Microsoft Graph Does Not Create Custom Chart from Table

Last reviewed: February 6, 1998
Article ID: Q107537
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 95, version 7.0
  • Microsoft Graph, versions 3.0, 3.0a, 3.0b, 5.0

SYMPTOMS

If you select numbers in a Word for Windows table and then start Microsoft Graph, a default data sheet and chart may appear instead of a custom chart of your data.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because Microsoft Graph interprets parentheses as text characters, not as the designation for negative numbers. For example, if your data includes a negative number such as (34), Microsoft Graph does not use your data, and uses the default chart instead. By contrast, if your negative numbers contain a minus sign (-) instead of parentheses, Microsoft Graph plots the data correctly.

Note that if any part of your selection contains text (that is, any non numeric character except "-" or "+") instead of numeric data, Microsoft Graph uses the default chart.

RESOLUTION

To work around this behavior, do any of the following:

Method 1: You can copy your table to the default chart. Before running

           Graph, follow these steps:

           1. Highlight your table, and choose Copy from the Edit menu.

           2. Choose the Insert Chart button on the Standard toolbar.

           3. Highlight the cells in the default chart and choose Clear
              from the Edit menu.

           4. In the default chart, highlight the corresponding rows and
              columns into which you want to paste your information.

           5. From the Edit menu, choose Paste .

              NOTE:  The numbers that were originally in parentheses are
              converted to minus signs in the Microsoft Graph datasheet.
              Your original table is unchanged. You can modify the
              format of the number by choosing Number from the Format
              menu while editing the Chart.

           6. Choose the Graph menus to make other modifications or
              selections for your chart.

Method 2: Replace the parentheses in your table with minus signs and
           restart Graph.

STATUS

We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Word User's Guide," version 6.0, chapter 27, "WordArt, Equation Editor, and Graph," "Graph" section


KBCategory:
KBSubCategory:
Additional query words: 3.0 3.0a 3.0b 5.0 6.0 6.0a 7.0 word95
ole applet mini-app server default winword parentheses negative table
parenthesis minus subtract subtraction chartwizard chart wizard msgraph
word7 word6 mschart w4wole
Keywords : kbole
Version : 6.0 6.0a 6.0c 7.0
Platform : WINDOWS


THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: February 6, 1998
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.