Programs missing from the Picture editor list in Word (211795)

SYMPTOMS

Some graphics programs may not appear in the Picture editor list; therefore, you cannot select them as the default program for editing imported graphics in Microsoft Word. (To display the Picture editor list, click Options on the Tools menu, and then click the Edit tab.)

CAUSE

Word lists a graphics program in the Picture editor list only if the registration information has been written to the registry.

If a graphics program does not add the registration settings to the registry, Word does not list the program in the Picture editor list. These registration settings tell Word that the graphics program can edit metafiles as OLE objects. For example, in Microsoft Word 2002, the registry setting for Microsoft Photo Editor 3.0 Photo has a string value of "PICEDITCLASS"="MSPhotoEd.3" in the following registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Word\Options

WORKAROUND

We do not recommend that you manually edit the registry file to add these missing registration settings. If you add the missing registration settings, the program appears in the Picture editor list. However, you may not be able to edit the drawing in the graphics program. Adding the registry key is not supported and has not been tested. The graphics program must add the registration settings when you install the program.

If you want to select an unlisted graphics program as your default picture editor in Word, first reinstall the program. If this workaround is unsuccessful, contact the manufacturer of the graphics program for instructions on how to successfully install and register the program in Windows to work with Word.

MORE INFORMATION

To change the default program for editing imported graphics, follow these steps:

On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Edit tab.
In the Picture editor list, click the program that you want to use to modify imported graphics, and then click OK.