Chart Colors and Legend

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tjh - 11 Sep 2007 18:18 GMT

Hello,

When using a combination area and line chart. Is it possible for the items
that are shown as an area to not appear in the legend and only the items
presented as line to appear in the legend.

Also, Is it possible to use more than the standard 40 colors on a chart. I
would like to use a customize screen to pick the exact color rather then the
40 colors offered.

Thank you,

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Steve Rindsberg - 11 Sep 2007 19:57 GMT

> Also, Is it possible to use more than the standard 40 colors on a chart. I
> would like to use a customize screen to pick the exact color rather then the
> 40 colors offered.

Possibly, but we'd need to know what version of PPT you're using and whether
you're creating charts in MSGraph or Excel. MSGraph is the thing you get when
you do Insert, Chart in PPT versions prior to 2007.

-----------------------------------------
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================

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tjh - 11 Sep 2007 20:06 GMT

PPT 2003, and using MSGraph

> > Also, Is it possible to use more than the standard 40 colors on a chart. I
> > would like to use a customize screen to pick the exact color rather then the
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> PPTools: www.pptools.com
> ================================================

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Brian Reilly, MVP - 11 Sep 2007 20:51 GMT

let's take these one at a time:
1. showing only line chart label in legend - Get back into MSGraph and
select the legend, now double click the area data label in the Legend
and select just that. Delete. Repeat as necessary. Legend even resizes
for you.

2. You can change the first 40 color swatches to anything you like by
activating the MS Graph and choosing Tools Options + color and
selecting a swatch and choose modify. Saving the file will save those
new colors with this presentation. Changing the last 16 colors will
revert back to the Color Scheme of the presentation so if you want to
use those colors you'd have the change the Color Scheme.

Brian Reilly, MVP

>Hello,
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
>Thank you,

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tjh - 11 Sep 2007 22:10 GMT

Relating to number 2. The Color, How can you adjust the transparency?

> let's take these one at a time:
> 1. showing only line chart label in legend - Get back into MSGraph and
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> >
> >Thank you,

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Echo S - 11 Sep 2007 22:42 GMT

Colors in MSGraph charts don't have transparency options.

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Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/

> Relating to number 2. The Color, How can you adjust the transparency?
>
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>> >
>> >Thank you,

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aneasiertomorrow - 12 Sep 2007 00:30 GMT

If you are willing to make your graphs in excel then copy/patse across (much
easier in my opinion :-) ) you can use transparency. See here:
http://www.j-walk.com/ss/excel/usertips/tip071.htm

Lucy

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MOS Master Instructor
www.aneasiertomorrow.com.au

PowerPoint Live 2007 28-31 October in New Orleans www.pptlive.com
See you there

> Relating to number 2. The Color, How can you adjust the transparency?
>
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> > >
> > >Thank you,

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Echo S - 11 Sep 2007 22:11 GMT

> 2. You can change the first 40 color swatches to anything you like by
> activating the MS Graph and choosing Tools Options + color and
> selecting a swatch and choose modify. Saving the file will save those
> new colors with this presentation.

But it's important to note that this only saves the colors *with that
specific chart.* When you use Insert | Chart the next time, or click the
icon in a placeholder to insert a chart, or use the Title and Chart layout
or another content layout, the chart reverts to the default palette, and you
have to modify the palette on that new chart.

The alternative is to, after modifying the palette on the one chart, copy
it, paste it onto another slide, and then change the data and chart type as
appropriate.

> Changing the last 16 colors will
> revert back to the Color Scheme of the presentation so if you want to
> use those colors you'd have the change the Color Scheme.

Of the last 16 colors, the first 6 are tied to the color scheme of the
slide/presentation. The next two are a couple of Microsoft-specified blues.
The last 8 are what I call the "Microsoft brights." Those last 10 (the two
blues and the brights) are not tied to the color scheme.

More on charts and color schemes at
http://www.echosvoice.com/colorschemes3.htm

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Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/

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Brian Reilly, MVP - 12 Sep 2007 02:21 GMT

Echo,
Yup, youse right as always. I was surprised to even see it stick with
that first chart. Now you know even more why I only chart in Excel.
Thanks for the clarification.

Brian Reilly, MVP

>> 2. You can change the first 40 color swatches to anything you like by
>> activating the MS Graph and choosing Tools Options + color and
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>More on charts and color schemes at
>http://www.echosvoice.com/colorschemes3.htm

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Echo S - 12 Sep 2007 04:15 GMT

> Echo,
> Yup, youse right as always. I was surprised to even see it stick with
> that first chart. Now you know even more why I only chart in Excel.
> Thanks for the clarification.

LOL!

I figured that's what you were going by. I just know that there are a bunch
of us who would love it if we could easily change the chart color palette
for a whole presentation, but it's just not doable. And unfortunately, Excel
charts tend to freak out a lot of my clients.

Chart templates in PPT 2007 are a step in the right direction, but they're
far from useful this version because they don't respond to theme colors --
everything is considered direct formatting. <sigh> I'm crossing my fingers
that they improve in Office 14.

Signature

Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/

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Brian Reilly, MVP - 12 Sep 2007 04:25 GMT

Silly clients, you should fire them.

Tell them they should take the subway or bus and not walk! Idiot
non-Savants.

Brian Reilly, MVP

>And unfortunately, Excel
>charts tend to freak out a lot of my clients.

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