wrapping text around objects leaves blank spaces between paragraph

[cvp]

When arranging objects (generally graphics created in PPT, converted to PDF,
and captured as pictures from the PDF) with their attached captions within a
Word 2007 document (though this problem also plagued me in earlier versions),
I frequently end up with an apparent page break above or below the paragraph
adjacent to the object. For example, if the object is up against the left
margin and centered vertically on the page, and the paragraph is wrapped
tightly or square around the object and ends 2 lines below the bottom of the
object (or object + caption grouped), there is then blank space and the next
paragraph only begins on the following page. I have tried every possible
layout option of in line or floating objects, square or tight text wrapping,
etc. but I can't get my text to wrap and continue without these forced
breaks. When I show formatting symbols, no hidden section or other breaks
appear. What's going on?

Thanks.

[DeanH]

Why the convoluted conversion in the first place? PowerPoint will save as
directly to many formats, good old standard JPG is there (down the list a
couple of clicks) then use Insert Picture from File to insert the image,
which can now be cropped and then "compressed" to remove the crop area (if
required). Also this format will probably be a smaller size (depending on
what is contained in the image) and will reduce the chances of file bloat.

To your main problem, in the Advanced Layout dialog, there is a section at
the bottom called Distance from Text, check that this is not very large. Also
check the Paragraph settings for both the styles of the Caption and the
paragraph the image is anchored to. What you are looking for are very large
Space Before/After, Line Spacing as well as Keep With Next and Page Break
Before being active.
Hope this helps
DeanH

[cvp]

Thanks for the suggestions. I do that convoluted conversion because when
saving as JPG I often get weird backgrounds outside the original object, and
because the Snapshot tool in Acrobat makes it very easy to crop. But in any
case, there is little or no extra space before or after paragraphs, caption
text box or objects (max 0.13 in, no extra lines, etc.) and Keep with Next
and Page Break Before are all unchecked. I also tried checking and unchecking
Widow/Orphan Control and that makes no difference either.

Paragraphs can break between 2 pages when there is no object nearby, but if
I have a paragraph wrapping around an object, Word refuses to break the next
paragraph between 2 pages. I am perplexed.

[DeanH]

I think you are being affected by the Word's margins and their inability to
control Wrapped pictures that are placed very near the top or bottom of
pages, that is the only thing that I can simulate here.
Unless you can give more details of exactly you are trying to do, how you
are doing it, and what the result is, I have no other suggestions for you.
You mention Captions, are these the auto-created ones by Word? How are these
connected to the image? Are they in a text box? Is the Image in a Frame/Text
Box/Canvas? Have you tried a bordeless table cell?
All the best
DeanH

[cvp]

I did create the captions by using the References tab in Word, which creates
them as text boxes, but they became separated when moving things around so I
Grouped each object and caption.

How do I tell if the image is a Frame or Canvas?

I assume you mean trying a borderless table cell for the caption?

thanks
cvp

[DeanH]

I will have to test the Caption creation in 2007 when I get home to see if it
automatically creates them in a Text Box, that is new to me.
I think if you did not put them in a Frame or Canvas, then they are not in
one.
I meant a borderless table cell for both the Caption and Image so they stay
together (may need to rows for this but your choice). The the image is
InLineWithText and secure in the cell, the you can use the cell to manoeuvre
the group to where you want on the page. Works well for me when I need a
Caption and Image with text wrapping.