Microsoft KB Archive/70900

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PRJ: Exporting Graphics from Microsoft Project

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Q70900

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Project for Windows, versions 1.0, 3.0, 3.0a, 4.0

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SYMPTOMS
When you use the Copy Picture command or button in Microsoft Project to copy a picture so that you can paste it to another application (such as PowerPoint or Word for Windows), you may not receive the results you expect. For example, the image may contain fewer tasks than expected.

WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, you can export a graphic image from Microsoft Project in the Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) or in the Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language (HPGL) file format. The method you use will depend on the type of printer you are using: if you are using a PostScript printer, you should use the EPS method; if you are using a non-PostScript printer, use the HPGL method. To import the graphic image to another application (such as PowerPoint or Word), use the appropriate import command for the application you are using.

Exporting a Graphic Image in the EPS File Format
NOTE: The quality of the EPS file produced with this method depends on the version of the PostScript driver you are using. With some PostScript drivers, the graphics are not visible on the screen (that is, you can only see them when they are printed).

If you will be printing to a PostScript printer, save the graphic image in the Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) file format. When you save a file in the EPS format, the graphic image is translated directly into the PostScript commands that the printer uses to draw it. This file format offers considerable import flexibility, because you can use it with any model of PostScript printer; you can also use EPS in any version of Windows (EPS- formatted files are also Macintosh compatible).

To save a graphic image in .EPS format, follow the appropriate procedure below to &quot;print&quot; the image to an EPS file.

If you are using Microsoft Project version 4.1:


 * 1) From Windows 95 Printers, ensure that a PostScript driver is installed on your system and connected to File.
 * 2) In Microsoft Project, click Print on the File menu, and then click Printer.
 * 3) Ensure that the active printer in the Printer selection box is the Postscript printer.
 * 4) Click Properties, and then click the Postscript tab.
 * 5) In the Postscript output format box, select Encapsulated PostScript (EPS).
 * 6) When you print the file it will prompt you with a input box asking for a name of the file, type the path and file name you want to use for your .EPS file.

If you are using Microsoft Project version 4.0:


 * 1) In Windows Control Panel, ensure that a PostScript driver is installed on your system and is the active driver.
 * 2) In Microsoft Project, click Print on the File menu, and then click Printer.
 * 3) Click Setup, and then click Options.
 * 4) In the Options dialog box, under Print To, select Encapsulated PostScript File.
 * 5) In the Name box, type the path and file name you want to use for your .EPS file.

To import the .EPS file to another application, start that application and follow the appropriate procedure for importing a file to that particular application (for example, in Microsoft Word, click Picture on the Insert menu, and then select the appropriate .EPS file). Import the file from the directory you specified in the Name box in the Options dialog box.

NOTE: Remember that when you want to print your document to a printer, you will need to change the Print To option back to Printer.

If you are using Microsoft Project version 3.0:


 * 1) From Windows Control Panel, ensure that a PostScript driver is installed on your system and is the active driver.
 * 2) In Microsoft Project, click Print Setup on the File menu, click Setup, click Options on the Setup menu, and then select Print-to.
 * 3) Select File, and provide an output file name.

To import the .EPS file to another application, start that application and follow the appropriate procedure for importing a file for that particular application (for example, in Microsoft Word, click Picture on the Insert menu, and select the appropriate .EPS file). Import the file from the directory you specified in the Name box in the Options dialog box.

NOTE: Remember that, when you want to print your document to a printer, you will need to change the Print To option back to Printer.

Exporting a Graphic Image in the HPGL File Format
In contrast to the .EPS file format which will look the same on any PostScript printer, when you use the HPGL file format, the output from Microsoft Project will change depending on which plotter you specify. Therefore, you may want to experiment to see how different plotters affect the appearance of your imported graphics.

Your choice of driver will also affect the variety of typefaces (fonts) that are available when you print. For best results, format text with the Printer Fonts check box selected in the Text dialog box and use the Plotter font (To access the Text dialog box, click Page Setup on the File menu, and select Text).

If you are planning on pasting several pages, you will receive the best results by plotting one page at a time to separate files and then pasting each page individually. If you want to paste one continuous graphic (such as a long Gantt Chart), try selecting one of the plotters that supports continuous roll paper so that you don't generate page breaks.

To export a Microsoft Project file in the HPGL format, follow the appropriate procedure below to install a driver that supports an HP plotter and configure it to print directly to a file (instead of to your normal printer port).

If you are running Windows version 3.0 or later:


 * 1) Start Windows Control Panel.
 * 2) Double-click the Printers icon.
 * 3) Click Add and from the list of printers, choose an HP plotter driver (such as the HP ColorPro [HP Plotter]). Click Install.
 * 4) Configure the HP Plotter to print to a file. (Select HP Plotter from the list of installed printers, and click Connect). In the list of ports, select FILE, and click OK.
 * 5) Quit Control Panel.

If you are running a version of Windows earlier than 3.0, or if you are using run-time Windows (these versions of Windows can be used only with Microsoft Project version 1.0):

 In a text editor, such as Notepad, open the WIN.INI file (located in the WINDOWS directory).  Find the section labeled [Ports], and add the following line:       OUTPUT.HGL=  Save this file, and quit Notepad. Restart Windows. Run Windows Control Panel. From the Installation menu, click Add New Printer, and install an HP plotter driver. On the Setup menu, click Connections. In the list of printers, select the plotter. In the list of ports, select OUTPUT.HGL. Exit Control Panel.</ol>

To create the HPGL file from Microsoft Project:


 * 1) On the File menu, click Printer Setup, click the HP Plotter, and click OK.
 * 2) From the File menu, click Print (you can do this from any Microsoft Project view), and then follow the procedure below appropriate to your version of Windows.

If You Are Running Windows 3.0 or Later:

Microsoft Project will first respond with the normal printing dialog boxes, followed by a prompt for a file name. Respond with a file name that has an .HGL extension.

If You Are Not Running Windows 3.0 or Later:

Microsoft Project will print to the file called OUTPUT.HGL that you added to your WIN.INI file.

CAUTION: Because Windows versions other than 3.0 will always plot to the same file, OUTPUT.HGL in this case, be sure to copy this file under another name before plotting to it again or you will lose your previous data.

These .HGL files can now be imported into Word for Windows with the Insert Picture command, or into PowerPoint using the Paste From command on the File menu. These graphics can then be scaled and cropped normally in either application.

MORE INFORMATION
For more information about Exporting A Graphic Image File in Microsoft Project 4.0, click Search button in Microsoft Project Help and type:

exporting graphic