WD97: IncludePicture Inserts Blank Placeholder (164993)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
This article was previously published under Q164993

SYMPTOMS

When you use the IncludePicture field, and you attempt to insert an invalid or missing picture, Word inserts a blank picture placeholder and does not display an error message.

NOTE: In earlier versions of Microsoft Word, when an IncludePicture field includes a path to an invalid or missing picture file, Word displays the following error message:
Error! Not a valid filename

WORKAROUND

Use the following steps to locate and delete a blank picture placeholder:

  1. Open your document in Word.
  2. Press ALT+F9 to display the field codes in your document.

    The IncludePicture field codes will resemble the following

    {IncludePicture <picture.gif>}

    -or-

    {IncludePicture C:\<folder path>\<picture.gif>}

    (where <folder path> is the full path to the picture, and picture.gif is the name of the picture file).
  3. Locate and select an IncludePicture field, and then press ALT+F9 to toggle the field codes off.

    The picture will be selected after you toggle the field codes off.
  4. If the blank picture placeholder that is selected is blank, press DELETE to remove it. (If you have a valid picture selected, leave it alone.)
  5. Repeat steps 2-4 until all the empty picture placeholders have been deleted.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/14/2000
Keywords:kbbug kbfield kbusage KB164993
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.