Clip Art and WMF files

D

DDL

Hi - I've been using some of the common clip art for my
presentation, depicting PC monitors and hardware. I am
able to change the color of many of these graphics, and I
noticed that they are listed as WMF files in the clip art
gallery.

I have tried drawing my own shapes in PowerPoint and
saving them as WMF files. But when I do this, and I
insert my own WMF files into PowerPoint, I can no longer
change their color. My questions are:

1. How can I save WMF files and later insert them into
PowerPoint and still be able to color them?

2. Is there any way I can create my own clip art
gallery, have PowerPoint access them, and be able to
delete my clips if I no longer want them?

Thanks in advance for any help.
 
D

DDL

Hi - thanks for the info. I do have Illustrator, but I
don't see an option where I can save the graphic as a WMF
file. And it doesn't let me open a file with a WMF
extension. Anything else I can try? Unfortunately I
don't have Serif Drawplus.
 
S

Suvodip Moitra

Dear User,

You can go through this page

support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;161718

Suvodip Moitra
 
P

Paul Ballou

S

Steve Rindsberg

Hi - thanks for the info. I do have Illustrator, but I
don't see an option where I can save the graphic as a WMF
file.
Click to expand...

You may have to select the shapes you want to save and use File, Export instead
of Save As. My Mac version of Illo doesn't do WMFs but the PC versions I've
used in past always have been able to.
And it doesn't let me open a file with a WMF
extension.
Click to expand...

Try Placing the file or Importing if that's an option.

Anything else I can try? Unfortunately I
don't have Serif Drawplus.
Click to expand...

--
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================
Featured Presenter, PowerPoint Live 2004
October 10-13, San Diego, CA www.PowerPointLive.com
================================================
 
D

DDL

Hi - thanks to everyone who responded, I overlooked the
Export function! Now one last question.

When I insert one of my WMF files into PowerPoint, I
cannot readily color it the way I can with some of those
clip art graphics. I first have to convert it to "edit"
the WMF graphic and turn it into a Microsoft object. Is
there anything I can do when I create the WMF graphic so
that I don't have to go through that conversion step in
PowerPoint? I'm just stumped as to why those clip art
graphics can be readily colored, and my WMF can't.

Thanks again in advance.
 
S

Steve Rindsberg

When I insert one of my WMF files into PowerPoint, I
cannot readily color it the way I can with some of those
clip art graphics. I first have to convert it to "edit"
the WMF graphic and turn it into a Microsoft object. Is
there anything I can do when I create the WMF graphic so
that I don't have to go through that conversion step in
PowerPoint? I'm just stumped as to why those clip art
graphics can be readily colored, and my WMF can't.
Click to expand...

Did you give Paul's suggestion a try?
 
D

DDL

Hi - yes, I was able to export the WMF file out of
Illustrator, and I added the file to the clip art
gallery. However, when I insert my own clip art into
PowerPoint, I still can't color it. In order to color
it, I have to right-click on it and go into "edit" mode.
Only then can I change the color.

I am just stumped as to why the regular clip art WMF
files can be instantly colored, and mine can't unless
they are converted into a Microsoft object first.
 
P

Paul Ballou

I get the same results with WMF inserted whether I created the clip or not
the clips individual parts can only be colored if converted to a Microsoft
Object. This is because the object is grouped when inserted into PPT.

If you give me the name of the clip(s) you are able to instantly color I
will try and see if I get the same results you do.

--
Paul Ballou
MVP Office
http://office.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/templates
http://office.microsoft.com/home

Control the things you can and Don't Worry about the things you can't
control.
 
D

DDL

Hi - if you type "generic computer" in the search field,
the clip art gallery will show a yellow PC, which can be
colored without having to do a conversion. Thanks for
helping.
 
S

Steve Rindsberg

Hi - yes, I was able to export the WMF file out of
Illustrator, and I added the file to the clip art
gallery. However, when I insert my own clip art into
PowerPoint, I still can't color it. In order to color
it, I have to right-click on it and go into "edit" mode.
Only then can I change the color.
Click to expand...

I think I see what the problem is. I think all you need to do is ungroup the
image once you've inserted it. It's true that this will convert it to an MS
object first, but that shouldn't matter. It's been my experience that if it
blows up in your face when you do that, it's certain that it'd have blown up
sooner or later anyhow. Better to find out early, now, rather than later when
the deadline's looming.


I am just stumped as to why the regular clip art WMF
files can be instantly colored, and mine can't unless
they are converted into a Microsoft object first.
Click to expand...

--
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================
Featured Presenter, PowerPoint Live 2004
October 10-13, San Diego, CA www.PowerPointLive.com
================================================
 
A

Adam Crowley

Can you not use the Recolor button on the Picture toolbar?
Or is that what the problem is?
 
D

DDL

Hi - recolor works (now that I know what it is). :)
Thanks all.

-----Original Message-----
Can you not use the Recolor button on the Picture toolbar?
Or is that what the problem is?
Click to expand...
 
P

Paul Ballou

That computer is an Autoshape which acts similar to a simple box shape so
when you use the color fill on the Picture Toolbar it is filling the object
just like it would a box or circle..... but when you insert other WMF files
you are inserting object groups and need to ungroup to color.

--
Paul Ballou
MVP Office
http://office.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/templates
http://office.microsoft.com/home

Control the things you can and Don't Worry about the things you can't
control.
 

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