OFF4: Cannot Paste Picture or Data into Graph

• Microsoft Graph for Macintosh, version 5.0
• Microsoft Office for Macintosh, version 4.2, 4.2.1
• Microsoft PowerPoint for Macintosh, version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

If you try to paste a graphic or text from Microsoft PowerPoint to a 2D bar or column chart, the Paste command on the Edit menu may be unavailable (dimmed).

CAUSE

PowerPoint is not transferring its internal Clipboard data to the System Clipboard. So, when you attempt to paste into Graph, the paste command is not available because the clipboard is empty. A program must transfer its internal Clipboard data to the System Clipboard so that other programs are able to access it.

RESOLUTION

Use the following method to work around this issue:

1. In PowerPoint, copy the item you want to place in Graph.

2. Switch to the Finder. To do this, click the application menu (the menu located on the upper-right corner of the screen), and select Finder from the list.

3. On the Edit menu, click Show Clipboard.

4. Verify that the item you copied is visible. If the clipboard is empty, repeat the process starting with step 1.

5. Return to PowerPoint and then start Graph.

6. Select the series or bar you want to modify.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was corrected in Microsoft PowerPoint 98 Macintosh Edition.