PPT 2007 - Insert Chart Object, white background comes up

[Chris Bean]

Hello!
when I have inserted a chart object from a file into a slide, the background
of the slide master shows through the chart object, which is what I want, but
If I double-click to access the object for anything, it changes to a white
background and won't change back - I have messed around with the No Fill vs.
Automatic - which Automatic is what it is set to and the charts that I
haven't messed with show up properly and the properties match when you right
click and go to format object - does anyone have any suggestions?

Thank you!!!

 

[Echo S]

Are you working in compatibility mode? That is, are you saving the file as
PPT 97-2003 format or opening a PPT file (as opposed to a PPTX, which is
2007 format)?

You shouldn't have to double-click the chart to access/edit it, which makes
me think it's being converted to an MSGraph chart. MSGraph is the old
97-2003 PPT chart format, so I suspect that 97-2003 format is getting into
the mix somehow.

Quick repro steps here (I'm assuming this is what you're doing): Open new
blank file in PPT 2007. Change the slide layout to Blank, apply the Foundry
design template (just so I'm not working with a slide with a white
background).

Insert | Chart. Choose the default column chart, close Excel spreadsheet.

Office Button | Save As, choose PTP 97-2003 Presentation (*.PPT)

Press Continue if prompted by the compatibility checker. Close the file.

Open the file.

Double-click the chart.

You're prompted "to edit this chart...you must first convert..." Click
Convert.

All is well. Chart behaves as expected.

Close the file without saving changes and reopen.

Double-click the chart and choose Edit Existing.

The file becomes a weird hybrid with Excel 2003 formatting, but you're
editing it "in place using Excel 2007 chart tools (even though you're still
inside PPT).

The 2003 formatting is the problem -- I don't know if it's a bug or what,
but that's where the chart and area fills come from. So, as you discovered,
you need to set the fills to No Fill in order to get the transparency back.
After that, when you double-click and Edit Existing, it will look like the
white has come back, but if you click outside the chart, you'll discover
that it really is transparent still.

I know it's irritating. I deal with it all the time. I HATE going back and
forth (between 97-2003 format and 2007 format) with charts.

 

[Chris Bean]

We have the file in PPTx format, however, the embedded chart may be coming
from a .XLS file. We will try your steps below and let you know - thank you
for a quick response.
--
Chris Bean
NYS Division of the Budget

Are you working in compatibility mode? That is, are you saving the file as
PPT 97-2003 format or opening a PPT file (as opposed to a PPTX, which is
2007 format)?

You shouldn't have to double-click the chart to access/edit it, which makes
me think it's being converted to an MSGraph chart. MSGraph is the old
97-2003 PPT chart format, so I suspect that 97-2003 format is getting into
the mix somehow.

Quick repro steps here (I'm assuming this is what you're doing): Open new
blank file in PPT 2007. Change the slide layout to Blank, apply the Foundry
design template (just so I'm not working with a slide with a white
background).

Insert | Chart. Choose the default column chart, close Excel spreadsheet.

Office Button | Save As, choose PTP 97-2003 Presentation (*.PPT)

Press Continue if prompted by the compatibility checker. Close the file.

Open the file.

Double-click the chart.

You're prompted "to edit this chart...you must first convert..." Click
Convert.

All is well. Chart behaves as expected.

Close the file without saving changes and reopen.

Double-click the chart and choose Edit Existing.

The file becomes a weird hybrid with Excel 2003 formatting, but you're
editing it "in place using Excel 2007 chart tools (even though you're still
inside PPT).

The 2003 formatting is the problem -- I don't know if it's a bug or what,
but that's where the chart and area fills come from. So, as you discovered,
you need to set the fills to No Fill in order to get the transparency back.
After that, when you double-click and Edit Existing, it will look like the
white has come back, but if you click outside the chart, you'll discover
that it really is transparent still.

I know it's irritating. I deal with it all the time. I HATE going back and
forth (between 97-2003 format and 2007 format) with charts.