Chart editing compatibility between Mac 2008 and Win 2003, 2007

[iMacsoft]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: intel

My office colleague used Office 2003 created a bar chart and sent over to me. I edited by Office 2008 Mac, then I sent back to her. When she double clicked the chart area to edit in Office 2003, it says "the server application, source file, or item can't be found, or returned an unknown error. You may need to reinstall the server application". When she tried to edit it in Office 2007, though there are options "edit existing" "convert"..., the same message appears after "edit existing" is chosen. How to solve this problem?

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: intel

My office colleague used Office 2003 created a bar chart and sent over to me. I edited

by Office 2008 Mac, then I sent back to her. When she double clicked the chart area to
edit in Office 2003, it says "the server application, source file, or item can't be found,
or returned an unknown error. You may need to reinstall the server application". When she
tried to edit it in Office 2007, though there are options "edit existing" "convert"...,
the same message appears after "edit existing" is chosen. How to solve this problem?

Your colleague's chart was created using a small helper app called MSGraph (it's the
program that makes charts in all PPT versions previous to 2007 under Windows).

MSGraph isn't installed by default in 2007. When she clicks "edit existing" that tells
PPT to launch MSGraph. Since it's not installed, she gest the "server app not found"
error message. If she re-runs setup and does a custom install, she can choose to install
MSGraph. That should correct the problem. Edit Existing should then work.

Or you might check to see if you can save in PowerPoint 97-2003 format so she can open it
again in 2003.

Or she could install the converter pack that lets her open your PPTX files in PPT 2003,
where she should be able to edit the MSGraph charts w/o any problems.

Caution: swapping back and forth between PPT 2003/2004 and 2007/2008 isn't *guaranteed*
to cause you pain, but the odds are very good that it will. I'd avoid it.

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