Microsoft Publisher Pictures Don't Display: Troubleshooting Help

Microsoft Publisher Pictures Don't Display: Troubleshooting Help
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Visual communication has been an important aspect when it comes to publications, especially now in our digital age. Folks working in DTP rely on Publisher to make sure that not only is the format correct, but that the words and images are as well. The last thing someone wants is to have a great newsletter or website, but none of the images display.

Pictures Could be Hidden

While rare, sometimes pictures do not display in Microsoft Publisher the way we want them to. Here are some reasons and things to try.

If you are working in Publisher and discover that some of your pictures have disappeared (or were not showing to begin with), they may be hidden. This is caused by the options within Publisher that allow computers running at a lower resolution because of video card issues to use the software. You can change these options by going to View then Pictures then Detailed Display. This if for Publisher 2003 and earlier.

Newer versions of Publisher will not have this option. If you find that one image displays but not another, the second picture might be in the background. When you select the image that you are able to see, options appear such as Bring Forward, Send Backwards or Swap. The Forwards and Backwards options allows you to put a picture in either the background or foreground, while Swap will swap the position of two images.

Website Pictures Not Displaying

If you are using Publisher to work on or build a website, you might be worried when none of your images display. This happens because when working on a website, the software will place all pages within a folder called Index Files. Just as if you were using an online site builder or that of a WYSIWYG program, all pages and images will be placed in this folder.

When you start to upload your pages and images, make sure that you are uploading the Index Files folder.

Video Drivers

Sometimes, it is not the picture or even the program causing issues. Video cards allow us to view pictures, games, and other images on our monitors. In some cases, the video card might be going out or simply needs to have its drivers updated.

The best way to determine whether your video card needs to be updated is using Windows Update if you are using a PC or checking with the maker of your card. If it does need to be updated, Windows update will notify you. Checking the maker’s website from time to time is good too.

If your video card begins to go out, you can alternatively switch to another or that of your onboard video if you are using an external card. Fortunately, video cards have gone down in price and should not cost more than $70 at most should you require a new one. In addition, monitors also can go out, especially the old CRT ones. If your screen lights up in blue or green, it is a sign that one of the bulbs has gone out. The only solution is to purchase another monitor.

As with video cards, monitors have also gone down in price, especially LCD monitors. A 19-inch can be bought for a little under $100, while larger ones can cost up to $500.

Conclusion

It is frustrating when your images don’t display when you want them to, but trying some of the above troubleshooting methods should get you back where you need to be.

References

Microsoft Answers, https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/office_2010-office_other/microsoft-publisher-2010-doesnt-show-the-pictures/1d58d7fc-b64f-4684-9692-b5c88fcf5a5c

ed.mvps.org FAQS, https://ed.mvps.org/Static.aspx?=Publisher/FAQs

Image via author (random classic car in hometown)