Save images in Microsoft Word documents as separate files

Using the Insert menu, manually adding pictures to a Microsoft Office Word document is a simple process. Saving pictures already embedded in a Word document as separate image files can be a bit more difficult--unless you know these simple tricks.



Imagine the following scenario. Some sent you a Word document loaded with pictures (30 or more). You need the pictures as individual image files, but for some reason the document's creator can't send you the images.



Now, you could open the document in Word, select a single image, copy it, paste the image into your favorite image-editing application, and then save the picture. But, this would take too long. You could also create a script or macro to remove copy the images, but again, this is more work than necessary. By saving the file as a Web page (Word 2000, Word 2002/XP, or Word 2003) or by unzipping the .docx file (Word 2007), you can quickly save embedded images as individual files.



Save as Web page

Using the following steps for Word 2000, Word 2002/XP, or Word 2003:

1. Open the document in Word.
2. Click File from the Standard Toolbar.
3. Click Save As.
4. Specify your Save in location.
5. Select Web Page (*.htm; *.html) from the Save as type drop-down menu.
6. Click Save.

Make sure you choose Web Page (*.htm; *.html) and not Single File Web Page (*.mht; *.mhtml). When you save the document as a Web page, Word creates an .htm file and folder containing the embedded images.