How to import text files, to create graphics for website

[MikeCPA]

I have text files (actually WordPerfect v9 .wpd files) that I need to convert into graphics files, for eventual placement on a website. The graphics files will probably be .bmp, .jpg, .gif or .png formats. Writer, I noticed, will read a WordPerfect .wpd file just fine. But my problem is DRAW refuses to read or import either the WordPerfect files or the Writer .odt files.

The help file seemed to imply, at least, that DRAW would import text files from Writer, but I cannot make it work. When I tried to open a WordPefect file that I converted to a Writer .odt file, it just opened in Writer.

BTW, some of the WP files have "text boxes" in them, which I am unfamiliar with text boxes in Writer - would text boxes be helpful in converting text to graphics?

Does anyone know how to get text files from either WordPerfect or Writer, into the DRAW program to create my graphics files?

If there is more than one way, I would love to hear them.

Thanks
Mike

[acknak]

You can always open/import the files in Writer, then Edit > Copy and Edit > Paste Special, as Formatted text, in Draw.

That will give you a text box in Draw that you can configure as you like.

If you need to preserve more complex formatting from the original document(s), you can use plain Paste and get the document as an embedded object in Draw. These can be a bit awkward to work with, so I wouldn't use it unless you really need it.

BTW, what sort of text documents are these?

I ask because converting the usual sort of word-processor document to images for a web site is not likely to go over well with your site visitors. Better to make the document available as a pdf.

[MikeCPA]

These are simple text documents with my company nameplate/logo stuff, but the typefaces/fonts are distinct (older) and of the type I was told would not reproduce in web browsers, so I was told they must be in graphics files to show properly.

I think I understand the correct process...

In Writer, I "selected" my text,
then from the EDIT menu I did a "copy", then did a "paste-special",
then in the Paste Special window, selected "Formatted text [RTF]"

In Draw, I opened a new file,
from EDIT menu I did a "paste-special"
and got a text box with my text inside

then I exported to BMP, GIF, JPG and PNG,
for all except GIF I got my text on a white background, as expected,
but my GIF file is just black, nothing...and GIF is the one I think is the best format

What am I doing wrong or missing here?

[acknak]

These are simple text documents with my company nameplate/logo stuff, but the typefaces/fonts are distinct (older) and of the type I was told would not reproduce in web browsers, so I was told they must be in graphics files to show properly.

Ahh, that sounds like you're on the right track then.

... but my GIF file is just black, nothing...and GIF is the one I think is the best format

What am I doing wrong or missing here?

I can't guess what the problem is; exporting a GIF with text works fine here.

Can you attach a sample (Draw) file here? That would probably be the best way to diagnose the problem. You can use the "Upload Attachment" link (below the message entry area after you click "POST REPLY"). For tips on posting large or confidential documents, see: [Forum] How to attach a document here

[MikeCPA]

Thanks for your help in reviewing this!

Would a PDF be better?

[acknak]

Looks ok here: Select the graphic; File > Export; Selection: YES, File type: GIF; other settings all defaults.

You might want to download and try the attached GIF--it could be that the problem is in the software you're using to display the exported image.

[MikeCPA]

I can't figure out how to download the GIF you created, but on this website the GIF image now has different fonts (some sort of plain sans-serif style) from the ones we use (engravers roman and copperplate), realizing that this is not our problem here.

My viewer, which comes up automatically on clicking, is Picasa Photo Viewer. It has no problems that I'm aware of.

Let me upload the graphics files and maybe you can tell me if they display ok for you....BMP, GIF, JPG and PNG.

Oops, the BMP file is too large to send, but for me it displays the same as the JPG and PNG files - black letters on a white background.

How do these display for you?

[RoryOF]

All three display OK for me, but the type looks "overexposed" - that is, thinning on the narrows, and the serifs not as well defined as might be.

[acknak]

... the GIF image now has different fonts (some sort of plain sans-serif style) from the ones we use...

Oops Brain no function sleep well without.

Of course, I completely forgot to check what fonts your document calls for. I don't have those, so OOo substitutes some other "close" font.

Sorry--that wasn't helpful at all.

Let me upload the graphics files and maybe you can tell me if they display ok for you....BMP, GIF, JPG and PNG.

Those are all fine here for me, except that the GIF has rather poor quality: very jagged edges on the characters. I expect that's a separate issue.

[RoryOF]

If these were mine, I'd export them in as high a resolution as I could - 600/1200 dpi - and then resample them in some dedicated graphics program, perhaps Corel Photopaint (because I have it), playing with the settings until I got best quality in the target size.

[Roactive]

I

These are simple text documents with my company nameplate/logo stuff, but the typefaces/fonts are distinct (older) and of the type I was told would not reproduce in web browsers, so I was told they must be in graphics files to show properly.

I think I understand the correct process...

In Writer, I "selected" my text,
then from the EDIT menu I did a "copy", then did a "paste-special",
then in the Paste Special window, selected "Formatted text [RTF]"

In Draw, I opened a new file,
from EDIT menu I did a "paste-special"
and got a text box with my text inside

then I exported to BMP, GIF, JPG and PNG,
for all except GIF I got my text on a white background, as expected,
but my GIF file is just black, nothing...and GIF is the one I think is the best format

What am I doing wrong or missing here?

First thank you for your post I was pulling my hair out trying to figure this out.

I was having a simular problem trying to make an email singature. Once I finally figured out how to group my objects (JPG GIF & TEXT) I followed your steps some what but:
In Writer when I did "paste-special" I pasted it as a BMP
then I pasted the .bmp image I created in Writer into Draw and the saved it as a JPG.

Draw also gave me the option to save my file as BMP, GIF, JPG and PNG, but I didn't test the others to see what they would look like.

Thanks again