Placing Images & Graphics into Word Processing Documents

Integrating images and graphics into word processing documents is easy.  Graphics can be drawn anywhere in a text document, or copied and pasted from other documents.   Images can also be placed anywhere in the text.  

Graphics and images can be placed into a text document in two ways: as a floating item or as an in-line object.  A floating image is placed into an invisible graphics layer above the text in a word processing document.  This is the same graphics layer where all frames are placed.  In-line images are pasted directly into the flow of the text.   Consider the following screen image: 

The image above demonstrates the difference between a floating and an in-line image.   The image on the left is a floating image, while the image on the right is in-line with the text.  Notice how the floating image sits a top of the text, while the in-line image is a part of the text flow.

In-line items are useful if you want the object or image to stay in the same position relative to the text.  When inserted in-line, text inside the full-screen document wraps around the item's borders.  A floating image, on the other hand, is not directly tied to the text flow.  The floating image does not move with the text in the full-screen word processing document.  The floating frame can be moved anywhere within the document, though, by selecting it and using the mouse.   How text in the document wraps around the floating image is set by you.

To Insert an In-Line Graphic or Image

The best way to insert an in-line image or graphic is to copy it from another document or sheet, and then paste it into the document.  In-line images and graphics are useful for fixing the location of the item in the flow of the text.

  1. Copy or cut the image or graphic from another document or sheet.  You might want to create a new sheet specifically for developing graphics and images.  For more information about creating new sheets in a document, see the Sheets topic.

  2. Position the insertion point (blinking bar) where you want to place the new image or graphic.

  3. Paste the item into the text. 

To Insert a Floating Graphic or Image

Unlike in-line graphics, floating graphics and frames are not fixed in the flow of the text.  A floating frame or graphic is placed into a special invisible graphics layer that sits above the text in a word processing environment.  Anything drawn in a word processing document (including frames) is placed into this invisible graphics layer.   Moreover, items in this layer are completely independent of the text underneath.

  1. Make sure the ToolBar is showing.  If it is not, select Show ToolBar from the Window menu.

  2. Use the graphic tools    (etc.) or frame tool  to draw the new item you want to create. If you want to place a floating image into the document, draw a new image processing frame.  Then load or paste the image into the image processing frame.  Since frames, like graphics, are placed in the invisible graphics layer, it too will float above the text.  For more   information, see the Working with Word Processing Frames topic.

  3. To specify how text in the document wraps around the floating item, select the item.  You know the item is selected when there are "handles" around it.  If the image processing frame is active, you need to click outside the frame first and then click once again on the frame to select it.

  4. Select Text Wrap from the Arrange menu.  Or select the Text Wrap button buttontextwrap.gif (933 bytes) from the displayed graphics Part Bar.   A Text Wrap dialog box with the different wrapping styles is displayed.  Proceed to choose how you want the text to wrap around the floating object or image.

    textwrap.gif (5411 bytes)


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