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General discussion

MS Word 2007 Problems

Aug 3, 2008 11:46PM PDT

I am setting up word templates for my work. I have inserted a full page background image (45k) into the first page header of the template. The "Different First Page" box is checked.

This image causes MAJOR slow down of word. The type lag is so bad it makes the template useless. When I take the image out things go back to normal. I tried inserting a different image (1 png file & 1 gif file) and got the same result...MAJOR slow down. When I use one of words built in Header w/image it works fine.

How do I insert an image into my header without creating slowdown?

Specs:
Word 2007 * Windows Vista (32-bit) * Pentium 4 3GHz * 1 GB RAM

Discussion is locked

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"Word 2007 * Windows Vista (32-bit) * Pentium 4 3GHz * 1 GB"
Aug 3, 2008 11:54PM PDT

My specs for Vista happiness are:

ANY dual core CPU, 2GB RAM and for video speed, any video card from the last 2 years. Onboard video is not good for top speed.

Your machine fails to meet the "happiness" for Vista so the first idea would be to tell Word not to display that graphic. However running Vista on half the RAM and half the number of CPUs is going to frustrate many.
Bob

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I don't think System Specs are the problem
Aug 4, 2008 12:15AM PDT

Bob,
Thanks for the reply. But I don't buy the fact that its a system spec problem and here is why:

I can save the same the document template in .doc format with an image in the background and the template performs perfectly...no type lag. In .docx format it lags horribly. Furthermore, Words built-in headers with images work perfectly, without type lag.

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Having used too many like this...
Aug 4, 2008 12:24AM PDT

This is how I'm calling this one.

You have a WORKAROUND so go with that. I can tell you what it does that but you may not accept it that Microsoft is coding this stuff for double the CPU and RAM. Wish it wasn't so.

Bob

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Having used too many like this...
Aug 4, 2008 12:41AM PDT

I'll try and see if I can find a faster machine in this office to test this template on.

Saving in .doc format is indeed a workaround for the header problem, but it eliminates the possibility of using word 2007 only features.

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It won't be a rocket...
Aug 4, 2008 1:32AM PDT
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Here's a possible fix
Nov 29, 2009 8:17AM PST

I bet it's too late now, but to add to the knowledge of the thread... I think it's sometimes something to do with Word having saved parts of the document (or template) in native 2003 format. Maybe this occurs if the document or template began life in 2003 format and was converted.

I've experienced this problem with Word 2007 and a template that had an image in the header. I eventually found that if I right-click and edit the image, then save it without further changes, the typing lag goes away.

My guess is that the image is being internally stored in a format more native to Word 2003 (and/or the 2003 compatibility mode), and perhaps the editing and re-saving of the image while it's in 2007 mode kicks Word into converting the format to something it can handle more efficiently in its native 2007 mode.

When searching around, I noticed that other people have had similar problems with typing lag. Sometimes it seems to be caused by having add-ins loaded that were designed for 2003.

Another cause is apparenty having the Review tab displayed. eg. http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.office.misc/browse_thread/thread/bf09353c12551c48/9101b7fac1d09cd

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Word 2007 slows with image in header? Use a Watermark.
Dec 17, 2009 8:03PM PST

Instead of inserting an image in the header, use a watermark.

1. Edit your logo file in an image editor, so it is the exact width of your page (presumably A4 or Letter size - check the dimensions and play about with it if necessary)
2. In Word 2007, go to the Page Layout tab on the ribbon.
3. Click Watermark then Custom Watermark.
4. Select a Picture watermark.
5. Set scale to 100% and uncheck 'washout'

You should find that Word performs properly when your image is inserted in this way.

Let me know how you get on,

Philip

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Had same problem, this solved it.
Dec 18, 2009 5:06AM PST

This solved the problem for me. Many thanks!

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DOCX format... not just XML...
Apr 15, 2010 2:36AM PDT

Not sure if anyone is aware but DOCX is not simply XML formatted code. It is XML then zipped. Large images are zipped along with the XML in the document which is wjhy it slows down. I have a 98 page document which has ZERO images in it and I get type lag all the time. The formatting in the document causes this. It seems that as you edit the document it updates the XML (which is a slow process in itself in Word 2007 and then when you save it it zips the doc to a docx.

Try renaming a .docx to a .zip file and opening it with WinZip, 7z or even Windows compressed folders. you'll see 3 folders and an XML file...