PPT97: Server Application Error Trying to Edit Organization Chart Object (189692)

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to edit an Organization Chart object in a PowerPoint presentation, you may receive the following error:

The server application, source file, or item cannot be found. Make sure the application is properly installed, and that it has not been deleted, moved, or renamed.

This error occurs under any of the following conditions:

You installed PowerPoint 97 over PowerPoint 4.0 and selected a Custom installation without selecting Organization Chart 2.0, which leaves Organization Chart 1.0 intact.

If you try to re-register Microsoft Organization Chart, you still get the error.

CAUSE

There are two possible causes for this problem:

PowerPoint 97 uses Organization Chart 2.0 to create organization charts. Saving a PowerPoint 97 presentation as a PowerPoint 4.0 presentation does not convert Organization Chart 2.0 objects to Organization Chart 1.0 objects.

If you try to edit this object on a computer that does not have Organization Chart 2.0 installed, you receive the error message.

-or-
PowerPoint 97 use Organization Chart 2.0 and only Organization Chart 1.0 is on your computer, so when PowerPoint tries to access Organization Chart it cannot find Organization Chart 2.0.

NOTE: This problem does not occur with Microsoft Graph objects because the 32-bit version of Graph 97 that comes with PowerPoint 97 is compatible with the 16-bit version of Graph 5.0 that comes with PowerPoint 4.0.

RESOLUTION

The only way to edit this Organization Chart object is to open the presentation on a computer that has Organization Chart 2.0 installed.

To add Organization Chart 2.0 if you are running PowerPoint 97, run setup in Maintenance Mode, click Add/Remove, and add Organization Chart 2.0.

NOTE: The following workaround assumes that Organization Chart 2.0 is not installed on the computer where you installed PowerPoint 4.0

To work around this problem, save the file from Organization Chart 2.0. To do this, follow these steps:

Create an Organization Chart in Organization Chart 2.0.
On the File menu, click Save Copy As.
From the Save As Type list, select Organization Chart (OPX).
Click Save.

Insert this file into Microsoft PowerPoint 4.0 using the following steps:

Start PowerPoint 4.0.
On the File menu, click Object.
Click to select the Create From File option.
Click Browse, locate and select the .opx file, and click OK.
Click OK.

The Organization Chart object is inserted on the slide in Organization Chart 1.0 format.

NOTE: If you open and save this file on a computer where you installed Organization Chart 2.0, you will no longer be able to edit the chart in PowerPoint 4.0.