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Link Pictures with Drop Down List in Word

Anonymous
2018-09-30T22:31:31+00:00

Hello,

I would like to configure my word document to show images based on what I've selected in my drop down list.

For example, if I created a drop down list with the options 'Blue', "Red', and 'Yellow', how can I configure my document to show a picture of a blue flower if the blue option is selected, or a red flower if the red option is selected etc.

Does anyone know how I can achieve this?

Thanks :-)

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | MacOS

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Paul Edstein 82,861 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2018-10-01T01:57:28+00:00

The approach depends on the kind of dropdown you're using; presumably formfields as you're using a Mac. In that case, for a given colour you could use a field coded along the lines of:

{IF{REF DropDown1}= "Red" "Red flower image"}

where 'DropDown1' is the dropdown formfield's internal bookmark name.

Note1: The field brace pairs (i.e. '{ }') for the above example are all created in the document itself, via Ctrl-F9 (Cmd-F9 on a Mac); you can't simply type them or copy & paste them from this message. Nor is it practical to add them via any of the standard Word dialogues. The spaces represented in the field constructions are all required.

Note2: For the process to work, you'll need to check the dropdown's 'calculate on exit' property and apply 'filling in forms' protection to the document.

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-10-03T10:24:55+00:00

    Hi Paige,

    Did you do those tests according to the advices of Charles and macropod? If the problem persists, you could come back and we will do our best to help you.

    Regards

    Sukie

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  2. Jim G 134K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2018-10-02T15:31:03+00:00

    Do you want to store the images right within the Word document or somewhere else? If somewhere else, where (file system, web site, etc).

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-09-30T23:54:32+00:00

    This link is to a page on my website. It is safe. I am providing it because I think it contains information that will help you. However, as an Independent Advisor I am required to add the following when posting here with a link to any non-Microsoft site:

    Note: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-09-30T23:54:13+00:00

    Hi Paige,

    This is not simple but can be done.

    I do not have a Mac and am writing from my experiences with the Windows version. That version is similar, but the two are not the same. While I've used Word on a Mac, that was a long time ago. Nevertheless, I hope that I can be of some help.

    It is my understanding that a drop-down on the Mac is a formfield that must be in a document that is protected for forms to work. You want that field to have the properties to "calculate on Exit" and the field must have a name which will be treated as a bookmark. For purposes of this post, I assume the name is myColorList.

    Then in the body of the document where you want your flowers to show up, you need IF fields.

    http://www.addbalance.com/usersguide/fields.htm...

    i.e.

    { IF myColorList = "Red" "[image of red flower]" }

    The braces cannot be typed but must be inserted by Word.

    I hope this information helps. Please let me know if you have any more questions or require further help.

    Regards

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