Inserting a Microsoft Excel Chart

PowerPoint simplifies the process of inserting an Excel chart into a presentation by embedding the chart as an object in the slide. An embedded object is an object that maintains a direct connection to its original program, known as the source program. After you insert an embedded object, you can easily edit it by double-clicking it, which opens the program in which it was originally created. Embedding objects increases the file size of a presentation because the embedded object is stored in the presentation. To reduce the file size of the presentation, you can link an object instead of embedding it. A linked object appears in the slide, but it actually contains a "link" back to the original file, known as the source document. When you link an object, the original object is stored in its source document, where it was created. The presentation stores only a representation of the original. The source program will update the object when you modify the source document.

Insert a New Excel Chart

Click the Insert menu, and then click Object.

Click the Create New option.

Click Microsoft Office Excel Chart.

Click OK.

Use the source program tools to edit the object.

When you're done, click outside the object.

Did You Know?

You can drag a chart from Excel to PowerPoint . Open both Excel and PowerPoint, select the chart in Excel, and then drag it into PowerPoint. If the PowerPoint presentation is not visible, drag the chart to the presentation button on the taskbar to display PowerPoint.

Import a Microsoft Excel Worksheet or Chart

Display the slide on which you want to insert the Excel chart.

Click the Insert menu, and then click Object.

Click the Create From File option, click the Browse button, locate and select the chart you want, and then click OK.

To link the chart, click the Link check box.

Click OK.

If necessary, edit the worksheet using the Excel tools.

Click outside the worksheet when you are finished.

Copying and Pasting an Existing Excel Chart

Open the worksheet containing the chart in Excel.

Click the chart, and then click the Copy button on Excel's Standard toolbar.

Switch to PowerPoint and open the slide on which you want to add the chart.

Click the Paste button on the Standard toolbar.

Click outside the chart to deselect it.