reader or Preview), jpg files from the camera, images pulled from web sources (images from Google Earth, data tables from Caltrans, etc). The problem seems not to distinguish among the various image sources.

I usually copy & paste, but occasionally use the insert command. Is there a difference in how the software understands me between copy & paste and insert_file?

And finally - my printer software's updated. I use two standalone printers in my home office because I don't have to deliver finished bound product myself. They're an aging HP 6100 AIO and a newer Photosmart 7260 fwiw.

Whew. Back to work now.

Christine
 
M

MacByNight

I am experiencing something similar. I use Leopard 10.2.3 and Word 2008 12.1.0. I have a 68 page document. Most of the pictures imported by copy/paste appear fine when printing to a Brother printer and to Adobe Acrobat 8.1.2. But a .png file imported from file does not appear on the printed document (Brother or Adobe), and horizontal lines included in my header and footer don't appear either (although they're fine on the screen). My files are in .docx format. The document in question has several sections, some of which in portrait, and some in landscape.

The very first picture in my document is a company logo (a .png file) at the top of page one. If I delete all but page one of the file, the logo prints fine. If I delete everything from the first section in landscape orientation onward, everything prints OK. But once I have a new section included with pages in landscape, the problem graphics/pictures don't print.

Note that if you go to File>Print, things look OK from the little preview, until you select something other than all pages. After selecting current page or page range, the graphics disappear in the preview (and the print).
 
J

John McGhie

Hi Christine:

OK, that's diagnostic. I know what is wrong now :)

Word has a bug that effectively means it does not print some "layers" of an
image.

In complex documents, some images or parts thereof can end up on the wrong
layer and not get printed.

One work-around is to group all of the various components of an image
together. That effectively re-expresses the image as a single layer, and
will sometimes cure the problem.

Word has had this bug for some years, on both the PC side and the Mac side.
One response to the bug was to put in a work-around to force the picture
visible. The works fine if you do it to only one side of the transaction.

But if you apply the fix to flip the layers on the PC side, then again on
the Mac side, you end up with the original problem. This was NOT a great
piece of coding...

There was a fix in Service Release 12.1.0 to try to resolve some of this.
Which is why I asked for your version number.

There is another fix for this condition in the pipeline. It is in testing
now, and will hopefully appear soon.

Cheers


Wow, two responses so quickly! Thanks, gentlemen! Okay, just to reiterate -
this is my configuration:

- iMac 2.8ghz intel core 2 duo
- 2 Gb 667 MHz DDR@ SDRAM,
- Leopard 10.5.2
- Word 2008, v.12.1.0, SP-1 (the 15 May patch).

This is the problem I experience: I work with +/- large Word documents that
originate from a Windows XP-dominated network. Besides writing new text, I
insert as needed photographs, engineering drawings in pdf or jpg format,
cut-out sections from a pdf image, images from the web, etc. I have no
problems inserting the images in my document and having them show up on
screen. However, when I go to print - the images don't show up in the print
preview pane in the print dialog box, nor do they print. Images that came with
the original document DO print. Images I add to the document don't.

If I create a new document, as Andrew suggested, I can insert images and print
them with no problems (so far). I performed the exercise he outlined and it
worked.

I just tried something else: I copied several pages with both text and images
from my company's document into a new document. All four pages printed fine
(and the images appeared in print-preview pane). But when I tried the "select
all" command to extract the document contents and place all of it in a new
document, the error migrated over - the images refused to print.

I am starting to wonder if there is an inherent bug in the document templates
I receive from my (engineering & municipal services) company! I also don't
understand why I can select the contents of a few pages and insert them into a
new document and print successfully - but can't when I "select all." It's a
mystery.

BTW, I'm in the Pacific time zone (California) - so the Australian comments
that show up first thing in the morning are great!

Christine

--

Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP, Word and Word:Mac
Nhulunbuy, NT, Australia. mailto:[email protected]
 
C

cmkudija

Thanks, John. I feel better now <grinding teeth> - I hope that these forum discussions might accelerate the update! I will continue to pound on. What this might mean is that I create separate pages in separate documents for the graphics, numbered appropriately, to insert manually at repro stage, replacing the blanked image pages (that have table of contents bookmarks for the figures/tables) - even though it takes me back 20 years. (Yikes)

Cheers back,

Christine
 
F

frparth

Hi Christine:

OK, that's diagnostic.  I know what is wrong now :)

Word has a bug that effectively means it does not print some "layers" of an
image.

In complex documents, some images or parts thereof can end up on the wrong
layer and not get printed.

One work-around is to group all of the various components of an image
together.  That effectively re-expresses the image as a single layer, and
will sometimes cure the problem.

Word has had this bug for some years, on both the PC side and the Mac side..
One response to the bug was to put in a work-around to force the picture
visible.  The works fine if you do it to only one side of the transaction.

But if you apply the fix to flip the layers on the PC side, then again on
the Mac side, you end up with the original problem.  This was NOT a great
piece of coding...

There was a fix in Service Release 12.1.0 to try to resolve some of this.
Which is why I asked for your version number.

There is another fix for this condition in the pipeline.  It is in testing
now, and will hopefully appear soon.

Cheers










--

Don't wait for your answer, click here:http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group.  Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP, Word and Word:Mac
Nhulunbuy, NT, Australia.  mailto:[email protected]

I'm having a related problem but in Excel, not in Word (so far). Some
pasted graphics neither display nor print. Since this is a Word forum,
can some kind soul point me to an appropriate Excel forum where I can
get this posted? TIA.
Frank Parth
 

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