The theme information that is applied to a chart is lost when you use PowerPoint 2003 to edit an embedded chart in a presentation

Consider the following scenario:

• You apply a design theme to a presentation in Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007.
• You insert an embedded Microsoft Office Excel chart object into a slide in the presentation.
• You save the presentation in the PowerPoint 97-2003 Presentation (*.ppt) format.

In this scenario, when you open the presentation in Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003 and then edit the chart, the theme information that is applied to the chart is lost. Instead, the default Microsoft Office color theme is applied to the embedded Excel chart object. Additionally, the text in the chart changes, and the chart shrinks.

Note This problem also occurs if you create a .doc file by using Microsoft Office Word 2007. Then, when you edit the chart object in Microsoft Office Word 2003, you experience these symptoms.

This problem occurs because PowerPoint 2007 cannot pass the theme information to the embedded Excel object when you save the presentation in the PowerPoint 97-2003 Presentation (*.ppt) format. When you edit the chart in PowerPoint 2003, Excel has no connection to the theme information that is applied in the presentation. Therefore, the theme information for the chart is lost. Additionally, the default Office color theme for the chart is applied.

To work around this problem, use one of the following methods:

• Do not edit the chart in PowerPoint 2003.
• If you edit the chart in PowerPoint 2003, remove the chart. Then, use PowerPoint 2007 to reinsert the chart.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.