Linked graphics

[stella]

I have some graphic files (gifs and bitmaps) that I want to include in a word
document but also want to be able to update them using the source
applications and then have word automatically recognize the updates.

When I embed files (graphics) I can see the contents of the files but when
I select "Link to file" all I see in my word file is a box with the name of
the file in it. I need to be able to see the actual graphic image for the
file in my document.

Can I link graphic files to my document and also view the contents in the
word document? Appreciate any help anyone can provide.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

You should be able to see the graphic itself provided Word has not lost
track of its location. If what you're seeing is the INCLUDEPICTURE field
code, try pressing Alt+F9.

 

[Jay Freedman]

When you link to a file, Word inserts a field in the document. You can
have the field results showing -- in this case, the picture -- or you
can have the field code showing, which is what you're seeing now. Use
the Alt+F9 shortcut to toggle between the two views. (That's a
shortcut for opening the Tools > Options dialog and
checking/unchecking the Field Codes option.)

 

[stella]

I reread what I wrote and realized it wasn't very clear so I apologize. I'll
try again. It's easy for me to understand because I can see what I'm talking
about. I'll tell you the steps I'm following and what I want to
achieve--maybe that will make it a little clearer. I go to Insert, Object,
Create from file, then select the graphic file I want to insert. If I select
Link to file what appears in my document is a box withe the filename (Figure
5-1- OneTESS Overall Block Diagram.gif). If I also select Display as icon I
get a box with the entire directory path with the filename. What I really
want to see in the box along with the filename is a small icon of the
document itself--so that if I grab a corner of it I can enlarge it and
actually view the diagram. I understand about the field codes (I wasn't
seeing any of those until I hit Alt + F9). I don't really want to switch
between views just get a small icon of the actual graphic in the box with the
link. Is this possible?

I hope this is a little clearer--sorry for the confusion earlier.

Thanks

 

[Jay Freedman]

OK, you started in the wrong place. Instead of Insert > Object, use
Insert > Picture > From File. You get a dialog that looks a lot like
the File > Open dialog, where you can choose the file to insert. At
the lower right, click the down arrow next to the Insert button, and
choose Link To File. That will make the InsertPicture field --
although by default you should see the picture instead of the field
code. (You won't see the file name at all, unless you insert that as
separate text.)

You can then grab a corner of the picture and drag it to make the
picture very small, and later you can grab a corner and enlarge it.
But Word will consider this to be "editing" the document and will
prompt you to save on exit. I don't know of any way to get exactly the
effect you described -- this isn't a thumbnail like that on a web
page.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Jay has explained what you're doing wrong, so you should be okay now.