Why can't I get an avatar?

[chakka35]

Our illustrious Editor has suggested that I ask the clever people here about a problem which puzzles both of us:

I want to set up an AB avatar and have chosen one. I have registered with Gravatar but cannot get past the page which says:

Select a file from your computer

I browse to get the file I want, click on it and OPEN it. The Word window disappears and I get back to the Select a file.... page in which the bar now says C:\Documents and settings. When I click on NEXT, nothing happens.

If I try typing the name of the file into the bar I get a message which says "This is not a valid file name"!

What am I doing wrong?

(I run Windows XP and have tried the above using both Internet Explorer and Firefox. Same result.)

[AB Editor]

Still doesn't work in FF? Odd!

[dannyk13]

This happened to me and, after seeking advice form Gravatar,the followin worked for me. \Go to My Account>Manage My Gravatars and click on Add A New Image.You will be able to select an image, crop and rate it.G-rated Gravatars will appear on most Gravatar enabled sites.You can then assign your image to an E=mail address. Hope this helps.

[ABerrant]

What is the file extension of your selected image? Your explanation reads like you are trying to use a Word document (e.g. Filename.DOC) instead of a valid image file such as .GIF, .JPG, .PNG, etc.

[AB Editor]

Does this help at all?

[AB Editor]

Very good question ABerrant!

[chrissa1]

Instead of Documents and Settings, surely you need to be in your Pictures file.

[chakka35]

Thanks, all of you. ABerrant seems to have hit a seam that I didn't know existed. I was certainly trying to use a Word document because nothing indicated otherwise. It merely asked for a file on my hard disk and I tried to give it one.

OK, so how to I turn my Word file into one of those others? Thanks in advance.

[snags]

Take a screen grab of it.

[AB Editor]

Search for an image you like, any will do for the first one. Maybe just grab something off here: http://www.morguefile.com/

Right click
Save as
Name it, save it

Got to gravatar and negociate your way to the file select.

Select the image file you just saved

See how you go...

[chakka35]

Well, I've tried everything, folks, and it's pretty obvious that my intended avatar won't be accepted because it's not in one of the specified formats. So how do I get it into one of those formats, or create it from scratch in one of them?

I feel such an idiot that so many other ABers have managed to set up their avatars while I, an ABer for many years, can't do it!

[ABerrant]

If you open the document in Word and then "Save As Web Page" all contained images should be stripped out and saved within the location you select.

[rojash]

What's the name of the file that you want to use?

[boxtops]

also, it won't work while you have your chosen file OPEN unless you have "saved as", IMO.

[bibblebub]

if it's just a few words that are wanted for the avatar then use a paint program

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

Maybe one of us could make it for you chakka?
I certainly could if you know what you want.

[sometimesit]

The way I go for converting a word doc into a .jpg is to open 'paint' (in - start - accessories - little icon with brushes in a pot.) the open the file that you want to convert - then hit the 'Print scn' button on the top right of the keyboard - click to the paint window and paste.
I open another 'paint' window at this stage - go to the other paint window - click the box in the top right/hand of the menu bar - this is the select tool.
select the area you want for you image then cut - go to the other 'paint' window and paste - then save as - 'My Pictures' using the 'save as type' drop down menu to change the file type to .JPG

[chakka35]

Thanks again, all of you.

ABerrant and sometimesit - I'll try those.

rojash- it's called 'William avatar3"

Boxtops - sorry, what's IMO?

bibblebub and Mojo - many thanks but it's a picture I shot with my digital camera and transferred to my computer.

Back to work...

[vivandorron]

This morning I have put a few images into Gravatar just to make sure that my Internet Explorer and Firefox are functioning ok....which they are

However, before I say anything further, I would like to know if your Browsers are up-to-date and if the image you wish to use is being stored in your computer's 'Pictures' folder.

Ron.

[chakka35]

Ron - yes, my intended avatar is stored in My Pictures. I'll check the up-to-datedness of my brwosers.

[chakka35]

Thank you all for your help. I have an avatar now.