WD: Graphic Displays and Previews as Blank Box

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Word some graphics (especially large ones) may not be displayed. In their place, a blank box appears, both in your document and in print preview. The graphic prints correctly, however.

Opening and closing the document does not redisplay the graphic.

This happens even if the Picture Placeholders option in the View options dialog box is not selected (to open this dialog box, click Options on the Tools menu and then select the View tab).

CAUSE

Sometimes the graphic is displayed when you first open the file; if you then edit the graphic by double-clicking it and then close the picture editing window, the graphic disappears.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use either of the following methods.

Method 1

Sometimes you can redisplay the graphic by copying it to the Clipboard, quitting and restarting Word, and then pasting the graphic in your Word document. Regardless of whether the graphic is displayed, it is printed correctly.

Method 2

The file size and complexity needs to be reduced for the graphic to be displayed. A graphics program, such as Adobe Photo Shop or JASC Inc. Paint Shop, is required to reduce the resolution of the graphic. Decreasing the resolution reduces the graphic's file size allowing it to be displayed. For example, if a graphic has a resolution of 3600 x 4400 pixels at 600 dots per inch (dpi), decreasing its resolution by half (1800 x 2200) at fewer dots per inch (75 dpi) allows the graphic to be displayed. This can reduce the file size from 2 megabytes to 500 kilobytes.

STATUS

We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

The third-party products discussed here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Word User's Guide," version 6.0, Chapter 16, "Importing and Creating Graphics," "Controlling File Size" section