Word for Windows: Specifying a Different OLE Graphics Editor

 Last reviewed: July 30, 1997
Article ID: Q95402
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c

SUMMARY

On page 384 of the "Microsoft Word for Windows User's Guide" for version 2.0 there is a documentation error concerning how to specify a graphics application other than Microsoft Draw to edit graphics in your Word document.

This article provides the information that is missing from the user's guide.

MORE INFORMATION

On page 384, the "Microsoft Word for Windows User's Guide" states the following: 

   If you want to use a graphics application other than Microsoft Draw
   to edit graphics in your Word document, you can edit the WIN.INI
   file to specify your preference. See Appendix B, "Modifying the
   WIN.INI File."
Although Appendix B does provide information on modifying the WIN.INI file, it does not explain how to specify an alternate editor for embedded graphics.

This paragraph was removed from page 384 in a reprint of the "Microsoft Word for Windows User's Guide" (part number 32756).

To specify the editor for embedded graphics, add a line to the [Microsoft Word 2.0] section of the WIN.INI file in the following syntax: 

   PicEditClass=<classname>
You can find the syntax of the <classname> argument by opening your Windows WIN.INI file. In the [Embedding] section of the WIN.INI file, use the text to the left of the equal sign on the line that names the graphics application you want to specify as your OLE graphics editor. For example, if the entry for Windows Paintbrush is "PBrush=Paintbrush Picture,Paintbrush Picture,pbrush.exe,picture", the value of the <classname> argument is "PBrush" (without the quotation marks).

The following is a partial list of entries you can use to specify a different editor for embedded graphics in the [Microsoft Word 2.0] section of WIN.INI: 

   WIN.INI Entry              Graphics Application
   -------------              --------------------

   PicEditClass=PBrush        Windows version 3.1 Paintbrush
   PicEditClass=MSDraw        Microsoft Draw
   PicEditClass=Designer      Micrografx Designer version 3.1 OLE
   PicEditClass=CDraw         CorelDRAW! version 3.0
Note: To pass a graphic back and forth between Word and an OLE graphics editor, the picture must be in the cf_metafilepict format. At this time, Microsoft Draw is the only application that uses the cf_metafilepict format.

Troubleshooting

If the graphic does not appear in the OLE graphics application the first time you want to edit it, do the following:

  1. Before you attempt to edit the graphic, select the graphic and copy it to the Windows clipboard.

  2. Select the graphic and then launch the OLE graphics editor.

    Note: If an error message appears, choose the OK button to dismiss the message.

  3. Paste the graphic into the application.

  4. Edit the graphic and then choose Exit And Return from the File menu to update the object and return to Word.

Next time you attempt to edit the graphic, it will open in the OLE application as expected.

Reference(s):

"Microsoft Word for Windows User's Guide," version 2.0, pages 384, 803-810

KBCategory: kbole
KBSubcategory:
Additional query words: 2.0 2.0a 2.0a-CD 2.0b 2.0c winword
winword2 OLE link picture object docerr doc err change MSDraw disappear

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Last reviewed: July 30, 1997
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