Red X Instead of Graphics

[Chip]

I have the same problem as Buster (2/24/04). I'm running OS 10.2.8 with the latest Office update installed. In a PPT file received from a federal agency, many clip art items display as red X's (I have a hard copy printed from a Windows machine to verify). Total file is 3.5 MB, but memory should not be a problem on an iMac w/ 256 MB installed. Same images in Word (1.6 MB file) cause Word to hang up on box titled "Graphics Filter Converting: Metafile". Other than this set of file, Office working fine.

 

[Keith Gardner]

I had the same problem when I tried to place a bunch of images into a
Powerpoint presentation, and nothing I changed in Powerpoint fixed it. I
don't know why Microsoft's tech info database doesn't simply say to
reprocess the image files, but that's what you've gotta do. I used Graphic
Converter to open and resave all the images and then had no more red X's.
Give it a whirl.

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Hi Chip,

If you are willing to let Microsoft have a look at one of these troublesome
presentations (or even a slide or two from one of the troublesome
presentations) then please send one to me. My email address is (sound it
out)
goldkey74 at hot male dot calm

If I get the same thing I'll send your presentation to the developers of
PowerPoint. MVPs don't work for Microsoft and we don't get a lot of perks,
but the ability to do this is one of the perks we get.

-Jim

 

[Doc Overkill]

Gang,
I've been skimming the group for threads on the Red X, but I haven't
found one that fits my problem. I created a single slide in
Powerpoint (Mac SR1), and used Insert>Chart and the "built-in"
charting app (MS Graph) to create a chart. I saved the PPT doc, and
sent it to a colleague. He gets the red X when trying to view the
chart on a Windows machine (I think he's running XP). I tried it on a
different Windows 2000 machine and got a red X there too.

It shows up just fine on my Mac, but I can't make use of the same file
on a Windows machine. Is there something that I can change in the
file on my Mac, or a setting that can be changed on the Windows
machines, that will make this available to them?

much thanks,
_d

 

[Doc Overkill]

Following up my own message, I tried the group-ungroup trick, and it
worked (although the graphic is no longer editable except to resize
it, but doing so messes up text positioning badly).

So, that trick works both ways, for those who cannot see on their Macs
the graphics created on Windows, and those who cannot see on Windows
the graphics created on a Mac.

Still a very limited solution, though.
_dennis

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Hey Doc!

The problem your users are having with Windows PowerPoint is probably caused
by one of the following (in order of likelihood):

1. They skipped the install of Microsoft Graph.
Microsoft Graph can be left out of the install process in Windows Office's
setup. If they did not install Microsoft Graph then they will get a red X,
since there is no program available to display the graph. Solution: Install
Microsoft Graph from the install CD.

2. They didn't update their installation of Office.
Bug fixes for red-X problems have been included in updates of Windows
PowerPoint. First they should visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and
install all updates that are "critical updates." No point in installing
office updates on a system that's out of date. Next, on the windows update
web page there's a link to the Office updates. They should then install the
office updates.

The above 2 steps should fix the red-X problem for 90% of the people.

3. Not enough RAM.
Solution: Install more RAM.

This should take care of 95% of the red-X problems for windows versions of
PowerPoint under your scenario. There are a couple other more esoteric
causes, but have your windows users do these three things first to fix their
operating systems and software.

-Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

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