How to update IncludePicture image?

[technicalwriter]

Need Help!

I am using MS Word 2010 and trying to include a picture using the relative path method. I tried the following.

Insert >> QuickParts >> Field >> Selected "IncludePicture" in the field name >> Specified the URL (physical path of the picture) >> Clicked OK.

The picture got inserted. I gave a border and caption. I save and close the word document.

I go and edit the same picture, which I inserted in the word document. I open the word document and I don't see the changes that I made to the same picture. Can you tell me why?

Thanks!

[macropod]

Have you checked Word's 'Update automatic links at open' option? See under File|Options|Advanced > General.

PS: There's nothing in your post that suggests anything to do with this thread's topic - Relative Paths - despite your reference to the 'relative path method', so I've moved it to a new thread. Your reference to 'physical path of the picture' shows you're using an absolute path.

[technicalwriter]

Hi Macropod,

I am sorry to reply in a wrong thread but was help less. BTB, I checked the option that you suggested and the option is checked in my MS Word version.

Any other suggestion please?

[macropod]

Does the new image have exactly the same filename and location as the former one? What happens if you do a print preview?

[technicalwriter]

The filename in the URL and in the physical folder is one and the same. I checked in print preview and it's showing as the old one with no changes effective. Can I send you some sample of what I am doing?

[macropod]

You can attach a document to a post - simply use the paperclip symbol on the 'go Advanced' tab.

[technicalwriter]

Please see the attachments. I have inserted an image, made some edits

[macropod]

you have not attached a document - merely some images.

[technicalwriter]

Oops! Here is the attachment..

[macropod]

OK, I downloaded both your document and the edited image from your previous post. As soon as I updated the filepath in the INCLUDEPICTURE field to point to where the edited image was on my system, the image in the document updated. I suspect you'll find the filepath in the INCLUDEPICTURE field doesn't point to where the edited image is on your system.

[technicalwriter]

Oh is it. Let me check in my personal laptop and get back to you? Thanks for your prompt replies and time today!

[EricFletcher]

Your sample document shows a picture coming from a path on your system (as expected), but also with the "MERGEFORMATINET" switch. This is typically inserted automatically when the source picture comes from the web (INET:=Internet). I'd eliminate that switch or alter it to the more normal "MERGEFORMAT".

As well, consider adding the \d switch to reduce the size of your document by not storing a copy of the picture within your document: this way it will force Word to always reload the image. Note that Word 2010 includes two new switches not included in their field code descriptions: \x and \y can be included to resize horizontally and vertically.

You can edit the field code by using Alt-F9 to toggle the view between the result and the field code.

If the file is moved, field codes that include a filename with a path can have problems because the path may no longer be valid or accessible. You can avoid this by using a relative path: if your winter image was saved in the same directory as your Word file, { INCLUDEPICTURE "Winter.jpg" \d } would be sufficient; if you had saved it in a folder one level below -- say a folder named "images" -- then you could use { INCLUDEPICTURE "images\\Winter.jpg" \d } (note how \\ needs to be used where a single \ would be used in a path name). You can use Find and Replace to change all occurrences of the root part of a path to make them all relative to your document. The description tends to be a bit obscure, but this Microsoft KB article explains how relative & absolute links work, and how you can modify settings to avoid potential problems.