PPT: 3-D Pie Chart Is Displayed and Printed with Poor Quality (123342)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 95
  • Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 3.0
  • Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 4.0a
  • Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 4.0c
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 5.0
This article was previously published under Q123342

SYMPTOMS

If you copy a 3-D pie chart from Microsoft Excel and use the Paste or Link command to paste it into PowerPoint, the chart printed from PowerPoint is different than the chart printed from Excel:
  • From PowerPoint the chart's outlines are slightly jagged.
  • From Excel, the outlines are smooth.
NOTE: In some cases you may receive the above symptoms for reasons other than printing, such as displaying 3-D pie charts.

CAUSE

When you copy a 3-D pie chart from Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Excel pastes a picture of the chart on the Clipboard. In this picture, all the arcs are described as a series of small straight lines instead of as smooth curves. When you paste the chart into another program and print it, the arcs are printed as though they are complex polygons rather than arcs.

WORKAROUND

These workarounds only reduce the problem. They do not completely correct it.

Method 1: Turn Off the Chart Border

  1. Double-click the pie chart.
  2. On the Format menu, click Data Series.
  3. Click Border, then click None.
  4. Click OK.

Method 2: Change the Angle of the Chart

  1. Double-click the pie chart in PowerPoint.
  2. On the Format menu, click 3-D View.
  3. Increase the Elevation to above 30.
  4. Click OK.

Method 3: Use Ellipses to Smooth Lines

  1. Superimpose an ellipse over the top portion of the pie that has a wider width.
  2. Turn off the Snap To Grid feature, so that you can make fine adjustments.
  3. Copy and paste the ellipse and move the copy over the bottom edge of the pie. Then send it to the back, behind the pie chart.
  4. Make any fine positioning adjustments and print the chart.

MORE INFORMATION

This problem is not exclusive to PowerPoint (this same behavior occurs if you paste a 3-D pie chart into Microsoft Word for Windows or Microsoft Write). This problem does not occur with PowerPoint for the Macintosh or Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/16/2005
Keywords:kbinterop kbprb kbprint KB123342
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