by AJ George
If you're familiar with Microsoft PowerPoint 2003, you may have enjoyed the ability to ungroup a chart and modify its individual elements, or to add custom animation to each element of the chart.
In what appears to be a rather large step backward, the PowerPoint 2007 interface has lost the ability to ungroup the charts. But, fear not, where there's a will there's a (slightly convoluted and backwards, but, all the same, effective) way.
- Insert a new Title and Content slide.
- Choose Insert > Text > Object.
- From the Insert Object dialog box choose Microsoft Graph Chart from the Object type list.
- Click OK.
A Microsoft Graph Chart, similar to what you would see in PowerPoint 2003, appears.
- Enter data as you see fit into the Presentation 1 – Datasheet spreadsheet.
- Close the spreadsheet.
- Ensure the chart is selected and press [Ctrl] [X] on your keyboard to cut the chart.
- Press [Ctrl] [Alt] [V] on your keyboard to bring up the Paste Special dialog box.
- Choose Picture (Enhanced Metafile) from the As list.
- Click OK.
- Right-click the chart and choose Group > Ungroup.
- If a dialog box appears asking if you'd like to convert the chart to a drawing object, click Yes to continue.
- Right-click the chart and choose Group > Ungroup again.
The chart elements can now be modified or dragged around your slide as you see fit.
Click here for Part 2 of this series, Adding Custom Animation to Ungrouped Chart Elements.
Interested in creating beautiful multi-media presentations but having difficulty with PowerPoint's new interface? PowerPoint 2007: The Essentials is now shipping and will get you up and running in no time!
Thanks for this great tip! I have struggled with losing the ability to ungroup objects, and have occasionally had to recreate images.
Thanks for this great tip! I have struggled with losing the ability to ungroup objects, and have occasionally had to recreate images.
Thanks for this great tip! I have struggled with losing the ability to ungroup objects, and have occasionally had to recreate images.
Thanks for the great tip! This is such a clear tutorial. We’d love to hear from you at http://www.facebook.com/office
Cheers,
Andy
MSFT Office Outreach Team
Thanks for the great tip! This is such a clear tutorial. We’d love to hear from you at http://www.facebook.com/office
Cheers,
Andy
MSFT Office Outreach Team
Thanks for the great tip! This is such a clear tutorial. We’d love to hear from you at http://www.facebook.com/office
Cheers,
Andy
MSFT Office Outreach Team
Thanks so much AJ! Great tip and potentially lifesaving!!
Thanks so much AJ! Great tip and potentially lifesaving!!
Thanks so much AJ! Great tip and potentially lifesaving!!
You’re welcome!
You’re welcome!
You’re welcome!