Echo's color instructions for charts not working

[Guest]

Hi,
We recently converted to PPT 2003 and are trying to establish chart options.
We were following the instructions on Echo's website regarding modifying
color chart swatches, specifically "You can set up a chart the way you want
it to look, assigning colors to whatever swatches ... and save as a
user-defined chart. Then you can designate that chart as your default chart
type.
We are carefully following the instructions regarding the two color rows at
the bottom (with the understanding that the lower row are Microsoft "brights"
and cannot be permanently modified). But the instructions seem to indicate
that we should be able to modify any of the colors in the large palette
(40-color palette) above the chart color scheme colors (to add additional
colors to our user-defined charts). After making modifications and saving the
chart as a default user-defined chart, we've found that when we make a new
chart, the previously selected additional colors modified in the 40-color
chart have reverted to PPT defaults. Help!

 

[Guest]

Are you making the color changes to the large palette in Tool > Options >
Color?

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Funny ... Echo and I were just talking about this yesterday.

Echo has this on that web page:

"If you do not already have the charts created, you can modify the chart color
swatches and then copy/paste the slide and change the data/chart type to create
another chart."

Notice the part about "copy/paste"? That's the kicker. User-defined charts
don't retain edited colors. That's why you need to make one with the colors you
want then copy it to make further charts.

Yo Echo? You maybe need to make this more explicit.

 

[Guest]

Good morning,
The paragraph following "If you do not already ..." indicates "You can also
set up a chart ..." says we can modify the color chart swatches. Which is
what we tried to do. But, if it doesn't retain, well, it doesn't retain. As
long as we know we're not crazy . Thanks!

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Good morning,
The paragraph following "If you do not already ..." indicates "You can also
set up a chart ..." says we can modify the color chart swatches. Which is
what we tried to do. But, if it doesn't retain, well, it doesn't retain. As
long as we know we're not crazy . Thanks!

You're right, it does make it look like you can do this. This may be something she
and I stubbed toes on after she wrote that page. I know she knows that modified
colors don't hold in user-defined charts, 'cause we were both cussin' somebody at MS
out about it just the other day. <g>

And if you need signs of madness, you'll have to look elsewhere. At least in this
department, you're fine.

 

[Echo S]

I'm sorry, Dusty. My instructions don't make it clear that those palette
swatches will reset every time. I simply meant that you can set a
user-defined chart, but you would have to copy it and change the data for
each new chart. Unfortunately, there's no way to create a color palette that
sticks.

I've been meaning to update/clarify that, but classes and things have just
gotten in the way.

 

[Echo S]

LOL!

Neither of you is crazy. I totally did not make it clear when I wrote the
page and didn't realize it until later when someone asked a question about
chart palettes. I wanted to say something like "You can modify the color
swatches and set up a chart however you want, make a user-defined chart to
make your life easier, yada yada. But the color palette resets to its
default when you create a new chart, even if that chart is based on a
user-defined chart style. So if you need colors other than the defaults,
you'll have to copy a chart and change the data."

I usually try to warn people of that when I answer questions here about
charts and colors and send them to those pages, but Dusty found that page on
his own....

I'm sorry to have caused you frustration and wasted your time, Dusty. I know
it's irritating when you think you're following the directions but it's just
*not* working! Steve's right, though -- we were bitching about this yet
again just the other day!

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com

Good morning,
The paragraph following "If you do not already ..." indicates "You can also
set up a chart ..." says we can modify the color chart swatches. Which is
what we tried to do. But, if it doesn't retain, well, it doesn't retain. As
long as we know we're not crazy . Thanks!

You're right, it does make it look like you can do this. This may be something she
and I stubbed toes on after she wrote that page. I know she knows that modified
colors don't hold in user-defined charts, 'cause we were both cussin' somebody at MS
out about it just the other day. <g>

And if you need signs of madness, you'll have to look elsewhere. At least in this
department, you're fine.

 

[Brian Reilly, MVP]

To get the effects you want, e.g. 56 customizable color swatches, you
will need to work with Excel charts. Color changes to the palette are
saved with the workbook. And they can also be copied from one workbook
to another in about two or three clicks (Tools + Options + Color tab +
Copy colors from and choose a workbook.

Brian Reilly, MVP

 

[Echo S]

Yup, and thanks for posting this info, Brian. I need to add it to my page
when I update it.

Also, the workbook you copy the colors from must be open. Excel's
Tools|Options|Color|Copy Colors From only lists open workbooks.

 

[Guest]

Thanks, all. We've come up with a work-around by creating three different
charts with different color schemes and saving them. We also have color
print-outs of all the schemes with the RGB values and what won't work
together in greyscale (our PPT files eventually get used in training books).
It was a lot of work (I didn't do it -- someone else did!!), but it's pretty
easy now to decide which colors to use for what.
BTW, "Dusty" is a gal, not a guy.

Yup, and thanks for posting this info, Brian. I need to add it to my page
when I update it.

Also, the workbook you copy the colors from must be open. Excel's
Tools|Options|Color|Copy Colors From only lists open workbooks.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com

To get the effects you want, e.g. 56 customizable color swatches, you
will need to work with Excel charts. Color changes to the palette are
saved with the workbook. And they can also be copied from one workbook
to another in about two or three clicks (Tools + Options + Color tab +
Copy colors from and choose a workbook.

Brian Reilly, MVP

 

[Echo S]

BTW, "Dusty" is a gal, not a guy.

I should know better than to assume anything about names!