Create a chart in PPT Results in error messages

[AUC]

Version: 2008 Operating System: Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) Processor: Intel Mac Pro Quad core
Intel processors
Mac OS X 10.6.2
Office 2008 for Mac v12.2.4
All up to date, repair permissions have been run, Caches cleaned.

I am trying to create some charts in Powerpoint. When I insert a chart, it launches Excel and then I receive two error messages.
"To insert a chart, you must first close any open dialog boxes or cancel editing mode in Microsoft Office Excel."

If I hit OK I get this error — "Some chart types cannot be combined with other chart types. Select a different chart type."

I've tried opening Excel first with no documents open, then PPT and it doesn't help.

I have run the Microsoft Database Utility.

I've tried reinstalling the entire office suite, still same error.

I seem to remember creating charts in this version of PPT before, so I'm not sure what has changed to create these errors.

 

[CyberTaz]

Are you attempting to create the chart in a new file or in an existing file?
If an existing file is it in the .ppt or the .pptx format?

Did you reapply all updates after reinstalling? (BTW: Reinstalling complex
apps like Office is rarely a fix, especially if you don't do a proper &
complete Removal first. The installer does not replace any existing files &
those that cause the issues aren't on the installation disk to begin with.)

One thing to try if everything else is up to snuff...

Quit all Office apps, go to User/Library/Preferences/ then locate & rename
the file: com.microsoft.Excel.plist

See if conditions improve when you attempt to create a chart.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[AUC]

Thanks for the suggestion, but it didn't help. We actually removed and renamed all the plist files for the microsoft office suite.

In answer to you question: it doesn't matter if it is a new document or not.

Yes we did reapply all updates and we re-repaired permissions.

On another machine with the same Office setup that works, we notice that PPT will open Excel and the seems to open a speadsheet in something called Chart in Microsoft Powerpoint. On the bad machine we cannot get this app open. Does anyone know how to reconnect these two apps?
Unless someone has a better suggestion, I think we will remove the office suite, go through all the prefs and application support folders and delete anything to do with MS Office and reinstall. This will be an unpleasant task, so please someone come up with another suggestion

 

[Jim Gordon Mac MVP]

Thanks for the suggestion, but it didn't help. We actually removed and
renamed all the plist files for the microsoft office suite.

In answer to you question: it doesn't matter if it is a new document or
not.

Yes we did reapply all updates and we re-repaired permissions.

On another machine with the same Office setup that works, we notice that
PPT will open Excel and the seems to open a speadsheet in something
called Chart in Microsoft Powerpoint. On the bad machine we cannot get
this app open. Does anyone know how to reconnect these two apps?
Unless someone has a better suggestion, I think we will remove the
office suite, go through all the prefs and application support folders
and delete anything to do with MS Office and reinstall. This will be an
unpleasant task, so please someone come up with another suggestion

hi

Removing is not really all that unpleasant. You absolutely must use the
Remove Office tool that's in the Applications > Microsoft Office 2008 >
Additional Tools > Remove Office folder. Follow instructions regarding
emptying the trash and be sure to restart the computer before installing
again.

See this web site for additional details:
http://www.entourage.mvps.org/install/remove_office.html

-Jim

 

[antoinel]

This has not been resolved yet. Any updates on this? I've tried every recommended solution on this thread to no avail. Why does powerpoint have issues creating/inserting charts from excel?

 

[CyberTaz]

First try running in a new User Account to see if the problem occurs there.

Also, in your regular User Account launch PPT while holding the Shift key &
see if the problem continues to occur.

Reply with your findings for both tests.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[CyberTaz]

I'm truly sorry that you're continuing to have the problem but it's
apparently stemming from a local cause. As I replied to the OP, it isn't
occurring here on either of my Macs. Also, the OP indicated that it is only
happening on one of at least 2 systems there.

In order to address your specific situation it would be best if you'd post a
NEW message rather than a reply here. Your issue could be totally unrelated
even if the symptom is identical & it would be better to not have the two
conversations get tangled up with one another.

Make sure to indicate all software & system specs in your message.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[AUC]

> > Thanks for the suggestion, but it didn't help. We actually removed and
> > renamed all the plist files for the microsoft office suite.
> >
> > In answer to you question: it doesn't matter if it is a new document or
> > not.
> >
> > Yes we did reapply all updates and we re-repaired permissions.
> >
> > On another machine with the same Office setup that works, we notice that
> > PPT will open Excel and the seems to open a speadsheet in something
> > called Chart in Microsoft Powerpoint. On the bad machine we cannot get
> > this app open. Does anyone know how to reconnect these two apps?
> > Unless someone has a better suggestion, I think we will remove the
> > office suite, go through all the prefs and application support folders
> > and delete anything to do with MS Office and reinstall. This will be an
> > unpleasant task, so please someone come up with another suggestion

>
> hi
>
> Removing is not really all that unpleasant. You absolutely must use the
> Remove Office tool that's in the Applications > Microsoft Office 2008 >
> Additional Tools > Remove Office folder. Follow instructions regarding
> emptying the trash and be sure to restart the computer before installing
> again.
>
> See this web site for additional details:
> http://www.entourage.mvps.org/install/remove_office.html
>
> -Jim
>
> --
> Jim Gordon
> Mac MVP
> Co-author of Office 2008 for Mac All-in-One For Dummies
> http://tinyurl.com/Office-2008-for-Dummies
>

I just want to say thank you. Following the suggestions in this link http://www.entourage.mvps.org/install/remove_office.html
regarding deleting the com.microsoft plists in the hidden folder did the trick. I actually deleted all the com.microsoft files in the preferences also, just to be sure. We didn't have any special prefs setup.

 

[graham.needham]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard)
Processor: Intel

Mac Pro Quad core

Intel processors

Mac OS X 10.6.2

Office 2008 for Mac v12.2.4

All up to date, repair permissions have been run, Caches cleaned.

I am trying to create some charts in Powerpoint. When I insert a chart, it launches Excel and then I receive two error messages.

"To insert a chart, you must first close any open dialog boxes or cancel editing mode in Microsoft Office Excel."

If I hit OK I get this error — "Some chart types cannot be combined with other chart types. Select a different chart type."

I've tried opening Excel first with no documents open, then PPT and it doesn't help.

I have run the Microsoft Database Utility.

I've tried reinstalling the entire office suite, still same error.

I seem to remember creating charts in this version of PPT before, so I'm not sure what has changed to create these errors.

This problem is specific to the user's preferences (usually a corruption inone of those files). Removing and reinstalling the Office "software" will NOT fix this problem. However, Office 2008/2011 stores preferences in TWO locations in your home directory. Deleting the preferences from BOTH these locations will fix this problem.

NOTE: Backup your computer before doing these steps!

Delete files in:

Macintosh HD > Users > ~your home directory > Library > Application Support> Microsoft > Office > Preferences > Office 2008 or 2011

Macintosh HD > Users > ~your home directory > Library > Preferences > Microsoft > Office 2008 or 2011

Then Apple menu > Logout and login the current user or just Restart the whole computer.

NOTE: To get to a user's Library in OS X 10.7 or 10.8 go to the Go menu while holding down the 'alt' (option) key and select "Library".

NOTE: Deleting office preferences may mean you need to reset your personal settings/preferences in all Office applications. Entourage/Outlook email, accounts and rules should be safe as they are stored elsewhere.

Graham Needham
MacStrategy (http://www.macstrategy.com)

 

[franco]

My mac does not have this directory, mine is:

Library > Application Support > Microsoft > Office > Preferences > Office Converter Support

and

Library > Preferences > just have files like com.microsoft.word.plist

Is it possible to help?

My office is 2011 and y os is 10.8.3

Cheers

 

[danaslaughter]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard)
Processor: Intel

Mac Pro Quad core

Intel processors

Mac OS X 10.6.2

Office 2008 for Mac v12.2.4

All up to date, repair permissions have been run, Caches cleaned.

I am trying to create some charts in Powerpoint. When I insert a chart, it launches Excel and then I receive two error messages.

"To insert a chart, you must first close any open dialog boxes or cancel editing mode in Microsoft Office Excel."

If I hit OK I get this error — "Some chart types cannot be combined with other chart types. Select a different chart type."

I've tried opening Excel first with no documents open, then PPT and it doesn't help.

I have run the Microsoft Database Utility.

I've tried reinstalling the entire office suite, still same error.

I seem to remember creating charts in this version of PPT before, so I'm not sure what has changed to create these errors.

thanks for the suggestion on how to properly remove old office versions. that helped me resolve this same issue. thanks again!