Re: Graph does not appear in Powerpoint exported froom Mac to a PC

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Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2004 21:01:52 -0700

Mike,

This is one of the curses of having to work both platforms, you have to
tweak a lot of the graphic elements (data-driven charts, Word-based tables,
misc. images, etc.) to find out the right mix of techniques that you need to
use to successfully go back and forth between the Mac and the PC.

However, my experience has been that the dreaded big red X appears only when
you create or edit a PP presentation on the PC, then open it on the Mac and
then open it again on the PC. Most of the time, at one point an event
happened on the PC side that corrupted the image (the PC crashed at one
point, for example, even if it successfully saved the PP file, or an XL
chart was inserted via OEL and rendered the presentation unstable, etc.) in
a way that only shows up once you open it on the Mac side, edit it, and then
open it again on the PC side. Sometimes the big red cross appears even when
you don't open it on the Mac.

I have seen more giant Xs than I care to remember, and almost invariably
I've had to recreate the offending graph, or reinsert the picture.

My bubble burst a long time ago regarding the "compatibility between
platforms" when time and again I've had to recreate tens of different tables
and graphs at four in the morning, or when a client complained that all the
letters that were supposed to be accented had become symbols, or that they
simply looked "funny ", or that several tables were distorted...

What do you use on the PC side? On the Mac? Anything particular about the
offending tables or graphs?

Anyhow, here's my advice: make sure to QUIT Powerpoint before sending the
file to, or opening it in the "other" platform. Powerpoint --and all MS
Office applications, really, on both platforms-- creates very buggy temp
files. By closing the application you ensure that there is a clean break
between the file and the temp file which it maintains while you are working
on it. Also, it's best NOT TO USE OLE files.

Good luck.

-- Alfred

On 2/26/04 19:22, in article
54cf9d8e.0402261822.621ae592@posting.google.com, "Mike Hall"
<m.hall@aims.gov.au> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> When I create a graph entirely within Powerpoint (Office for OSX) on a
> Mac - from data input to graph creation - and it appears OK on
> Powerpoiont as it should. When I simply transport the file to a PC all
> slides come through OK except for those graphs created - the only
> thing that shows up is a big fat red cross. Double clicking doesn't
> help.
>
> Not impressed with the 'total compatibility between platforms" claim
> as one would have thought a graph created entirely within a Microscoft
> Product on a Mac and sent across to a PC platform within the same
> Microsoft product on a PC would automatically do so with full
> replication without a lot of stuffing around.
>
> Any help greatly appreciated.
>
> Mike

• Previous message: Mickey Stevens: "Re: Thanks, Steve, You Have Me Pointed In The Right Direction"
• In reply to: Mike Hall: "Graph does not appear in Powerpoint exported froom Mac to a PC"
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