visio 2003 => word 2003 = unacceptable print output

[Weary Office 2003 user...]

I have tried all MS recommended methods of placing our
visio 2003 Pro process maps into word 2003 Pro to build
our control plans. The visio drawings print perfectly
from visio, so it's not the visio drawing, our printer, or
our OS.

Linking file in word (insert/object/from file/link) or
copy & paste (aka "copy drawing") produce terrible print
results with vast portions of the visio object text
unreadable as well as a smaller portion of the visio
shapes within the object losing borders/definition.

Using the embedding method, we get a clean print BUT for
some extremely odd reason, perfectly formed bullets using
default bulleting in visio (format/text/bullet) produces
SQUARES where the bullets were in visio. Not square
bullets which would be acceptable; SQUARES with improper
spacing/size where neat bulleted format once was.

(I highly suspect this is due to the ongoing OLE problem
with 2003 that will no longer allow me to store my
graphics in Access and use them across Office apps, but
that's just my guess.)

Has anyone found a way to use their visio drawing to
produce a completely printable document in word? If so,
I'd really appreciate your work-around. We have several
dozen of these documents to generate and I'm tired of
having to visually inspect every last centimeter of my
printed document for crap.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Darrin [MSFT]]

Here's a couple things to try:

#1: Instead of selecting all the objects in the drawing via "Select all" or
selecting with a window, unselect everything and choose "Copy Drawing" from
the edit window, then paste that into word. Doing it with this method will
bring over some information along with the drawing that you wouldn't get
with the other methods.

#2: IF the drawing does not have to be linked or embeded - I'd try doing a
"paste special" and try the different options available. The results will
vary depending on printer, but typically I get good results with enhanced
metafile.

hope that helps,
darrin.

 

[Dennis]

I'm using Visio 2000, so my solution may not work for
you. To get good artwork to insert into Word, I "Save
As..." .html, then select the output option as XML. I
paste the resulting .emz files into Word, they are very
scalable and come out crisp and sharp on paper.

(There may be a simpler way to do it, but this is what has
worked for me. If anyone knows that simpler way, please
let me know.)