Inserting Pictures into powerpoint

It sounds like you do not have Office fully updated - it should be at
12.1.9, so update as necessary, repair disk permissions & restart your Mac.

FWIW, "Drag & Drop" as well as "Copy/Paste" are two of the worst convenience
features to employ when it comes to adding graphics to any type of file...
Even when they "work" the result is often less than expected. Although you
mentioned having tried to use "the Insert option" you don't specify *what*
you chose from the Insert menu. If anything other than "Picture" it would
explain the lack of result. Also, the .bmp format is one that is best
avoided if possible ‹ it really isn't supported any longer on either the
Windows or OS X operating systems.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac



On 7/11/09 6:46 PM, in article 59b77f4b.-1 DeleteThis @webcrossing.caR9absDaxw,
"cb82876@officeformac.com" <cb82876 DeleteThis @officeformac.com> wrote:

> Version: 2008
> Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
>
> Please help me. I am at my wit's end. I am trying to insert some bmp files
> into power point. When I try to drag and drop them, I get an error message
> that says that powerpoint has encountered an error and needs to quit. When I
> try to use the Insert option, nothing happens. I tried to copy and paste them
> from the desktop, but all it did was copy and paste the name of the file. They
> used to work on Office for mac 2004- can't figure out why they won't work
> here.

I downloaded two graphics editors from the internet (pixelmator and image tricks) and tried to open the file in both. In pixelmator, I got an error message that said "couldn't open the file. It may be corrupt or a file format that pixelmator doesn't recognize". When I tried to use image tricks, nothing happened.
I can't understand why this isn't working because it worked fine in Office 2004. It works fine on the pc at work. Is it possible that there is something about it that makes it unusable on Office 2008 or on my mac? Do you think it would be helpful to try to change the format on the pc (to a PNG file) and then try to open it on my mac?
Thanks for all your help with this. I am at my wit's end.

Well, to be sure I just inserted .bmp after .bmp from several different
sources & had no problem whatsoever using Insert> Picture. Why you're
continuing to have difficulty I'm not really sure. Are you able to insert
other types of images or do you still encounter the problem?

The best way to create a version of a graphic in a different format is to
open it in a graphics editor [such as Photoshop or even some of the
freeware/shareware apps] & save in the format preferred. If you don't have
anything else you can open the BMP in Preview then use Save As to save a
copy in a different format... I'd suggest PNG (or possibly JPEG, depending
on the nature of the image content). You might even try some of the others
to see which looks best, but for a BMP either PNG or GIF should be fine.

Assuming you're able to insert formats other than BMP that should get
through the current project. I'll try to come up with other possibilities so
be sure to reply with the results when you try these suggestions.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac



On 7/12/09 11:29 AM, in article 59b77f4b.1 RemoveThis @webcrossing.caR9absDaxw,
"cb82876@officeformac.com" <cb82876 RemoveThis @officeformac.com> wrote:

> I updated Office, repaired disk permissions and restarted my computer, but am
> still not having any luck. To clarify, when I use the Insert option, I select
> picture and then select the bmp file from my desktop. Nothing happens when I
> do this. I am confused as to why the file worked fine with Office 2004 but
> won't work with this version.
> You mention that bmp is not a good format to use with Office. How do I change
> the format of the image?
> Thank you for replying. I need to use these images in a presentation and am
> desperate to get this working.

Steve,
Do you know how to change the option install items? I don't recall this when I installed 2008, but I wasn't really looking for anything other than the straightforward install.
Thanks for your input.

It does sound like the file copy you have may be damaged if it can't even be
opened by a graphics editor. Did you try to open it with Apple's Preview
app? I'd also highly recommend GraphicConverter from LemkeSoft -- it is
Shareware (USD $35.94) but is available for free trial [Note: it's well
worth the price:-)].

http://www.lemkesoft.com/content/193/key-features.html

If even that won't open it you'll need to get a fresh copy of the file from
its source as either a BMP or in another format.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac



On 7/12/09 12:23 PM, in article 59b77f4b.3.DeleteThis@webcrossing.caR9absDaxw,
"cb82876@officeformac.com" <cb82876.DeleteThis@officeformac.com> wrote:

> I downloaded two graphics editors from the internet (pixelmator and image
> tricks) and tried to open the file in both. In pixelmator, I got an error
> message that said "couldn't open the file. It may be corrupt or a file format
> that pixelmator doesn't recognize". When I tried to use image tricks, nothing
> happened.
> I can't understand why this isn't working because it worked fine in Office
> 2004. It works fine on the pc at work. Is it possible that there is something
> about it that makes it unusable on Office 2008 or on my mac? Do you think it
> would be helpful to try to change the format on the pc (to a PNG file) and
> then try to open it on my mac?
> Thanks for all your help with this. I am at my wit's end.

In article <C67F80F0.4FF60%onlygeneraltaz1@com.cast.net>, CyberTaz wrote:
> Well, to be sure I just inserted .bmp after .bmp from several different
> sources & had no problem whatsoever using Insert> Picture. Why you're
> continuing to have difficulty I'm not really sure.

I haven't installed 2008 but on some other Office versions, some of the graphics
filters are optional install items. BMP on Mac would be a candidate for
"Optional" if ever there were one. Do you recall if the 2008 installer offers
optional filters? If so, that might be the problem ... filter not installed.

> Also, the .bmp format is one that is best
> avoided if possible ‹ it really isn't supported any longer on either the
> Windows or OS X operating systems.

It's still supported under Windows and fwiw, it's a very simple, easy-to-read
format. PowerPoint converts all images to one of three formats internally (PNG,
JPG, GIF) so by and large, as long as it can Insert, Picture from File to bring
the picture in, BMPs are safe enough.

OTOH, as a Windows-native but not much used on Mac format, it's a bit odd to
standardize on 'em on any Mac computer.

In article <59b77f4b.7.RemoveThis@webcrossing.caR9absDaxw>, Cb82876.RemoveThis@officeformac.com
wrote:
> Steve,
> Do you know how to change the option install items? I don't recall this
when I installed 2008, but I wasn't really looking for anything other than
the straightforward install.
> Thanks for your input.

I'm hoping Bob or Jim can jump on this one. I bought my current Mac from one
of the early Pharoahs. It's too long in tooth for 2008.

Hello Again Steve;


On 7/12/09 3:14 PM, in article VA.00004ff6.589280ca DeleteThis @localhost.com, "Steve
Rindsberg" <abuse DeleteThis @localhost.com> wrote:

>> Also, the .bmp format is one that is best
>> avoided if possible ‹ it really isn't supported any longer on either the
>> Windows or OS X operating systems.
>
> It's still supported under Windows and fwiw, it's a very simple, easy-to-read
> format. PowerPoint converts all images to one of three formats internally
> (PNG,
> JPG, GIF) so by and large, as long as it can Insert, Picture from File to
> bring
> the picture in, BMPs are safe enough.
>
> OTOH, as a Windows-native but not much used on Mac format, it's a bit odd to
> standardize on 'em on any Mac computer.
>
>
Note that I didn't say BMP was no longer usable or had ceased to exist on
either platform, nor that it's "unsafe" in any way ‹ it's simply been
relegated to the tombs for the very reasons you used in your descriptive
first sentence Compared to newer formats BMP is monolithic, archaic &
incapable of the quality most users expect from graphics files, and
bit-for-bit it's quite inefficient compared to GIF & PNG. I don't know of a
single program or OS that continues to use it as a default, even for screen
shots ‹ many don't even offer it as an option.

Relative to the OP's situation, though, I don't think that "BMP" itself is
the problem. As I pointed out, I have no problem with them here nor have
there been any reports of issues such as what he's experiencing. There is
something else afoot that's preventing the insertion... That's why I asked
about success/failure with other formats, & from the more recent replies it
appears that the file itself may be damaged.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

You didn't miss anything Win Office offers optional graphics filters
which are additional & not included in the standard set. Most of them are
Windows-centric [although not necessarily unusable on a Mac]. IIRC, however,
they are available as a separate "package", not a part of the installation
options. At any rate, BMP is included in the standards on both platforms.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac



On 7/12/09 3:38 PM, in article 59b77f4b.7 RemoveThis @webcrossing.caR9absDaxw,
"cb82876@officeformac.com" <cb82876 RemoveThis @officeformac.com> wrote:

> Steve,
> Do you know how to change the option install items? I don't recall this when I
> installed 2008, but I wasn't really looking for anything other than the
> straightforward install.
> Thanks for your input.

On 7/12/09 3:14 PM, in article VA.00004ff7.58928202 DeleteThis @localhost.com, "Steve
Rindsberg" <abuse DeleteThis @localhost.com> wrote:

> In article <C67F80F0.4FF60%onlygeneraltaz1@com.cast.net>, CyberTaz wrote:
>> Well, to be sure I just inserted .bmp after .bmp from several different
>> sources & had no problem whatsoever using Insert> Picture. Why you're
>> continuing to have difficulty I'm not really sure.
>
> I haven't installed 2008 but on some other Office versions, some of the
> graphics
> filters are optional install items. BMP on Mac would be a candidate for
> "Optional" if ever there were one. Do you recall if the 2008 installer offers
> optional filters? If so, that might be the problem ... filter not installed.
>

Hi Steve;

Unlike Win Office the only option I can recall is to *not* install certain
components. Even so, graphics filters aren't among them, AFAIK. All of my
Mac Office installations are plain vanilla "Standard" installations & I have
no problem inserting BMPs.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

In article <C6808D9B.4F3A6%onlygeneraltaz1@com.cast.net>, CyberTaz wrote:
> You didn't miss anything Win Office offers optional graphics filters
> which are additional & not included in the standard set. Most of them are
> Windows-centric [although not necessarily unusable on a Mac]. IIRC, however,
> they are available as a separate "package", not a part of the installation
> options.

Both, actually. There are install options for graphics and text filters that
aren't included in the default install, but you can also download an installable
package of graphics filters.

At any rate, BMP is included in the standards on both platforms.

That moots the rest. On to busted BMPs then ....


>
> Regards |:>)
> Bob Jones
> [MVP] Office:Mac
>
> On 7/12/09 3:38 PM, in article 59b77f4b.7.DeleteThis@webcrossing.caR9absDaxw,
> "cb82876@officeformac.com" <cb82876.DeleteThis@officeformac.com> wrote:
>
> > Steve,
> > Do you know how to change the option install items? I don't recall this when I
> > installed 2008, but I wasn't really looking for anything other than the
> > straightforward install.
> > Thanks for your input.

> Note that I didn't say BMP was no longer usable or had ceased to exist on
> either platform, nor that it's "unsafe" in any way ‹ it's simply been
> relegated to the tombs for the very reasons you used in your descriptive
> first sentence Compared to newer formats BMP is monolithic, archaic &
> incapable of the quality most users expect from graphics files, and
> bit-for-bit it's quite inefficient compared to GIF & PNG.

It uses simple RLE compression when it uses compression at all, so yep, BMPs can
be quite large. But they're as able to deliver quality images as any other
format that can store 24-bit pixel data.

> I don't know of a
> single program or OS that continues to use it as a default, even for screen
> shots ‹ many don't even offer it as an option.

True, and probably for the reasons outlined above.

> Relative to the OP's situation, though, I don't think that "BMP" itself is
> the problem.

That was my guess too.

> As I pointed out, I have no problem with them here nor have
> there been any reports of issues such as what he's experiencing. There is
> something else afoot that's preventing the insertion... That's why I asked
> about success/failure with other formats, & from the more recent replies it
> appears that the file itself may be damaged.

And absent missing graphics filters, I was headed there next too.

> Regards |:>)

As always!