Knowledge Base

PUB: Conversion Error Importing/Dragging Picture to Publisher

Article ID: 138687

Article Last Modified on 8/17/2005

APPLIES TO

Microsoft Publisher 3.0 Standard Edition

This article was previously published under Q138687

SYMPTOMS

If you try to insert a picture that has an MS-DOS file name that is longer than 124 characters (including the path) into Publisher, you will get the following error message:

Publisher cannot convert this picture.

This is either because Publisher doesn't recognize the format of the picture you want to add or there was an error loading a graphic converter. Publisher has graphics converters that enable it to recognize most picture formats. Some of these converters may be missing. To install converters for word processors and graphics, run Publisher Setup again.

If you try to drag the picture file and drop it into Publisher, you will get this error message:

Publisher cannot open this file.

This is not a Publisher file.

CAUSE

The MS-DOS name of a file includes its path. Thus, if you have a file called Picture.tif and you put it in your C:\Document\Picture folder, the full MS-DOS name of the file is

   C:\Document\Picture\Picture.tif

which is 31 characters. If you have a file called My Picture.eps and you put it in the folder C:\My Documents\Scanned Stuff, the MS-DOS name will be similar to

   C:\Mydocu~1\Scanned~1\Mypict~1.eps

which is 34 characters.

If this MS-DOS name exceeds 124 characters, Publisher can't load its graphic import filters.

RESOLUTION

Copy or move the picture file to a folder that is closer to the root of the drive. This reduces the length of its MS-DOS file name.

STATUS

Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

Additional query words: pub3 w_mspub mspub pub95 pub97

Keywords: kberrmsg kbinterop kbenv kbprb kbgraphic KB138687

Microsoft KB Archive/138687

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