Red X appearing in PowerPoint files

Question

Level 1

9 points

Red X appearing in PowerPoint files

This is thread is linked to another on done by another user with the same problem

Problem: Many of my images in PowerPoint files appear as a red X instead of the image showing. I can work a file for a while, close it, re-open it and it shows the Xs. Source of images are multiple but usually: Screenshots, png or jpg from my laptop or our server, from Internet. I have worked the same way for the last few years and never had any issues of that kind until recently. The problem seems to be occurring at irregular intervals. When I restart my laptop the problem is solved for awhile. Can you help.

Here's my laptop info:

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11)

Posted on Apr 13, 2016 8:23 AM

Reply

Answer 1

cdhw

Level 4

3,594 points

Apr 13, 2016 9:22 AM in response to fidoodaa

Which version of Power Point are you using? Have you updated to the most recent one?

C.

Reply

Answer 2

Apr 14, 2016 4:48 AM in response to fidoodaa

Historically PowerPoint has had a problem with TIFF files being inserted via the clipboard however this does not seem to apply to you.

Another possibility is that there are two ways to insert files other than via the clipboard, one way creates a link from PowerPoint to the original file i.e. the graphic is not actually copied in to the PowerPoint file only a reference pointing to the original file, the other way does copy the file and store in in the PowerPoint document.

Now with the first approach of linking to the original file if the original file is not available for example it is stored either on a file server or an external drive which is no longer connected then of course the PowerPoint document can no longer display it and this may account for the red X.

To see this option in action, open a PowerPoint file, go to the Insert menu, select the Photo choice and from that sub-menu the 'Picture from file…' option. This will then show a file selection dialog box and in the bottom left corner is a tick-box saying 'Link to File'. If this is ticked then only a link to the original file is created and the picture itself is not copied in to the PowerPoint document.

Reply

Answer 3

Apr 15, 2016 10:29 AM in response to fidoodaa

Hi All,

I also have the same problem. It resolves for a while when I reboot. The graphics are all there.

I do wonder how RAM is managed under OS X el Capitan. Maybe its an application problem. I do use own cloud, dropbox, and other application that sync regularly. They may consume RAM and have the effect described.

Incidentally I was reported problems using own cloud - as if It had problems to access the files. Further testing needed.

Using Office 2011 for Mac and OS X El Capitan Version 10.11.4 (15E65)

@apple support: could this RAM consumption scenarios be?

Reply