Inserting a HPGL Picture in Word 2007

[Mike McNeill]

I am having a problem importing an HPGL graphics file into Word 2007.

On previous versions of Office the filters/converters used for importing
were located in path: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Grphflt
and I used a third party .flt utility (Hpglim32.flt version 1.9.11.4) to
enable these files to be viewed and inserted in a Word document. This was
obtained via the Microsoft Knowledge Base and worked fine - no problems.

Word 2007 is ignoring this converter and so insertion is not possible. JPG's
and other common types are OK. The hpgl.reg file has been run OK, to put it
in the registry.
Word knows that .hgl extension is a picture type because it is included in
the "files of type" list when using the Insert - Picture tab. There is no
Preview available and an error message comes up when a file is selected and
inserted.

Does anyone know whether 2007 uses graphics filters in the same way and
where they are kept?
Or is there an equivalent one for Office 2007 lurking somewhere?

I have read Bob Buckland's knowledgable treatise on the Office 2007 graphics
engine in an earlier post in May 2008, so there is obviously a difference.
Searching through the Microsoft websites has not produced any answer on how
to do it in 2007 - the answer for 97-2003 is still there as above.

I would be very grateful for any help on this - even as some guesses - as we
use files in this format a lot here and are being "converted" to 2007. (-:

Cheers
Mike

 

[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

Hi Mike,

See also the reply to your other posting on this topic.

The graphics type entries appear in the Insert=>Picture dialog because that was one of the .reg file entries that was added. The
original .REG file had twelve entries, rather than the current download's four entries, but the others were mainly to setup Notepad
as the .HGL, .PLT, .HPG editor (and using the other entries doesn't get it to work in Word 2007 <g>)

The MS HP Graphics Language interpreter/ filter, HPGLIm32.FLT, was written for MS by ImageMark Software Labs and the last version
was produced for MS in 1994. The filter tied to a file named HGLImp9.dll and was expecting to receive HPGL files generated for an
HP 7595 'Draft Master' plotter.
I was going to do some research on the Office 95 version of the file but just found out that my Office 95 CD will no longer read

WordPerfect also had an HPGL Import Filter written by Imagestream/Inso (the company that purchased ImageMark), that was last
updated, if I recall correctly in 1998, but it had more flexibility and an .ini file that could be tweaked for results based on the
plotter/printer version, but it still has trouble with a number of test files. You used to be able to purchase the graphic filters
but overtime the companies doing these have gone onto other things/markets. Inso basically switched its focus to Content
Management/Web products in 1997, and due to some business issues went out of business, about 2001 (if I recall).

If you can find an old copy of their ImageStream 97 package you may have a more up to date HPGL filter but I don't have one to test
with Office 2007.

The 3rd party command line/batch or interactive converters may be a more reliable way to go.

==================
I am having a problem importing an HPGL graphics file into Word 2007.

On previous versions of Office the filters/converters used for importing
were located in path: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Grphflt
and I used a third party .flt utility (Hpglim32.flt version 1.9.11.4) to
enable these files to be viewed and inserted in a Word document. This was
obtained via the Microsoft Knowledge Base and worked fine - no problems.

Word 2007 is ignoring this converter and so insertion is not possible. JPG's
and other common types are OK. The hpgl.reg file has been run OK, to put it
in the registry.
Word knows that .hgl extension is a picture type because it is included in
the "files of type" list when using the Insert - Picture tab. There is no
Preview available and an error message comes up when a file is selected and
inserted.

Does anyone know whether 2007 uses graphics filters in the same way and
where they are kept?
Or is there an equivalent one for Office 2007 lurking somewhere?

I have read Bob Buckland's knowledgable treatise on the Office 2007 graphics
engine in an earlier post in May 2008, so there is obviously a difference.
Searching through the Microsoft websites has not produced any answer on how
to do it in 2007 - the answer for 97-2003 is still there as above.

I would be very grateful for any help on this - even as some guesses - as we
use files in this format a lot here and are being "converted" to 2007. (-:

Cheers
Mike >>
--

Bob Buckland ?
MS Office System Products MVP

*Courtesy is not expensive and can pay big dividends*

 

[Mike McNeill]

Thanks very much for your helpful ( and as always knowledgable) reply Bob -

I have also seen the community's post on this, so between them I think I am
up to speed on it! Perhaps a bit behind you still (-;

The filter we used was "signed" byone of the two 3rd parties you mentioned
and I looked at both their websites to see if there was any hope there, but
no. As you say they are off on another tack. I might revisit one more time
to look more closely.

I think the bottom line here for us anyway, is to go down the converter
route you suggest. It probably could all be done fairly seamlessly if I
apply some thought to it!!
The files are produced by our (electronic) test equipment here, made by
Agilent - HP's successor - and in earlier days bc (before computers) would
have been sent to a plotter. They are retained to give continuity I think,
but newer formats more widely used are sometimes also provided as
alternatives...

Thanks very much again for your in-depth responses - I'm glad I found you,
though I guessed there must be a MVP somewhere out there who would be able
to help (-:
All the best
Mike