Word: Use an image multiple times but only store internally once? 1

[awaresoft]

I'm wondering if there's a way to construct a Word document that uses a small collection of images multiple times. It appears that each reference to an image is stored as a separate image.

I can accomplish what I want by using a field code that references an external image file but then have the hassle of distributing both the main document and all the referenced images.

I'm hoping that there's a way to have a single binary DOC file (or RTF file) that stores an image once, but allows multiple references to the same image.

Any ideas?

Malcolm

 

[fumei]

Yes. But what version are you using?

I don't know about 2000 and earlier, but from 2002 (XP) and later you can:

1. Use an ActiveX Image control (from the Controls toolbar). Load the image into the control. If you need help with that, post back. ou may need to rsize the control.

2. Select the control. Make sure you select just the control.

3. Select Insert > Bookmark and type in a bookmark name, say Image1.

4. Go where you want the other reference - where you want the same image to appear.

5. Select Insert > Field and select REF. Select Image1 from the bookmarks. Press OK.

Done. You can do this as many times as you like. The REF field simply makes references back to the bookmark, and the bookmark contains the image.



Gerry

 

[awaresoft]

Gerry,

Wow! What a cool idea. I had given up hope for a resonable solution until your posting.

Are there any security concerns or settings that may affect my use of an ActiveX image control in a document and will an ActiveX image control always print as expected?

Thanks(!) again for your help,

Malcolm

PS: If anyone is reading this post and has access to a Word 2000 setup, I would appreciate hearing if this works with Word 2000 as well. In the mean time I'm going to try to find a Word 2000 setup to test compatibility there as well.

 

[TonyJollans]

Gerry,

I thought that might work but when I tried it I found the file size increased just the same so it seems that multiple copies are created - or have I missed a vital component?

Enjoy,
Tony

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[awaresoft]

Gerry,

Following your technique, I dropped the ActiveX image control and have been able to reference the same image multiple times by bookmarking the original image and then using the REF field code to reference the image each time I want to use it.

There are two drawbacks to this approach - perhaps someone here might have some workarounds?

1. Word still duplicates the image content multiple times so there is no effective savings in space. Looking at the RTF version of the document you can see the field result is being stored which is what is causing the file to bloat. Do you have any ideas on how to configure a Word field so that it doesn't store a cached value of an image reference?

2. The REF field code acts as a link, so if you click it with the mouse, you will be hyperlinked to the original image. I'm wondering if there's a way to turn off this behavior (a non-linkable link?) so that the REF just duplicates the content it points to vs. also acting as a link to that content.

Thank you for your help!

Malcolm