WD2000: Graphic Does Not Appear or Print in a Master Document

When you insert a subdocument containing a graphic into a master document, the graphic seems to disappear and does not print. You cannot see the graphic when you switch to outline view (the view you use to work with master documents and subdocuments), and you cannot see it when you switch back to normal view.

The graphic is formatted as a floating object and you are not in a view that displays floating objects. (To format the picture, on the Format menu, click Picture. On the Layout tab, choosing any wrapping style other than In line with text will result in this problem.)

To let the graphic to be displayed and printed in a master document, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Change Views

1. On the View menu, click either Print Layout, or Web Layout.

Method 2: Format Object as In line with text

Format the graphic as an inline object by following these steps:

1. Open the subdocument that contains the object.
2. Select the graphic.
3. On the Format menu, click Picture.
4. On the Layout tab, select In line with text.
5. Click OK.

Microsoft Word documents consist of separate text and drawing layers. Normal view and outline view do not display objects in the drawing layers. Print layout and web layout are the only views that can display the drawing layers of a Word document. Floating objects reside on one of the document's drawing layers and, therefore, are visible only in print layout and web layout views.

For additional information about floating objects, inline objects, and the layers of a Word document, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: