The "edit wrap points" in Publisher 2013 don't seem to work. Is there a solution?

OCTOBER 11, 2013

Please read earlier Daisy Crow entries in this section for an accurate account of this programming "flaw" or "bug" concerning wrap points. Essentially:

PUBLISHER 2013:

EDIT WRAP POINTS FUNCTION was not discontinued, it was a programming "flaw" in Publisher 2013.  When I initially discovered the problem, I had much contact with level 2/3 support and programmers then became involved. The first attempt to fix the problem -- the MS published "Hotfix" -- never worked and this was verified by the programmers. They were (way back when - see earlier Daisy Crow entries) supposed to fix the problem to get it working and it went into their "to do" queue. The fix was to be included with one of the regular security updates, but that never happened.

Fast forward, since no fix was published, the feature still doesn't work. I tried to encourage others to report it as a bug/flaw which, I was told, helps by getting programmers to raise the priority of a fix, but my understanding from MS was  that I was one of the few reporting it...thus no priority for programmers to fix. Oh well.

PUBLISHER 2010:

The wrap points function works in Publisher 2010; HOWEVER, if you need to use Shadows in your pub, well, that has NEVER worked from day one (a programming flaw that programmers never did anything whatsoever about).

CROP FUNCTION in both versions work, but are extremely limiting. Shaping also works, but neither solve the problem of removing unwanted background.

Recommendations:

1. First, call MS to go on record that you are reporting a bug -- Edit Wrap Points -- don't work in Publisher 2013 -- the more the merrier. The simple fact of the matter is if it is not a concern with a great number of users, it's not a concern for MS programmers. (And particularly so at this point in time when there are so many security concerns.)
2. Use Publisher 2010 to edit your wrap points, then save it as a picture, then insert the picture where you want it. (If you use Photoshop or another photo editing software, you can fix the photo and make adjustments in those programs, although, not as convenient as having the feature working in publisher.)

FROM EARLIER POSTS (tel # below)

I  believe it would help tremendously if more users would call in about it and go on record as reporting the Edit Wrap Points and Edit Points malfunction to level 2 support or speak with a supervisor (800-642-7676). I don't recommend raising the issue to level 1 support who simply advised me that function has been discontinued. Also reporting it as a MS Product Bug, as DavidF2 recommends, would help as well.

Hello

Be interested to know if this issue was ever resolved and specifically what security update fixed it.

Thanks

My case has resulted in the problem being dropped into the MS developers' work queue, and they triage. Because of this, I can't stress enough to EVERYONE having this problem with Publisher 2013 the importance of calling in and going on record to report the problem as a bug. Even if your Publisher 2013 is out of warrantee for free support, you still won't be charged for reporting it as a bug. The important thing is to try and get a Case Number for your report and don't let them close the Case Number (leave it open until the issue is resolved). Also when I called, I had to try and get level 2 support b/c level 1 simply told me it doesn't work anymore and tried to get me off the phone. I called back and then spoke with level 2 tech who spent a great deal of time working with level 3 support testing the hotfix and determining it doesn't work for MS either. At this point, they reported it to the developers in a meeting they had that day and also sent background details and videos to them. But, as I said, it's in the developers' queue and they triage.

 

The support number for reporting the Edit Wrap Points and Edit Points malfunction in Publisher 2013 is 800-642-7676. Ask for a supervisor if you need to. Thanks everyone!

6/24/13 Update on EDIT WRAP POINTS IN PUBLISHER 2013 PROBLEM:

Today I received a call from the technical support person who worked on the Edit Wrap Points problem for me and reported it to tier 3 support and to the developers. The developers have issued it an ID number -- "BUG ID #58145". The Bug is being corrected and the fix will be downloaded to computers as an automatic Windows Update (office security update, specifically) as soon as it is available -- not certain how soon -- perhaps within a month or so.

 If it wasn't for the tenaciousness, thoroughness and great follow-through of the tech support person who helped me, this Bug-fix would not be happening. I've written to Microsoft about this superstar.