Word

The following are issues that might occur when working with Flare Desktop and Microsoft Word.

Blank Paragraph Below Tables

Problem

In generated Microsoft Word output, tables have an extra blank paragraph beneath them even if there is no paragraph inserted in the code.

Cause

This is a bug in Flare Desktop that converts non-zero settings on the "margin-bottom" style property value to a paragraph when the content is generated in Microsoft Word.

Solution

Perform the following steps.

1. From the Content Explorer, open the stylesheet that you want to modify.

2. In the local toolbar, make sure the first button displays . If the button displays instead, then click it.

3. In the upper-left corner of the editor, click in the Show Styles field and select from the drop-down menu, select Show Table Styles.
4. On the left side of the editor, expand the table group.
5. Select the table style you are using for the tables in Microsoft Word output.

6. From the Show drop-down list on the upper-right side of the editor, select .

7. (Optional) You can use the toggle button in the local toolbar to show properties below in a group view or an alphabetical view .

8. If you are using the group view, expand the Box group.

9. Change the margin-bottom property to 0.

10. Click to save your work.

11. Regenerate the Microsoft Word output.

Word Import Error

Problem

When importing Microsoft Word documents into a Flare project, Flare Desktop displays the following error message: Error converting the following document: [document name]. The document cannot be imported to Flare Desktop unless Microsoft Word can save the file in XML format.

Cause 1

This error displays because the Microsoft Word document being imported has its attribute set to "Read-only." Flare Desktop cannot save a Microsoft Word document in XML format when its attribute is set to "Read-only," and so cannot import it into a project.

Solution 1

Set the attribute of the Microsoft Word document being imported to "Read-only." Perform the following steps.

1. In the Windows Explorer, navigate to the location of the Microsoft Word file that you want to import into Flare Desktop.
2. Right-click the file and from the context menu, select Properties.
3. In the Attributes section, click the Read-only check box so that it is unchecked.
4. Click Apply.
5. Click OK.
6. Import the Microsoft Word document into Flare Desktop. The error does not display.

Cause 2

The macros set in the Microsoft Word document are causing problems with the import process.

Solution 2

Disable the macros in the Microsoft Word document.

Cause 3

The document needs to be converted to XML format.

Solution 3

Save the document as an XML document, then save it again as a Microsoft Word document.

1. In Microsoft Word, select File > Save As.
2. In the Save as type field, select Word XML Document.
3. Click Save.
4. Repeat steps 1 through 3, but in the Save as type field, select Word Document.
5. Open Flare Desktop and import the Microsoft Word document. The error should not display.

For more information see Importing Word Files.

Word Image Effects Missing

Problem

When importing from Microsoft Word, artwork and image effects do not come across.

Cause

If you apply certain special effects or artwork (e.g., arrows) to images in Word and then import them into Flare Desktop, those effects are not retained. For example, a rotated image will return to its straight, original state. But there are some workarounds (listed below) that might allow you to keep the effects or artwork. As for text floating around images, this effect is not supported in Flare Desktop. When you import from Word, the text is added below the image.

Solution 1

Apply another effect, such as a shadow or 3-D, to the image in Word (e.g., add a shadow to a rotated image that you want to keep). This forces Word to save the image as an entirely new image with the effects.

Solution 2

1. Save the Word document as a web page (HTML file).
2. Manually copy that HTM file into the Flare Desktop folder.
3. Open it within Flare Desktop.