Linking Dynamic Chart in PPT

[Jordo82]

I have a dynamic chart in Excel that uses named ranges to adjust the data that is charted. The series in the charts are input as: ='myfile.xlsx'!chartrange

Everything works fine in Excel but I'd like to link these charts into Powerpoint to have the slides update automatically. I copy the chart from Excel and paste-special as a linked chart into Powerpoint. The Powerpoint chart continues to update dynamically with the Excel data, until I close the Powerpoint file. When I re-open, the data is static and will not refresh. If I check the source data in the chart in Powerpoint, it now has the series as: ='[0]'!chartrange

So it appears that when I close Powerpoint I lose the link to source file. I only have this problem with dynamic ranges and suspect it's simply a limitation in the linked chart functionality, but would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!

 

[Jon Peltier]

How did you paste it into PowerPoint? If you just paste it, it is a linked chart, and PowerPoint treats it like a chart, allowing you to edit it in place. It still returns to Excel to edit the data.

If you paste-special-link the chart, PowerPoint treats it like a shape (drawing object), and any attempt to edit the chart brings you to Excel.

In neither case could I get the name to break, but before SP1 (and maybe before SP2) funky stuff happened in Excel 2007, and sheet/workbook names were replaced by [0]. Have you kept up to date with all the updates?

Strange stuff also happens if the name of your range begins with "chart", so I've taken to shortening this to "cht".

 

[Jordo82]

Wow, a response from <the> Jon Peltier. Love your site

I am paste-special-linking the chart into PowerPoint and my named ranges don't really start with "chart", that was just a (bad) example. It may be the service packs, my company is notoriously slow on updates. The problem could exist between the chair and keyboard as well.

I appreciate you trying to replicate the problem. This at least gives me hope that it's possible. I'll keep at it and post back if I'm able to find the cause. Thanks!