MS Word: pattern fills

[posterized_child]

Usually I can make Word files work by saving them as pdfs and fixing them with Pitstop.
But last week I got a file which contains diagrams that were created using Word's drawing tools. There are many shapes that have been filled with patterns. The problem is that whenever I create a pdf from this file, the appearance of the pattern fills dramatically changes.
Now, I've got this weird workaround, but I don't like it: I can copy the diagrams in Word and paste them into CorelDraw12 using "Paste Special>Windows Metafile". Then I can export and EPS and place it into Indesign.
So for some reason, pasting the Word objects into Corel preserves their original appearance. Can anyone shed some light on this, or point me to a better way of dealing with these pattern fills?

[Sparky]

I get the chills when I hear the word Corel (or Word for that matter) but I can sympathize with you. I also have received many files that use word art and I too use the same type of work-around although I copy-paste to Illustrator and save as to .eps files. MS is a very proprietary company with everything they produce (kinda like AOL :x ) There is no other kind of work around for this other than DON"T use Word for Pagelayout and try to convince your customers likewise. And unless you like working in all black or RGB, Word is useless again.

If you have InDesign use it Ignore word and start educating your customers. It's the 21st century, not the Bronze age. Time to get savvy 8O