Multiple Stacked Columns within PowerPoint 2003, not using Excel.

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Guest

I am trying to create a chart that will have two stacked columns side by
side. I know how to do this in Excel and then import it into PowerPoint and
have done this for this chart, but my manager said he wants me to create it
using the graphing tools built into PowerPoint. He believes them to be more
powerful.

I have no clue why he wants it done this way, but he does. The datasheet in
PowerPoint is not as versatile as Excel and has been creating problems for
me. I'm not even sure if it is possible to do this.

If it is possible can someone please explain to me how to do this? If it is
not possible and I have to use Excel then my job is nearly finished, but I
want some form of official confirmation before trying to explain this to my
manager.

Thank you in advance.
 
I am trying to create a chart that will have two stacked columns side by
side. I know how to do this in Excel and then import it into PowerPoint and
have done this for this chart, but my manager said he wants me to create it
using the graphing tools built into PowerPoint. He believes them to be more
powerful.
Click to expand...

I doubt any of the charting experts will disagree with me on this: He's wrong.
(Though you'd want to put it a bit more diplomatically than that)

MSGraph (the charting app in PPT) is actually a SUBset of the capabilities in
Excel. You might want to ask him what it does that Excel cannot. Then show
him how Excel can. ;-)
I have no clue why he wants it done this way, but he does. The datasheet in
PowerPoint is not as versatile as Excel and has been creating problems for
me. I'm not even sure if it is possible to do this.

If it is possible can someone please explain to me how to do this? If it is
not possible and I have to use Excel then my job is nearly finished, but I
want some form of official confirmation before trying to explain this to my
manager.
Click to expand...

In any case, using the default chart after inserting it into PPT, you'd choose
Stacked Column as the format, then set the data up like this:

1st Qtr 2nd Qtr
East 20.4 27.4
West 30.6 38.6
North 45.9 46.9

(just deleted the last two columns is all ... add more rows as need be)

Then rightclick any of the bars and choose Format Data series.
Go to the Options tab and mess with the bar width and overlap values to control
the width and spacing of the bars.

IOW, pretty much as you'd do it in Excel, no? <g>
 
As Steve Rindsberg says your manager is quite wrong. Maybe he/she/it
doesn't like the completely embedded workbooks in PPT when you copy
and paste a chart from Excel.

To avoid that, select the chart sheet and worksheet with the data in
Excel. From the menu choose Move or Copy Sheet, then select to "new
workbook" and click copy checkbox.

You will now have a one or two sheet workbook which you can copy into
PPT with no extra baggage.

I literally am responsible for creating hundreds of thousands of
charts a year and I would never use use MS Graph without a drag out
kicking and screaming fight. Of course virtally all of the charts I
make are from code, which I could do in MS Graph as well. But I still
won't use it unless the money my clients want to pay me for developing
it in MS Graph far outweighs the pain of using Graph.

Brian Reilly, MVP
 
Steve Rindsberg said:
I doubt any of the charting experts will disagree with me on this: He's
wrong.
(Though you'd want to put it a bit more diplomatically than that)
Click to expand...

Yeah. I just laughed out loud when I read, "He believes them [PPT graphing]
to be more powerful [than Excel]."

Anyway, for the graph, if you (original poster) mean something like this
clustered stacked column
http://peltiertech.com/Excel/ChartsHowTo/ClusterStack.html ,. then it's
mostly just a matter of where you place your data on the data sheet. And
that you can do in PPT's datasheet..
 
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