Embedding Image in Excell

merrymonk has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

I am using Excel 2007 and 2010 on PCs using Windows XP.
I use the following Perl to insert Pictures into a spreadsheet.

$image_file_full = <full path to image>
# get a cell in which the image is to be stored
$cell_tg = $sheet->Range($range);
# insert the image
$pic_cur = $sheet->Pictures->Insert($image_file_full);
# position the image in the top left hand corner of the cell
$pic_cur ->{Top}  = $cell_tg->Top;
$pic_cur ->{Left} = $cell_tg->Left;
[download]

This works fine except that if the spreadsheet is sent to another computer the picture is no longer there and I get an error message saying
“The linked image cannot be displayed. The file may have been moved, renamed, or deleted. Verify that the link points to the correct file and location”.
Is there any way the image can be ‘embedded’ in the spreadsheet so that the ‘disappearing’ problem is not found when the spreadsheet is moved from one pc to another?
I know I could send the image as well but I would prefer not to do that since the link would have to be remade.

Comment on Embedding Image in Excell Download Code

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Re: Embedding Image in Excell by Corion (Patriarch) on Feb 16, 2011 at 10:12 UTC
Also see Using Win32::OLE and Excel - Tips and Tricks, and my reply there on how to use the Macro Recorder to find out what you need to do to actually embed the image instead of linking to it.	[reply]
Re^2: Embedding Image in Excell by merrymonk (Hermit) on Feb 16, 2011 at 16:58 UTC
I recorded an Excel macro to embed an image and got the following `ActiveSheet.OLEObjects.Add(Filename:="C:\aaaaa\700 plate selection.jpg +", _ Link:=False, DisplayAsIcon:=False).Select` [download] However, I found a difference when I ran this macro on 2 PCs. On the 1st PC all was well and I could see the image. On the 2nd PC all I got was a rectangle with the name of the image in the rectangle. I could see the image when I double clicked on the rectangle. I am not aware of any settings for Excel that gives this difference. What do I do to ensure that I always see the image as I found on the 1st PC P.S. I have not yet started to convert the macro to Perl. If anyone has the time to help I would appreciate it as I suspect I am going to have problems!	[reply] [d/l]
Re: Embedding Image in Excell by Anonymous Monk on Feb 16, 2011 at 10:09 UTC
Is there any way the image can be ‘embedded’ in the spreadsheet so that the ‘disappearing’ problem is not found when the spreadsheet is moved from one pc to another? Probably, but its unlikely the answer would be found on a perl forum excel ole embed image	[reply]
Re: Embedding Image in Excell by cjb (Friar) on Feb 16, 2011 at 10:10 UTC
You don't say what module you're using, but I've had success with Spreadsheet::WriteExcel and `insert_image`	[reply] [d/l]
Re^2: Embedding Image in Excell by merrymonk (Hermit) on Feb 16, 2011 at 17:17 UTC
I just use `use Win32::OLE;` [download]	[reply] [d/l]
Re: Embedding Image in Excell by Anonymous Monk on Oct 05, 2011 at 19:01 UTC
I have been researching the same problem, so if it means anything now… In Excel 2010, .Pictures.Insert() will insert linked image. Pre-2010 versions would embed picture in the document with this command. It seems that one must use Sheet.Shapes.AddPicture() method to embed an image in Excel 2010.	[reply]