WD97: Error Message: An Error Occurred While Importing This File

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This article was previously published under Q158009

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SYMPTOMS

When you try to insert a Clip Art file or a graphic file in Word, the file is not inserted, and you receive the following error message:

Microsoft Word: An error occurred while importing this file. <filename>

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When you try to insert a graphic or Clip Art picture into Word 97, a graphic filter must be available in order for Word to convert the graphic or Clip Art picture. If Word does not recognize the graphic type, Word presents the Convert File dialog box.

If the filter for the graphic that you are inserting is not present on this list, the filter is not installed. Follow the steps in the "Resolution" section of this article to install the graphic filter.

If the graphic filter is listed in the Convert File dialog box, and you select it and click OK, and the graphic still is not inserted, the filter or the graphic may be damaged.

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RESOLUTION

Quit Word and/or Office.
On the Start menu, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
Double-click Add/Remove Programs.
Click the Install/Uninstall tab.
In the list of installed software, select either Microsoft Word 97 or Microsoft Office 97. Then click Add/Remove. The Setup program starts.
On the Setup screen, click Add/Remove.
On the Maintenance screen, under Options, select the Converters and Filters check box. (Do not clear the check box if it already is selected.) Then click Change Option.
In the Converters and Filters dialog box, select the Graphic Filters check box. (Do not clear the check box if it is selected already.) Then click Change Option.
On the Graphic filters screen, select each of the graphic filters that you want to install. Then click OK.
Click OK to return to Setup Maintenance. Then click Continue and complete the Setup process.

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MORE INFORMATION

Installed during Typical Setup          NOT installed during Typical Setup
--------------------------------------  ----------------------------------
Tag Image File Format Import (TIFF)     Truevision Targa Import
Encapsulated Postscript Import (EPS)    AutoCAD DXF Import
Windows Bitmap Import (BMP)             Micrografx Designer/Draw Import
Enhanced Metafile Import (EMS)          CorelDRAW Import
WordPerfect Graphics (WPG)              Computer Graphics Metafile Import
Kodak Photo CD                          PC Paintbrush PCX Import
Macintosh PICT
Windows Metafile (WMF)
Graphics Interchange Format (GIF)
JPEG File Interchange Format (JPG)
Portable Network Graphics Format (PNG)

There are five graphic filters that are built into Word 97. These filters are embedded into the Winword.exe file and are independent of the filters that are installed through the Setup program:

Enhanced Metafile Import (EMS)
Windows Bitmap Import (BMP)
Windows Metafile Import (WMF)
JPEG File Interchange Format Import (JPG)
Portable Network Graphics (PNG)

These four graphic filters are installable through the Setup program for compatibility with the rest of the Microsoft Office Suite. In other Words, these filters are installed so that graphics can be imported into the other Office programs, such as Excel.

For more information about which components are installed during each type of Setup, please refer to Word Help:

On the Help menu, click Contents and Index.
On the "Help Topics: Microsoft Word" screen, select the Contents tab.
Double-click the "Installing and Removing Word" book.
Double-click the "Install or remove individual components" topic.
In the Help window, under step 5, click the arrow for the line that states: "For the location of components in Setup..."

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APPLIES TO

Microsoft Word 97 Standard Edition

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kbualink97 KB158009

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Retired KB Content Disclaimer

This article was written about products for which Microsoft no longer offers support. Therefore, this article is offered "as is" and will no longer be updated.

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