How do I bring Excel graph to illustrator (no cut and paste)

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Excel_lent - 25 Oct 2005 17:33 GMT

I am using Excel 2003 and Illustrator 9.0, how do I bring in a chart (like a
2D surface chart) from Excel into Illustrator, so that it can be edited in
illustrator (so that it is not just an image)? Cutting and pasting is not
working.

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Excel_lent - 27 Oct 2005 13:06 GMT

I take it this can't be done?

> I am using Excel 2003 and Illustrator 9.0, how do I bring in a chart (like a
> 2D surface chart) from Excel into Illustrator, so that it can be edited in
> illustrator (so that it is not just an image)? Cutting and pasting is not
> working.

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Tushar Mehta - 31 Oct 2005 14:04 GMT

Unless Illustrator understands the concept of an XL chart, wouldn't it
be meaningless to try and keep the XL chart as anything but an image in
it?

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Tushar Mehta
www.tushar-mehta.com
Excel, PowerPoint, and VBA add-ins, tutorials
Custom MS Office productivity solutions

> I take it this can't be done?
>
> > I am using Excel 2003 and Illustrator 9.0, how do I bring in a chart (like a
> > 2D surface chart) from Excel into Illustrator, so that it can be edited in
> > illustrator (so that it is not just an image)? Cutting and pasting is not
> > working.

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Jon Peltier - 31 Oct 2005 14:15 GMT

By "edit in Illustrator" and "just a picture", I assume you mean you
want a vector graphic, not a bitmap.

I have no idea how Illustrator works, but here's what I do with target
apps that understand metafiles (i.e., vector images). In Excel I copy
the chart as a picture. I do this by holding Shift when I select the
Edit menu, which changes Copy to Copy Picture. Then I select the On
Screen option(s) and As Picture. Then I go to the target application and
use its native Paste command.

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Peltier Technical Services
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
http://PeltierTech.com/
_______

> I take it this can't be done?
>
>>I am using Excel 2003 and Illustrator 9.0, how do I bring in a chart (like a
>>2D surface chart) from Excel into Illustrator, so that it can be edited in
>>illustrator (so that it is not just an image)? Cutting and pasting is not
>>working.

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Excel_lent - 31 Oct 2005 16:31 GMT

Thanks Jon, I didn't know the lingo, but yes, a vector image is what I was
looking for. I'm getting my chart to copy as a picture, but it still will not
paste in Illustrator.

So, I guess the logical alternative would be to save the file as a metafile
(ie vector image), then open it in Illustrator.

Do you know a good way to save Excel charts as Metafiles?

Thanks for your help!

-Louis

> By "edit in Illustrator" and "just a picture", I assume you mean you
> want a vector graphic, not a bitmap.
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> >>illustrator (so that it is not just an image)? Cutting and pasting is not
> >>working.

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