PPT2002: Text Created in Excel Is Not Pasted as Expected into PowerPoint (278576)

SYMPTOMS

When you copy text from a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and then paste the text into a Microsoft PowerPoint slide, the text formatting may unexpectedly disappear.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur when you copy only the text in a cell, or when you copy a text box or other AutoShape that is embedded in an Excel worksheet. The context of the text is retained, but all of the formatting is changed to the PowerPoint default text.

NOTE: When you copy an Excel cell, the text within the cell retains the font formatting.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, select the entire cell that contains the text that you want to copy and not just the text inside the cell.

NOTE: If you select an entire AutoShape that contains text, the text retains its formatting, but the entire AutoShape is also copied.

To work around this issue, select the text after it is pasted into PowerPoint, and then format the text to appear the way that you want.

NOTE: You may not be able to modify text that is pasted into a text box, for example, a title.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.