Unknown error for Inserting Object from file -> Link to file

Question

Hi there,

I am a designer, found out a way to insert another document inside of a Word doc and two ways to edit.

I used Insert>Object>link to file and from my index docx, when I double click the linked contents, the child word docx pops up then I can edit and save and close the file, then noted that the index/parent docx file also updated, which is all so great.

However, when I share these files with my copywriter, who has the same version of Word, some linked contents/files are working but some are not. Some are open, and some are not. and I tried everything and I can't find any reason they are behaving this way.

Just one thing we noticed that, from the index/parent docx file, when I select the linked contents, there are two different tooltip messages that display the very bottom of word page.

One message is "Double-click or double-tap to Edit Microsoft Word Document" and the other message is "Double-click or double-tap to Open Microsoft Word Document".

The ones have "Double-click or double-tap to Edit Microsoft Word Document" won't actually open and able to edit the child/sub docx, but the ones with the message "Double-click or double-tap to Open Microsoft Word Document" actually work.

I tried re-link files and tried check-box tick and untick and formatting different way for the child files. 

Can you please help me out?

Cheers

SJ

Answer 1

Hi

I think the issue you're describing has to do with a concept known as "relative" vs "absolute" linking the file path.

If the linked content is in the same directory in the same folder and you've already saved the Word document at least once before inserting the additional content, then the embed link should work. If the embedded content is in some other directory level or folder, it will work on your Mac but not on any other machine either Mac or Windows, because the path to the linked content will be different.

Try putting everything that needs to be linked into the same folder at the same directory level (not a subfolder, for example), save the Word document first, and then do the embed. You may need to distribute the entire folder along with your document.

Answer 2

Hi Hugo,

This question has nothing to do with Word's Master document feature. We're talking about Microsoft Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) here.

Answer 3

Hi Hugo,

thanks for the reply, however, I tried your suggestions and they are all failed...

I tried re-building the parent and child files, I tried it with another designer's computer, I tried to transfer files with USB thumb drive.

They are all not working.

I was wondering if this word functionality is very popular and used by many people? I am thinking this is a serious error.

Have you tried yourself, create the files and open from someone else's computer and if they are still all working?

I just do not understand, why some are working and some are not working from within one parent file.

Cheers

SJ

Answer 4

Hi SJ,

Sorry to hear that.

I've done some tests, but unfortunately, I cannot encounter this issue, whatever the inserted object type is Microsoft Word 97-2004 Document, Microsoft Word Document, or Microsoft Word Macro-Enabled Document, and no matter what version of Word for Mac.

Besides, I find that for the inserted document in the index/parent document, on the lower-left of Word screen, the displayed message is "Double-click or double-tap to Open Microsoft Word Document" and after opening the inserted document, the displayed message is "Double-click or double-tap to edit".

Per my searching, I indeed find similar questions but haven't found useful suggestions yet, it seems this issue rarely happens or may disappear soon. I would like to give you some suggestions to check the results.

1. Check whether the inserted document has been damaged before you send the index/parent document to your copywriter.
2. Try to send the document to other recipients to test.
3. If the issue only occurs after the recipients received the index/parent document. Try to use other ways to share the document with him/her. If you have tried to use the default Email application in Mac to send an Email, you can still try the below methods or vice.

3.1 Use other emailing applications such as Outlook, or email via the browser.

3.2 Upload the document to your OneDrive/OneDrive for Business and let your copywriter to download it.

3.3 Use a USB disk to directly copy and paste the document if it's available for you.

If all the methods don't work, the problem may be related the index/parent document, you may need to re-build the document for further work.

*Make sure the issue won't occur to a newly created index/parent document first.

But I sincerely hope this is not the case and hope you can find a solution eventually.

Best Regards,

Hugo