Controlling my inserts

D

dog

I need help!
I have the task of writing instructional manuals for a treatment
process. I am using MS word as this is all that is available to me. I
am having a frustrating time working with images (jpegs and bmps),
Autoshapes and Text Boxes. What happens is this, I insert an image,
size it and place it where I want (I need it free moving so I do not
anchor it or move it with text). I then place captions about it using
text boxes. The last thing I do is place arrows and such (Autoshapes)
on the image for better explanations. At some time in this process I
can almost gaurentee everything on my page will scatter leaving me with
total chaos. Some times all it takes is a very small adjustment of a
single item to send everthing flying apart.
Is there a way to configure everything so that it gats along with
everything else? I want peace and harmony on my page. Please, someone
help.

ps sorry about the structure of this post. it is my first, and i did it
all 10 minutes before leaving work for the day.
Thanks again
 
R

Robert M. Franz (RMF)

Hi Doggie
I have the task of writing instructional manuals for a treatment
process. I am using MS word as this is all that is available to me. I
am having a frustrating time working with images (jpegs and bmps),
Autoshapes and Text Boxes. What happens is this, I insert an image,
size it and place it where I want (I need it free moving so I do not
anchor it or move it with text).

it seems like you are trying to use Word as a DTP application. That's OK
for a short document (flyer, brochure, etc., although some folks in here
will tell you that Publisher would be the better option). If you are
trying that in a larger, structured document, well, you're in for lots
of headache ...

What exactly do you need in terms of layout? Maybe you could get away
with InlineShapes? Set the picture layout to "in line with text", put it
into its own paragraph, add a caption paragraph below (all in the normal
body text layer, i.e., no textboxes needed). Then all the little items
could be added as Shapes, anchored to the paragraph holding the picture.

I then place captions about it using
text boxes. The last thing I do is place arrows and such (Autoshapes)
on the image for better explanations. At some time in this process I
can almost gaurentee everything on my page will scatter leaving me with
total chaos. Some times all it takes is a very small adjustment of a
single item to send everthing flying apart.
Is there a way to configure everything so that it gats along with
everything else? I want peace and harmony on my page. Please, someone
help.

If you must have text flowing around your graphics in a fancy way (i.e.,
you need Shapes), then I suggest creating and finishing the graphics in
a separate document (or even application; from Office, I'd use
PowerPoint), complete with all arrows etc. And insert the result into Word.

HTH
Robert
 

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