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# Adding an ExternalGraphic

This procedure explains how to call an image into a document using the ExternalGraphic, which adds the image file into the REQ file.

1. In the Requirements Editor tool, open the REQ file and navigate to the desired position in the document.
   The graphic file should be stored with the content (where the REQs are stored) and needs to be available to the author.
2. Select the element and right click to select Insert Element Before or After; select ExternalGraphic.
3. Select the ExternalGraphic element, right click to select Add Attribute, and select FileRef. The FileRef attribute is used for ExternalGraphics; Choose Picture is used for InternalGraphics.
4. Select the FileRef attribute and enter the complete path to the graphic file. The image will appear in the REQ Outline Editor tab.
   Be sure to include the entire path, including the file name and file extension.
5. Select the ExternalGraphic element, right click to select Add Attribute; select AlternateText. This is a best practice for ADA Compliance.
6. Key in a description of the graphic image that would describe the image to someone listening to the document being read to them.
   There are three additional attributes available for ExternalGraphics; PreserveSpace, Height, and Width. All three are considered optional. PreserveSpace is a Yes/No feature that will determine if the physical space will be kept if the file in the FileRef attribute cannot be found. We recommend that authors only use the Height attribute. The value for both Height and Width attributes are a numeric value followed by a unit of measure ex: .5in would reduce the image to only consume space of one‐half inch high; and if PreserveSpace is set to yes, there will always be a half inch of space – either the image or blank space.
   The image appears in the Outline Editor tab and appears in the document when assembled.

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