XL2000: Errors Printing Filled AutoShapes to PostScript Printer

When you print a worksheet in Microsoft Excel 2000, the following error message may appear:
If you click Details, one or more of following error messages, or messages similar to these, may appear:
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-or-


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This problem may occur when the following conditions are true:

• You print to a PostScript printer.
  -and-
  
  
• The worksheet contains one or more drawing objects or AutoShapes.
  -and-
  
  
• You use a Windows Metafile graphic to fill one of the drawing objects or AutoShapes.
  -and-
  
  
• The Windows Metafile graphic you use contains one or more gradient fills or a large number of colors.

NOTE: This problem does not occur when you view the worksheet in Print Preview or when you print using a non-PostScript printer.

To prevent this problem from occurring in Microsoft Excel, do not print drawing objects and AutoShapes that are filled with complex Windows Metafile graphics to a PostScript printer.

To work around this problem, use one of the following methods:

Method 1

Print to a non-PostScript printer.

Method 2

Format the drawing object and/or AutoShape so that it is not printed when you print the worksheet. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click to select the drawing object or AutoShape.
2. On the Format menu, click the first menu item (for example, AutoShape), and then click the Properties tab.
3. Click to clear the Print object check box, and then click OK.
4. Repeat these steps for each drawing object or AutoShape that is filled with a complex Windows Metafile graphic.

Method 3

Edit the Windows Metafile graphics files that you want to use and remove multiple gradient fills or a large number of colors.

NOTE: To do this, you must edit the graphics file in a program that is capable of editing and saving .wmf files.

Method 4

Convert the graphics to a different format (for example, .jpg or .gif), and then fill the drawing objects and AutoShapes with the converted graphics.

NOTE: To do this, use a program that is capable of opening .wmf files and saving them to a different format.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

In Microsoft Excel, you can fill drawing objects and AutoShapes with a variety of backgrounds, including solid colors, patterns, gradient fills, textures, and pictures.

When you fill a drawing object or AutoShape with a picture, you can use any graphic file format that is supported by Microsoft Excel 2000.

For more information about graphic file formats supported by Excel, click Microsoft Excel Help on the Help menu, type graphics file types Microsoft Excel can use in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.