If there is anyone out there (reading this) with Windows XP (preferably
Windows XP professional) and Office XP, and access to a _color_ laser
printer, preferably a brand name like HP or Xerox, with up-to-date printer
drivers....I'd really appreciate you taking 5 minutes to try to
replicate my issue- I'm trying to narrow down the cause, and if someone else
can replicate the issue, I'll know it isn't our corporate install of Windows
XP or Office XP causing the problem.

Make a simple chart, with at around 24 random data points on it; e.g.
Col A            Col B
Jan 2001        55
Feb 2001       43
Mar 2001       27
Apr 2001       38
(etc)

Create the chart in the same worksheet as the data (not as a separate chart
worksheet). Just use the chart wizard and accept the defaults for
everything, which is fine for this test. Just click "finish"
and let it make the (column) chart.

Format the X-axis category labels as follows: (right click the X-axis,
format, font)
----------------------------------------
7 point font (arial or times new roman)
uncheck "autoscale"
and under the "alignment tab"; text alignment up (90 degrees)
---------------------------------------

copy the chart to powerpoint, either directly or via "paste special/ picture
(enhanced metafile)"

resize the chart in powerpoint if desired (whatever looks good)

the chart should look fine in powerpoint and in the powerpoint print
preview. What I'm really interested in is whether or not the XL chart,
when printed to a color laser printer, looks like it did on screen.
For me, those X-axis labels are replaced by long black boxes.

My charts print fine to monochrome laser printers, and inkjets- for some
reason the issue is only showing up on our color laser printers.

I appreciate anyone confirming or disconfirming whether or not you get the
same symptoms.
Thanks in advance,
Keith