How to Troubleshoot Contour Graphics on OpenOffice

OpenOffice is very similar to Microsoft Office.

OpenOffice is an open-source software package that roughly approximates the contents of Microsoft Office. It includes a word processor, picture editor, spreadsheet and presentation tool. OpenOffice Draw, the picture editor program, features a contouring tool that lets you determine custom image-wrapping settings. Contour is not the default picture-wrapping parameter, so it only works in certain configurations. If you are having trouble getting the tool to work with your image, troubleshoot OpenOffice Draw to make sure it is configured for Contour tool use.

Instructions

1. Double-click the "OpenOffice Draw" desktop icon, or click “Start > Programs > OpenOffice” and “OpenOffice Draw.” It may take a few seconds for the program to fully launch.

2. Click “Options > Picture > Wrap” and click on “Optimal.” If any other option, such as “Through” or “Parallel” are selected, this is why the images were not wrapping to your selected contour.

3. Open a previously edited OpenOffice Draw document and examine the relationship between the images and text. The contour determines how flush to the image the text sits. If the gap is too large, the contour dimensions are too large. This can cause the pages to look lop-sided, as OpenOffice Draw attempts to format the text to compensate for the large contour. If the text is too close or bunching, the contour dimensions are too small.

4. Click “File” and “New” to open a blank OpenOffice Draw document to test the default parameters. This way, you can determine the problem without messing about with existing work, enabling you to determine the exact corrective steps required.

5. Import an image. There are two ways to do this. Either click “Insert,” “Picture,” “From File” or copy and paste an image from a different editor into the OpenOffice Draw page.

6. Click “Format > Wrap > Edit Contour.” Use your cursor to draw the contour -- or enter specific contour parameters -- by clicking “Edit Points” and entering them manually into the dialog box that appears.

7. Click “Apply.” This saves the contour and superimposes it on the image. You ought to see a gap between the edge of the image and the contour. If the contour overlaps the image, click “Delete” and redraw it. An overlapping contour will result in text overlapping the images, making the page look untidy.

References

• OpenOffice: Wrapping Text Around Graphics
• OpenOffice: Examples of Wrapping