Problem: Word 2016 cannot import a .vsdx created with Visio 2013

Question

I have many times embedded .vsdx Visio drawing into a (existing or new) Word document through "Insert" > "Object" > "Create from File" and have never encountered any problem.

Then recently on two PC's I encounter:

The program used to create this object is Visio.That program is either not installed on your computer or it is not responding.To edit this object, install Visio or ensure that any dialog boxes in Visio are closed.

Same drawing saved as .vsd (instead of .vsdx) in Visio 2013 can be embedded without any problem, so that is what I do as "work-around".

Scenario is two different Windows 7, both with Word 2016 (click-to-run installed) from Office 365 and Visio 2013 (.msi installed).

Same Visio 2013 (15.0.4569.1506) on both PCs.

Word 2016 included in Office update channel "Insider Fast", Version 1703 (Build 7920.1000), (new Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus - en-us Version 16.0.7920.1000 on one PC, and Word 2016 included in Office update channel "Current", Version 1701 (Build 7766.2060), Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus - en-us Version 16.0.7766.2060 on other PC.

I've tried repairing both Visio and Office, "quick" as well as "Online", and in both sequences, but problem persists.

I've tried removing and reinstalling both Visio and Office, but problem persists.

Unfortunately I cannot tell what has "changed since last time it worked", so a "fallback" is not possible.

Of course searching the Internet finds many possible solutions (also I tried such referring to Office/Visio 2007/2010), but none have worked for me, so please do not post any reference to such pages nor "try this".

I am looking for a resolution to this problem, secondarily to learn about the root cause.

2017-03-08 (Happy International Women's Day), just got (through Office Insider Fast), new Version 1703 (Build 7927.1000), (Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus - en-us Version 16.0.7927.1000) installed on both PCs. Problem persists therein!

Answer 1

Hi Soren,

Based on your description, the issue seems to be related to the add-ins or extension.

I suggest you try running Word and Visio in safe mode:

1. Right click the start button>click Run.
2. Type the following commands in the Run box.

For Word: Type winword /safe, and click OK.

For Visio: Type visio /safe, and click OK.

You can refer to the article.

If the issue disappears when you run safe mode, we can confirm the issue is caused by add-ins or extension.

Then you can disable the add-ins one by one to find the add-in which caused the issue.

1. Click File > Options > Add-Ins.
2. In the Manage list, click COM Add-Ins, and then click Go.
3. Uncheck one of the add-ins in the list and click OK.
4. Restart the application (not in Safe Mode this time).

If the issue still exists, could you please provide the following information?

1. Check if the issue occurs when you insert a new .vsdx file.
2. Confirm if the issue occurs when you insert the .vsdx file into a new Word file.
3. Confirm if the two PCs have the issue all the time.
4. Check if the issue occurred when you star use Office.

Thanks,

Qing

Answer 2

Hi Qing,

The problem persists on both PCs even when running Word and Visio in safe modes, opening my word document into Word (hence "in safemode"), and inserting the .vsdx

If the issue still exists, could you please provide the following information?

1. Check if the issue occurs when you insert a new .vsdx file.

The issue doesn't occur when I create a new .vsdx file from scratch (either such from with Visio, or from file system "New" > "Microsoft Visio Drawing"). This is on both PCs the case.

2. Confirm if the issue occurs when you insert the .vsdx file into a new Word file.

Yes I confirm this. Happens on both PCs.

3. Confirm if the two PCs have the issue all the time.

Not really sure what you mean by this question, but trying 10 times in a row it "always happens" - the problem doesn't suddenly stop occurring.

4. Check if the issue occurred when you star use Office.

Not really sure what you mean by this question, but I have restarted both PCs and am not running(!) any other application than Word.

As a test, in Word instead of inserting an existing .vsdx file, I tried to create a new "Microsoft Visio Drawing" through "Insert" > "Object" > "Create New", and that does create an embedded Visio drawing without any problem.

Saving the Word .docx file and afterwards opening the .docx as an archive into my favorite "ZIP" program (in this case 7-Zip), I find therein a "File.docx\word\embeddings\Microsoft_Visio_Drawing.vsdx".

I extract that "Microsoft_Visio_Drawing.vsdx" file and open it into Visio without any problem.

I.e. Word apparently is capable of creating .vsdx through Visio, but not able to recognize an existing .vsdx

This I did on both PCs.

I went on testing further, and I found a .vsdx file I created/last time saved 2016-10-11.

That file I can without any problem insert/embed into any Word document.

I tested further and I narrow this down to be with one specific .vsdx file only.

I copied the contents thereof into a newly created .vsdx file, and that one can be inserted/embedded without any problem.

Hence, your questions led me to the "solution" and I believe that the root cause must have been a "corrupted" .vsdx file.

Answer 3

Hi Soren,

I am glad to hear that you have solved the issue by creating a new file.

Feel free to post back if the issue occurs again.

Thanks,

Qing