"format picture" - arrows show as no line atop picture

[marbeth]

Word 2003. Win 7. .doc Screen shots (Alt + Prt Scr)/dropped into text with Crl + V/cropped to remove parts of screen shot that don't pertain.



Sometimes when I put an arrow over a "picture" to point to something specific, the arrow turns from visible to invisible when I "group" the graphics into one unit (Alt + DG).

I have tried changing the "layout" tab to all options with no luck, altho -sometimes- I can get the arrow to stay on top when I format it as "behind text." ??! Don't know how I did this. I am consistent each time (I think) and can't figure out what's wrong. Is this a glitch?

Sometimes the arrow doesn't show, even if I'm not trying to "group."

I am doing a huge music book project and taking screen shots because my music notation software (Finale) does not allow export or have OLE. I'm up to 800 pages and really would love to find an answer to this before I go nuts!

Thanks in advance to anyone who give me a hand.

Swap ya for Finale help or grammar/syntax!
Beth

[marbeth]

I got the answer from Mary Lindsey at allexperts.com. She says:

"Seems like the main problem here is having the graphics and arrows look exactly like you would like without any "disappearance." If this is the problem (and yes, it has continued to plague many of us), text wrap the image to In Line with Text, and place the arrow (Insert Shapes Arrows), then copy both images (including the paragraph mark the image is sitting on), Paste Special / Windows Enhanced Metafile, then crop the image out."

I was able to get by with just changing the graphic to "in-line" and using Crl + E to center it. Put the arrows in, grouped them, and now hope I don't have to move the whole business bcs the arrow group will not attach itself to the main graphic. At least I have a workaround!
Beth

[macropod]

Hi Beth,

You need to make sure your arrow in positioned in front of whatever it's pointing to. If one disappears, select the shape and, from the drawing tools toolbar, choose Draw > Order > Send to back.

[marbeth]

Thanks, Paul. Will try this! Beth