How to display images in Word generated from HTML?

Question

I'm currently creating a Word document by generating HTML and changing the header information to display as a .doc file. It's a poor man's method, but it works just fine (until now).

I was just asked to include an image in the file. My best idea was to base64 embed the image. This works fine in a browser, however Word just gives me a box with an X in it.

Suggestions on how I can embed an image into this file and have it display in Microsoft Word?

Answer 1

That's a tough one, Word isn't able to handle data: base64 encoded images in HTML, at least that's the outcome in this question and this MSDN discussion.

You have three options:

• Create a folder in the location of the document, store it alongside the document, and reference images relatively (<img src='imageFolder/image1.jpg'>)

• Work with absolute URLs or file paths (even more sucky)

• Look into the new Word > 2003 XML based file format(s), it is definitely possible there.

The only other option I can think of is actually creating a native Word file, e.g. using OpenOffice.