Printing Problems

Fix Visio Objects in Word Tables Not Printing Correctly

Chanuka Geekiyanage Sep 28, 2026 868 views

Question details

User needs to resolve an issue where Visio objects embedded inside Word tables fail to print properly, missing shapes and lines.

How to Fix Visio Objects in Word Tables Not Printing Correctly

Product: Microsoft Word / Visio
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Printing a Word document containing Visio objects embedded inside tables.
Observed behavior: Only the text of the Visio object prints, while lines, shapes, and shading are missing. The document displays correctly in Print Preview and PDF exports, and prints normally if the object is placed outside a table.

Before you start

Before modifying your document structure, verify if the document prints correctly when exported to a PDF format, as this often bypasses the Word print spooler rendering errors.

Solution 1Recommended

Export Document as PDF Before Printing

Since the Visio objects render correctly in PDF format, saving the Word document as a PDF is the fastest workaround to ensure accurate printing.

This method avoids the direct Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) rendering bugs that occur when sending complex tables with embedded Visio vectors directly to the printer spooler.

Save as PDF

Open your Microsoft Word document, click on 'File' in the top-left corner, select 'Save As', and choose 'PDF' from the file format dropdown menu.

Open PDF in a Viewer

Locate the newly created PDF file and open it using a dedicated PDF reader such as Adobe Acrobat or your web browser.

Print the PDF

Click the print icon within the PDF viewer or press Ctrl+P. Verify the print preview and proceed to print the document.

Quick Workaround: This ensures that all lines, shapes, and shading from your Visio objects are perfectly flattened and printed exactly as they appear on your screen.

Solution 2

Convert the Visio Object to an Image

If you must print directly from Word, converting the embedded Visio object into a static image format like Enhanced Metafile (EMF) prevents table rendering conflicts.

Solution 3

Update Printer Drivers and Office Application

Sometimes, specific printer drivers fail to interpret Microsoft Office vector commands accurately when they are layered inside table cells.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Better Compatibility and Printing

If you frequently encounter rendering or printing errors with complex embedded objects and tables in Microsoft Word, WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for managing and printing your essential documents.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Word DOCX formatsHandles embedded objects and tables with robust print renderingFree, lightweight, and uses minimal system resourcesBuilt-in PDF conversion tools to bypass printing issues

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do Visio objects print correctly outside of tables but not inside?

Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) items placed inside complex layout structures like tables require advanced memory and rendering processes. Sometimes, the print spooler fails to interpret the vector data layers correctly when constrained by table cell boundaries, leading to missing shapes.

Will saving the file as a PDF reduce the quality of my Visio diagrams?

No. When you use the native 'Save As PDF' function, vector graphics from Visio are preserved, ensuring high-quality, crisp lines and shapes regardless of how much you zoom in or print.

Does converting the object to a picture in Word make the file size larger?

It depends on the chosen picture format. Using 'Enhanced Metafile (EMF)' usually keeps the file size small and scalable. High-resolution raster images (like PNG or JPEG) might slightly increase the document size but ensure better print reliability.

Document & File Issues