Images in Printed Documentation

[TX_Marie]

I'm new to RoboHelp's printed documentation features and used Peter Grainge's "Printed Documentation" article to as a guide. (I'm using X5).

I think I will take the approach of copying the content of the RoboHelp-generated print output and pasting it into an established template rather than using the style mapping features of the print wizard. I tested this approach and it seemed to work decently except that images do not stay embedded upon pasting.

That, is, upon pasting the RoboHelp-generated print output into another Word template, the images float.

Any tips on how to remedy this?

I suspect the answer might have to do with setting up a new style and applying it to the images, but I'm not sure that the Frame attributes of a Word style are sufficient for placing an image properly without manual intervention. Instead, it seems that the Format Picture options in Word would need to be applied manually to each image, and then each image would need to be manually adjusted in the document.

I would be grateful for any suggestions.

[Guest]

Hello TX-Marie

Could you please descibe what you mean by float. Are the images the correct size? Are they simply left alligned or have they moved vertically. Depending on the complexity, it may be possible to create a macro to overcome this.

After a bit of research, there could be a problem binary structure of the control page layout.

Have you tried saving the document as .rtf then close, open the document and save again as.doc.


Brian

[TX_Marie]

Thank you Brian. I tried the recommendation of saving the file as *.rtf and then as a Word document again, but unfortunately it didn't remedy the issue.

Yes, the images are the correct size. The problem is that only the bottom fourth of each image displays in its place. The top three-fourths of each image is not visible and is behind the text.

I checked the settings for the images under Format > Picture, Layout tab, Advanced. The settings on the Picture Position tab are: Horizontal - Absolute position to the right of the column, Vertical - absolute position below Paragraph, "Move object with text," and "Allow overlap." The setting on the Text Wrapping tab is "In line with text."

Maybe as you say it's a matter of coming up with a macro to handle this.

It seems though that while a macro could apply required settings, the images would still need to be adjusted manually after the settings are applied each image.

Thank you again,
Marie

[Guest]

OK,

Have a macro that will convert all images to inlineshapes. What I need to know is how I can identify the required relative position so that I can move them to the correct position. Could you send me a couple of sample pages so that I can test it out.

I've sent you my email address to your Private Message repository here.

Brian

[Guest]

Just had another thought after rereading your description a few times.

Click the Paragraph marker on the tollbar. Next from the top of the document select the whole document except for the last paragraph mark. Then copy and paste into a new document and see if the problem is still there. If not, attach your template making sure the Automatically Update Styles check box is checked and see if the problem is still there.

You could have a corrupt Word file or template. The reason you leave the last paragraph mark behind is that this is where Word stores all info about the document, and therefore where the corruption will be.

Brian

[TX_Marie]

Brian,
I tried this but the issue remains. Copying the content (except for the last paragraph mark) into a new document didn't affect the images. Still only the bottom one-fourth of the images appear.

Thanks again for your brainstorming & suggestion!
Marie

[Guest]

Marie,

I received your email with the examples. Must say, I've never seen this before.

I found a few steps to manually fix it, I'll start work on the macro. I found that although the format says that it is an inlineshape, it is not recognised as such. That part is easily fixed with the macro. The other problem is that by losing it's format, the anchor is messed up. Again, fixable.

I did have a thought on my long drive home, How did you insert the images into the topics? Did you cut and paste, or did you use the insert image icon.? The first is a no no. Just wondereing if it is a variation of the known problems.

Also, if you used the icon, what format were the original images, jpeg, gif. etc?

As we are destined for heavy rain all weekend, I won't be spending much time looking after my veggie patch, I'll sort something out.

By the way, sorry for the time delays, but I am UK based.

Brian

[HKabaker]

"The settings on the Picture Position tab are: Horizontal - Absolute position to the right of the column, Vertical - absolute position below Paragraph, "Move object with text," and "Allow overlap." The setting on the Text Wrapping tab is "In line with text."

What is the setting for Wrapping Style on the first Layout dialog, before you click the Advanced button, compared with the Advanced/Text Wrapping tab?

There's a conflict between "absolute position" and "inline" settings. Normally, the Position tab fields are grayed out when "inline" is selected for text wrapping.

Try changing the inline setting on the Layout dialog and/or Text Wrapping and save. If that clears it up, go back to inline and see if the position setting is gone.

I've never figured out what "Allow Overlap" does.

Harvey

[Guest]

Thanks for joining the party Harvey,

I looked at the settings in the example. By changing the Inline to anything else, the image appears. I then cut the image, highlighted the Paragraph mark it left behind, pasted the image back, then reset as inline and centred the image in the page. Does this follow your thoughts.

I've never worked out whts "Allow overlap" does either.

Brian

[Peter Grainge]

Just a couple of points that may help you guys.

Images are an issue with Word 2003 if ANY alignment is applied. See my site.

Second, right at the beginning Marie said

"it seemed to work decently except that images do not stay embedded upon pasting."

Put another way, it seemed to work except it doesn't work.

My money is on it being one of those two. I haven't read right through this so apologies if I have missed something.

[Guest]

Thanks peter,

Never thought about asking which Word Vesion.

Another route.

Brian

[TX_Marie]

Hello Brian, gentlemen,

I inserted the images by using the Insert Image icon. The images are in png format, and I select them from one of the RoboHelp project folders.

I'm using Word 2002.

Sorry to hear about the rainy weekend -- looks like we're in for the same here in North Texas. It's been unusually rainy so far this summer -- a nice change from the furnance-like conditions we typically endure in the summer months.

[HKabaker]

The solution depends on how you want it to end up.

I don't see a need to cut and paste. The first step is to resolve the conflict between the Text Wrapping and Picture Position tabs.

If I wanted it centered with no text wrap, first I'd go to the Layout tab to verify Centered is selected. If that doesn't cure it, next I'd go to Advanced/Text wrap and change it to top&bottom, which accedes to the placement values, then go to the Picture Position tab and select centered.

If I wanted it inline, I'd do the same, except when I get back to the Layout tab, select In line with text. Word then should gray out the Advanced/Picture Position tab and set Text Wrap to inline.

Maybe this is what Peter suggests, or he has something better. I'm too lazy to look today.

Harvey

[Guest]

Hello Marie,

I have attached various templates to the document. Each time the images display properly.

Could you try and create a new template, based on normal.dot, then using the organiser, copy only those styles required from your existing template to the new one, don't copy the screenshot stlye. Attach the new template with automatically update document styles checked.

Will try a few more experiments, but looks like a problem in your template.

Brian

[TX_Marie]

Brian,
Thanks for the tips. I got caught up in some other projects but will try these suggestions in the next few days.

Regards,
Marie