lost my linked graphics ... again

[txtechwriter1]

After recovering my file from yesterday's almost-daily Word crash, I find
that all the graphics have dropped out. They are all linked, not imported. Is
there a way to restore the graphics efficiently, like pointing the file to
the graphics directory or something?
Thanks for any help!

 

[txtechwriter1]

I should add: Word 2003 SP2, XP Pro, already checked the graphics accelerator
and Picture Placeholder settings, unsuccessfully tried to update links. I've
got 166 pages with an average 4 linked graphics per page, so I'd like to
avoid having to link them all again.

 

[CyberTaz]

There may well be those who disagree with me, but IMHO 644 OLE links in a
Word doc is an open invitation to the type of trouble you describe - in
fact, I think you're lucky it hasn't thoroughly corrupted by now. It's like
having your Mom say "Yes, you can have some candy." whereupon you proceed to
consume three times your body weight & wonder why you have a tummy ache

This type of project really *begs* to be done in something other than a
_word_ processing program. Links or not, Word just isn't designed to handle
this type of load. If you invest in a proper page layout program you'll
recoup the cost in document stability alone. You can probably get a new copy
of one of the earlier versions of InDesign or QuarkXpress at a reasonable
price on the web. The learning curve is not as severe as you may think
(especially for InDesign) & you will be able to import the text from your
Word doc rather than having to retype 166 pages... assuming you make the
move *before* the doc blows up altogether.

If you don't want to go that route then I humbly submit that you consider
contracting the job out to someone who has the software & know-how to
provide you with a finished product.

 

[txtechwriter1]

If it were up to me, I'd be using Framemaker. The company that I work for
now, however, provides Word and Paint as its "professional tools" for
technical documentation and graphics. I can't tell you how frustrating it is
to have to fix these documents every day where the numbering and bullets have
changed, the section breaks have moved or disappeared, and other ... stuff.
But until I can find other employment, I'm stuck with this.

(I'm very proud that I managed to post this and keep my language clean.
That's NOT the version that people in the office heard today ... )

 

[CyberTaz]

I feel your pain!

The one thing I can think of that may help with the links is to put copies
of all the graphics in the same folder as the doc & link to those copies. It
may be time consuming to do, but I think it would pay off in the long run.

I get the impression that the document is under rather constant revision,
which, if I'm right, is a major contributing factor to the seemingly
'erratic' behavior. You may find some helpful information re the bullets &
numbering issue here:

http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Numbering/index.htm

Good Luck |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

If it were up to me, I'd be using Framemaker. The company that I work for
now, however, provides Word and Paint as its "professional tools" for
technical documentation and graphics. I can't tell you how frustrating it is
to have to fix these documents every day where the numbering and bullets have
changed, the section breaks have moved or disappeared, and other ... stuff.
But until I can find other employment, I'm stuck with this.

(I'm very proud that I managed to post this and keep my language clean.
That's NOT the version that people in the office heard today ... )