Drawn Box Charts

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Guest

Hi, I am in an office setting that uses embedded Excel Charts in PowerPoint.
Recently, a contractor has joined and replaces the existing charts with drawn
charts made from boxes or a line with Edit points.
My question is, how do I learn to add this type of skill to my arsenal of
Advanced Office skills? Is this practice of drawing charts approved of by
Microsoft? I have never learned to make charts in this manner, but have run
across this situation from time to time and want to be able if the need is
required to manipulate these (as I see it) "uneditable charts"!

Thank you,
Martin Boone
 
I often have to draw charts if the data is unavailable to me to actually
graph it. (Although right now I'm working on some really nasty ones that
would take me longer to draw than to plot, so I'm using GrabIt to generate
the data from images. My copy is very old, so I can't tell you anything
about the current one. It seems very different now, though.)

I have a little tutorial on Bezier curves / edit points that should help get
you started. http://www.echosvoice.com/beziercurves.htm But I don't know of
anything specific to redrawing *charts* specifically. I mean, if it's a
column, a rectangle (on the drawing toolbar) will do what you need. You'll
want to become familiar with the align tools (Draw|Align and Distribute)
also, as they will be important when you draw charts. You can also tear away
and drag that Align and Distribute flyout menu onto your workspace -- or
tear it away from the menu and dock it with your other toolbars -- so it's
close at hand. (Just click the mouse on the dots at the top of the flyout
menu and drag to tear it away.)

Also, press the Shift button when drawing lines to create straight
gridlines/axes. You can use your guides (Alt+F9) to place items and help
space things out, and the aforementioned Distribute functions will help
there also. Press Ctrl while dragging a guide to create more guides. (You're
limited to 8 or 9.)

Oh, and clicking Ctrl while clicking and dragging an item creates a copy of
it. Press the Shift button along with Ctrl while you drag to create a copy
and constrain it to the same horizontal or vertical space.

Wow. I might actually be able to write up a real tutorial using this stuff
as a basis -- I had no idea I used so many "tricks" when drawing charts!
 
Thank you Echo for the Tutorial on Toolbars and Bexier curves. Grab It is not
an option for this company in fact. So my question comes full circle.

I am well versed in the use of toolbars, I have nearly everyone available at
ALL times as it makes going through 33 pages with heavy edits and new creates
in 90 minutes possible. However, it seems that besides my lack of both
reliance and skill on habitual spacing and respacing on every page, I am
hoping to find a way to learn the 'quick' way to readjust "53%" to "74%" on
the fly. (As you know this business depends on the ability to RAPIDLY make
the visual changes.) I can cut charts in visio, ms graph, and excel like a
hot knife through hot butter, but I am floored when I see a box chart. It is
actually 'quicker' for me to start with a basic graph in the wizard than to
try (at a deadline) to 'guestimate' where the boxes will line up. And then
there is the use of boxes that given the same width and aligned, still
misprint unaligned. I have tried to attempt this before with disasterous
consquences.
I am looking to see if there is a tutorial for learning how to manipulate
(the mouse movements, if gridlines are set at .25" horiz/vert, key strokes,
etc.) Thank you for your very thorough explanation, but I need something just
a bit different.

Martin Boone

Echo S said:
I often have to draw charts if the data is unavailable to me to actually
graph it. (Although right now I'm working on some really nasty ones that
would take me longer to draw than to plot, so I'm using GrabIt to generate
the data from images. My copy is very old, so I can't tell you anything
about the current one. It seems very different now, though.)

I have a little tutorial on Bezier curves / edit points that should help get
you started. http://www.echosvoice.com/beziercurves.htm But I don't know of
anything specific to redrawing *charts* specifically. I mean, if it's a
column, a rectangle (on the drawing toolbar) will do what you need. You'll
want to become familiar with the align tools (Draw|Align and Distribute)
also, as they will be important when you draw charts. You can also tear away
and drag that Align and Distribute flyout menu onto your workspace -- or
tear it away from the menu and dock it with your other toolbars -- so it's
close at hand. (Just click the mouse on the dots at the top of the flyout
menu and drag to tear it away.)

Also, press the Shift button when drawing lines to create straight
gridlines/axes. You can use your guides (Alt+F9) to place items and help
space things out, and the aforementioned Distribute functions will help
there also. Press Ctrl while dragging a guide to create more guides. (You're
limited to 8 or 9.)

Oh, and clicking Ctrl while clicking and dragging an item creates a copy of
it. Press the Shift button along with Ctrl while you drag to create a copy
and constrain it to the same horizontal or vertical space.

Wow. I might actually be able to write up a real tutorial using this stuff
as a basis -- I had no idea I used so many "tricks" when drawing charts!

--
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/



Martin said:
Hi, I am in an office setting that uses embedded Excel Charts in
PowerPoint.
Recently, a contractor has joined and replaces the existing charts with
drawn
charts made from boxes or a line with Edit points.
My question is, how do I learn to add this type of skill to my arsenal of
Advanced Office skills? Is this practice of drawing charts approved of by
Microsoft? I have never learned to make charts in this manner, but have
run
across this situation from time to time and want to be able if the need is
required to manipulate these (as I see it) "uneditable charts"!

Thank you,
Martin Boone
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Martin,
I don't have to do hand charts very often, but when I do, there is one cheat
I use. I figure out what bar is 100% tall. I then copy that bar for each bar
in the graph. Next, right click the first bar and go to the size tab. Change
the height to your percentage. Be sure to leave "lock aspect ratio"
unchecked and click ok. Voila - perfectly percentaged bar. Repeat for each.
When all are done, align the bottom one on the bottom line, then align all
of them to that bottom.

I know you probably already know that trick, but thought I would add it just
in case.

--
--
Kathryn Jacobs, Microsoft MVP OneNote and Powerpoint
Author of Kathy Jacobs on PowerPoint - Available now from Holy Macro! Books
Get PowerPoint and OneNote information at www.onppt.com

I believe life is meant to be lived. But:
if we live without making a difference, it makes no difference that we lived

Martin said:
Thank you Echo for the Tutorial on Toolbars and Bexier curves. Grab It is
not
an option for this company in fact. So my question comes full circle.

I am well versed in the use of toolbars, I have nearly everyone available
at
ALL times as it makes going through 33 pages with heavy edits and new
creates
in 90 minutes possible. However, it seems that besides my lack of both
reliance and skill on habitual spacing and respacing on every page, I am
hoping to find a way to learn the 'quick' way to readjust "53%" to "74%"
on
the fly. (As you know this business depends on the ability to RAPIDLY make
the visual changes.) I can cut charts in visio, ms graph, and excel like a
hot knife through hot butter, but I am floored when I see a box chart. It
is
actually 'quicker' for me to start with a basic graph in the wizard than
to
try (at a deadline) to 'guestimate' where the boxes will line up. And then
there is the use of boxes that given the same width and aligned, still
misprint unaligned. I have tried to attempt this before with disasterous
consquences.
I am looking to see if there is a tutorial for learning how to manipulate
(the mouse movements, if gridlines are set at .25" horiz/vert, key
strokes,
etc.) Thank you for your very thorough explanation, but I need something
just
a bit different.

Martin Boone

Echo S said:
I often have to draw charts if the data is unavailable to me to actually
graph it. (Although right now I'm working on some really nasty ones that
would take me longer to draw than to plot, so I'm using GrabIt to
generate
the data from images. My copy is very old, so I can't tell you anything
about the current one. It seems very different now, though.)

I have a little tutorial on Bezier curves / edit points that should help
get
you started. http://www.echosvoice.com/beziercurves.htm But I don't know
of
anything specific to redrawing *charts* specifically. I mean, if it's a
column, a rectangle (on the drawing toolbar) will do what you need.
You'll
want to become familiar with the align tools (Draw|Align and Distribute)
also, as they will be important when you draw charts. You can also tear
away
and drag that Align and Distribute flyout menu onto your workspace -- or
tear it away from the menu and dock it with your other toolbars -- so
it's
close at hand. (Just click the mouse on the dots at the top of the flyout
menu and drag to tear it away.)

Also, press the Shift button when drawing lines to create straight
gridlines/axes. You can use your guides (Alt+F9) to place items and help
space things out, and the aforementioned Distribute functions will help
there also. Press Ctrl while dragging a guide to create more guides.
(You're
limited to 8 or 9.)

Oh, and clicking Ctrl while clicking and dragging an item creates a copy
of
it. Press the Shift button along with Ctrl while you drag to create a
copy
and constrain it to the same horizontal or vertical space.

Wow. I might actually be able to write up a real tutorial using this
stuff
as a basis -- I had no idea I used so many "tricks" when drawing charts!

--
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/



Martin said:
Hi, I am in an office setting that uses embedded Excel Charts in
PowerPoint.
Recently, a contractor has joined and replaces the existing charts with
drawn
charts made from boxes or a line with Edit points.
My question is, how do I learn to add this type of skill to my arsenal
of
Advanced Office skills? Is this practice of drawing charts approved of
by
Microsoft? I have never learned to make charts in this manner, but have
run
across this situation from time to time and want to be able if the need
is
required to manipulate these (as I see it) "uneditable charts"!

Thank you,
Martin Boone
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
"You had me at Hello!"

That works and is very intuitive, I like it. That explains a whole other
type of skill to learn, thank you.

Martin Boone

Kathy Jacobs said:
Martin,
I don't have to do hand charts very often, but when I do, there is one cheat
I use. I figure out what bar is 100% tall. I then copy that bar for each bar
in the graph. Next, right click the first bar and go to the size tab. Change
the height to your percentage. Be sure to leave "lock aspect ratio"
unchecked and click ok. Voila - perfectly percentaged bar. Repeat for each.
When all are done, align the bottom one on the bottom line, then align all
of them to that bottom.

I know you probably already know that trick, but thought I would add it just
in case.

--
--
Kathryn Jacobs, Microsoft MVP OneNote and Powerpoint
Author of Kathy Jacobs on PowerPoint - Available now from Holy Macro! Books
Get PowerPoint and OneNote information at www.onppt.com

I believe life is meant to be lived. But:
if we live without making a difference, it makes no difference that we lived

Martin said:
Thank you Echo for the Tutorial on Toolbars and Bexier curves. Grab It is
not
an option for this company in fact. So my question comes full circle.

I am well versed in the use of toolbars, I have nearly everyone available
at
ALL times as it makes going through 33 pages with heavy edits and new
creates
in 90 minutes possible. However, it seems that besides my lack of both
reliance and skill on habitual spacing and respacing on every page, I am
hoping to find a way to learn the 'quick' way to readjust "53%" to "74%"
on
the fly. (As you know this business depends on the ability to RAPIDLY make
the visual changes.) I can cut charts in visio, ms graph, and excel like a
hot knife through hot butter, but I am floored when I see a box chart. It
is
actually 'quicker' for me to start with a basic graph in the wizard than
to
try (at a deadline) to 'guestimate' where the boxes will line up. And then
there is the use of boxes that given the same width and aligned, still
misprint unaligned. I have tried to attempt this before with disasterous
consquences.
I am looking to see if there is a tutorial for learning how to manipulate
(the mouse movements, if gridlines are set at .25" horiz/vert, key
strokes,
etc.) Thank you for your very thorough explanation, but I need something
just
a bit different.

Martin Boone

Echo S said:
I often have to draw charts if the data is unavailable to me to actually
graph it. (Although right now I'm working on some really nasty ones that
would take me longer to draw than to plot, so I'm using GrabIt to
generate
the data from images. My copy is very old, so I can't tell you anything
about the current one. It seems very different now, though.)

I have a little tutorial on Bezier curves / edit points that should help
get
you started. http://www.echosvoice.com/beziercurves.htm But I don't know
of
anything specific to redrawing *charts* specifically. I mean, if it's a
column, a rectangle (on the drawing toolbar) will do what you need.
You'll
want to become familiar with the align tools (Draw|Align and Distribute)
also, as they will be important when you draw charts. You can also tear
away
and drag that Align and Distribute flyout menu onto your workspace -- or
tear it away from the menu and dock it with your other toolbars -- so
it's
close at hand. (Just click the mouse on the dots at the top of the flyout
menu and drag to tear it away.)

Also, press the Shift button when drawing lines to create straight
gridlines/axes. You can use your guides (Alt+F9) to place items and help
space things out, and the aforementioned Distribute functions will help
there also. Press Ctrl while dragging a guide to create more guides.
(You're
limited to 8 or 9.)

Oh, and clicking Ctrl while clicking and dragging an item creates a copy
of
it. Press the Shift button along with Ctrl while you drag to create a
copy
and constrain it to the same horizontal or vertical space.

Wow. I might actually be able to write up a real tutorial using this
stuff
as a basis -- I had no idea I used so many "tricks" when drawing charts!

--
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/



Hi, I am in an office setting that uses embedded Excel Charts in
PowerPoint.
Recently, a contractor has joined and replaces the existing charts with
drawn
charts made from boxes or a line with Edit points.
My question is, how do I learn to add this type of skill to my arsenal
of
Advanced Office skills? Is this practice of drawing charts approved of
by
Microsoft? I have never learned to make charts in this manner, but have
run
across this situation from time to time and want to be able if the need
is
required to manipulate these (as I see it) "uneditable charts"!

Thank you,
Martin Boone
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Good trick, Kathy!

(It didn't even occur to me to mention that one -- duh. I don't have to use
it very often.)

--
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/
PPTLive! Sept 17-20, 2006 http://www.pptlive.com

Kathy Jacobs said:
Martin,
I don't have to do hand charts very often, but when I do, there is one
cheat I use. I figure out what bar is 100% tall. I then copy that bar for
each bar in the graph. Next, right click the first bar and go to the size
tab. Change the height to your percentage. Be sure to leave "lock aspect
ratio" unchecked and click ok. Voila - perfectly percentaged bar. Repeat
for each. When all are done, align the bottom one on the bottom line, then
align all of them to that bottom.

I know you probably already know that trick, but thought I would add it
just in case.

--
--
Kathryn Jacobs, Microsoft MVP OneNote and Powerpoint
Author of Kathy Jacobs on PowerPoint - Available now from Holy Macro!
Books
Get PowerPoint and OneNote information at www.onppt.com

I believe life is meant to be lived. But:
if we live without making a difference, it makes no difference that we
lived

Martin said:
Thank you Echo for the Tutorial on Toolbars and Bexier curves. Grab It is
not
an option for this company in fact. So my question comes full circle.

I am well versed in the use of toolbars, I have nearly everyone available
at
ALL times as it makes going through 33 pages with heavy edits and new
creates
in 90 minutes possible. However, it seems that besides my lack of both
reliance and skill on habitual spacing and respacing on every page, I am
hoping to find a way to learn the 'quick' way to readjust "53%" to "74%"
on
the fly. (As you know this business depends on the ability to RAPIDLY
make
the visual changes.) I can cut charts in visio, ms graph, and excel like
a
hot knife through hot butter, but I am floored when I see a box chart. It
is
actually 'quicker' for me to start with a basic graph in the wizard than
to
try (at a deadline) to 'guestimate' where the boxes will line up. And
then
there is the use of boxes that given the same width and aligned, still
misprint unaligned. I have tried to attempt this before with disasterous
consquences.
I am looking to see if there is a tutorial for learning how to manipulate
(the mouse movements, if gridlines are set at .25" horiz/vert, key
strokes,
etc.) Thank you for your very thorough explanation, but I need something
just
a bit different.

Martin Boone

Echo S said:
I often have to draw charts if the data is unavailable to me to actually
graph it. (Although right now I'm working on some really nasty ones that
would take me longer to draw than to plot, so I'm using GrabIt to
generate
the data from images. My copy is very old, so I can't tell you anything
about the current one. It seems very different now, though.)

I have a little tutorial on Bezier curves / edit points that should help
get
you started. http://www.echosvoice.com/beziercurves.htm But I don't know
of
anything specific to redrawing *charts* specifically. I mean, if it's a
column, a rectangle (on the drawing toolbar) will do what you need.
You'll
want to become familiar with the align tools (Draw|Align and Distribute)
also, as they will be important when you draw charts. You can also tear
away
and drag that Align and Distribute flyout menu onto your workspace -- or
tear it away from the menu and dock it with your other toolbars -- so
it's
close at hand. (Just click the mouse on the dots at the top of the
flyout
menu and drag to tear it away.)

Also, press the Shift button when drawing lines to create straight
gridlines/axes. You can use your guides (Alt+F9) to place items and help
space things out, and the aforementioned Distribute functions will help
there also. Press Ctrl while dragging a guide to create more guides.
(You're
limited to 8 or 9.)

Oh, and clicking Ctrl while clicking and dragging an item creates a copy
of
it. Press the Shift button along with Ctrl while you drag to create a
copy
and constrain it to the same horizontal or vertical space.

Wow. I might actually be able to write up a real tutorial using this
stuff
as a basis -- I had no idea I used so many "tricks" when drawing charts!

--
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/



Hi, I am in an office setting that uses embedded Excel Charts in
PowerPoint.
Recently, a contractor has joined and replaces the existing charts
with
drawn
charts made from boxes or a line with Edit points.
My question is, how do I learn to add this type of skill to my arsenal
of
Advanced Office skills? Is this practice of drawing charts approved of
by
Microsoft? I have never learned to make charts in this manner, but
have
run
across this situation from time to time and want to be able if the
need is
required to manipulate these (as I see it) "uneditable charts"!

Thank you,
Martin Boone
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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