You cannot paste or save changes to an .wmf or .emf file in Office 2003 (817096)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003
  • Microsoft Office Word 2003
  • Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003
  • Microsoft Office Excel 2003

SYMPTOMS

If you make changes to a Windows Metafile (WMF) or Enhanced Metafile (EMF) by using the Edit pictures tool in Microsoft Picture Library 2003, you may not be able to save the changes that you made in the same image format, WMF or EMF. When you try to save the modified graphic, you may receive the following error message:
The file Filename.extension can't be saved in the original format. Use Export to save the file in a different format.
If you try to copy and paste the modified version of the image to a different Picture Shortcut, you may receive the following error message:
Some files could not be copied. Try to copy the files again.

CAUSE

This issue occurs because Picture Library cannot save the changes made to a WMF and EMF file in the same file format. Picture Library can only save in a raster or bitmap format.

WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, you must convert the WMF or EMF file to a bitmap format. To do so, follow these steps:
  1. In the Picture Shortcuts pane, click Unsaved Edits.
  2. Click to select the image that you want to convert.
  3. In the Other Task Panes pane, click Home.
  4. Under Share, click Export Pictures.
  5. If you want to change the location of the exported file, clear the Original locations check box, click Browse, select the new location, and then click Open.
  6. If you want to rename the file, click to clear the Original names check box, and then rename the name of the file.
  7. Select the new file format that you want to save the graphic in the Export with this file format box.
  8. Select a new size for the graphic, if you want to change size the size of the graphic.
  9. Click OK.
The graphic will now be saved with the changes that you made to it in the new image format.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/10/2006
Keywords:kbsavefile kberrmsg kbfilters kbnofix kbBug KB817096 kbAudEndUser
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