OFF2000: Patterned Fill Is Not Printed Correctly (197926)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 2000
  • Microsoft FrontPage 2000
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2000
  • Microsoft Word 2000

This article was previously published under Q197926

SYMPTOMS

When you print an inserted OLE object with a patterned fill, the pattern may not be printed correctly, or it may not be printed at all.

The types of objects affected include the following:
  • Microsoft Graph 2000 objects

  • Microsoft Draw 98 objects

  • Embedded Microsoft Office documents

  • Microsoft WordArt 3.2 objects

CAUSE

Patterned fills are generated in proportion to printer resolution. When an embedded object is printed to a high-resolution printer, the patterns are also printed at a high-resolution and appear as a very tight cross-hatch or as a solid color.

WORKAROUND

To work around this behavior, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Ungroup the Object

If possible, ungroup the object before you print your file. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Right-click the OLE object, point to Grouping on the shortcut menu, and then click Ungroup.
  2. You should receive the following message:

    This is an imported object, not a group. If you convert to a Microsoft Office Drawing object, embedded data or linked information will be lost. Do you want to convert the object?

    Click Yes. The object should be printed normally.
NOTE: It is important that you fully format your OLE object before you convert it into a Microsoft Office Drawing object. You may even want to keep a backup copy of your application file. After the OLE object is in Microsoft Drawing object format, it cannot be edited as an OLE object.

Method 2: Paste the Object as a Bitmap

  1. After you create and format your object, click it to select it.
  2. On the Edit menu, click Copy.
  3. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Microsoft Paint. In Microsoft Paint, follow these steps:
    1. On the Image menu, click Attributes.
    2. Set the width to 1 and the height to 1, and then click OK.
    3. On the Edit menu, click Paste. You receive a message that asks whether the image on the Clipboard is larger than the bitmap. Click Yes.
    4. On the Edit menu, click Copy.
  4. Return to your Office program. On the Edit menu, click Paste. A bitmap picture of your OLE object is pasted into your program. Now you can print normally.
NOTE: It is important that you fully format your OLE object before you convert it into a bitmap. You may even want to keep a backup copy of your application file. After the OLE object is in bitmap format, it cannot be edited.

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/24/2003
Keywords:kbprb KB197926