Problem with rotated text in embedded PC metafile graphics, opened with Mac

[Roger]

Using Arial font on the PC, rotated text, such as used to label Y axes
in embedded plots, is not positioned correctly when opened on a Mac.
The label usually overlaps other text or runs off the edge of the
graphic, rendering it unusable.

The problem specifically occurs when the embedded graphic uses a
metafile format, such as when I past plots from packages such as Origin
Pro 7.5 or Igor (PCv5.0)

I know there are workarounds, such as converting to a bitmap format on
the PC beforehand, but this is very inconvenient when I have dozens of
plots which exist as embedded objects in the PC file.

The PC version is Powerpoint 2003, SP2, and the Mac version is
Powerpoint 2004, unknown updates.

My suspicion is this is an issue with the metafile -> PICT conversion
being done on the Mac. Is there an updated version of this converter
that does a better job?

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Hi Roger,

This annoyance has been reported to Microsoft, but as long as you have
installed the updates to Office 2004 you have the latest converters.

News announcements about Office 2008 indicate Microsoft is trying to resolve
compatibility problems. Perhaps this one will get some attention. Only time
will tell.

-Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

Using Arial font on the PC, rotated text, such as used to label Y axes
in embedded plots, is not positioned correctly when opened on a Mac.
The label usually overlaps other text or runs off the edge of the
graphic, rendering it unusable.

The problem specifically occurs when the embedded graphic uses a
metafile format, such as when I past plots from packages such as Origin
Pro 7.5 or Igor (PCv5.0)

I know there are workarounds, such as converting to a bitmap format on
the PC beforehand, but this is very inconvenient when I have dozens of
plots which exist as embedded objects in the PC file.

The PC version is Powerpoint 2003, SP2, and the Mac version is
Powerpoint 2004, unknown updates.

My suspicion is this is an issue with the metafile -> PICT conversion
being done on the Mac. Is there an updated version of this converter
that does a better job?

--
Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

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