OFF97:Semitransparent Fill in Embedded Object Is Printed Badly

• Microsoft Office 97 for Windows
• Microsoft PowerPoint 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

In the programs listed at the beginning of this article, if you print a document that contains embedded or linked objects to a PostScript printer, the objects may be printed with the wrong fill format. For example, one of the following symptoms may occur:

• The object is printed with a solid black or solid white fill, even if you are using a color printer.

  -or-

• The object is printed with the correct color but with a solid white rectangle around it.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when you create a document in one of the programs listed at the beginning of this article and embed or link objects that use semitransparent fill effects, and then print to a PostScript printer.

When you copy an object from one Office program and paste it into another program, the result is a picture (enhanced metafile) of the object. The problem occurs because the Windows 95 and Windows NT PostScript printer drivers do not handle semitransparent fills in enhanced metafiles correctly.

WORKAROUND

Double-click the object to edit it. Choose a different nontransparent fill effect. Click outside the object to return to your destination program.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Office 97 for Windows. Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information here as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

This problem occurs when you copy a slide from a PowerPoint 97 presentation and paste it into a Microsoft Word 97 document and print it to a PostScript printer. Semitransparent objects are printed with the wrong fill even if the slide is printed correctly from PowerPoint.

NOTE: If you create the same kind of drawing object using the tools in destination program, objects with semitransparent fills are printed with the correct fill to PostScript printers.