PowerPoint Tutorials

We’re all excited about the many features and possibilities that Powerpoint 2007 gives us, but what about those key charts and graphs that were created in previous versions of Powerpoint? Are you going to have to redo them? No, Powerpoint 2007 can also convert those charts in no time. In this tutorial, I will show you how to change a graph from a previous version to Powerpoint 2007.

Go to Start>Programs>Microsoft Program to open the program. Now open the older version presentation that has the graph created in pre-2007 software. You will see that the old graph opens up in Microsoft Graph – this is the program that Powerpoint used to create graphs in versions prior to 2007. You opened the old presentation in 2007 and the actual graph appears in Microsoft Graph and so it looks the same. Remember that Powerpoint 2007 does not convert automatically, in fact, if you like using Microsoft Graph, you can continue using it in 2007 since it’s compatible. But, if you want to use the cool new graph features in 2007, then this is how you do it.

Next, go to the slide where the old chart lies, select the graph and right click it, then go down to Chart Object and select Edit. Next click View>Datasheet, so you can see the source data for the graph. Now select all the graph source data and copy it to the clipboard.

Next de-select the graph area to deactivate Microsoft Graph, and go to Insert>Chart – you are going to create a brand new chart with the same source data. Now in the “Insert Chart” pop window box, find the same graph type as the original and select it. Next, delete the sample data in the Excel sheet that opens up. Please note that to get this step right, you can’t click in highlighting area of the sheet. Finally, place the cursor in the first cell and paste the source data that you had copied from the original graph Excel sheet.

Next, go to Design>Select Data. The “Select Data Source” pop up window box appears, and click on the “Chart Data Range.” Now, go to the sheet and select the source data needed to create the new chart – remember just click and drag all the information that you just pasted on the new Excel source sheet. Then, hit Enter or click Close. Then, click OK to close the “Select Data” pop up window box.

You’re done! You’ll see the new version of the graph with all the original information.

Great! Now you have the option to convert old graphs and not have to recreate them.