Help consultant correct code to link data from Excel to PowerPoint

by Beth Blakely | Jul 31, 2002 7:00:00 AM

Takeaway: A TechRepublic member has cried out, "What's wrong with my code?" Take a look at her attempt to write code that will update tables and charts in PowerPoint with data from Excel. Perhaps you can find the flaw.

Suzanne Chase is the Principal Engineer for a consulting firm in Fairview Heights, IL. Despite her ten years’ experience in IT, she can’t seem to solve a nagging problem she’s having when linking tables and charts in Microsoft Excel to slides in Microsoft PowerPoint.

She posted her predicament, along with her faulty code, and requested help from TechRepublic members. Perhaps you can solve her problem. Here are the details of Chase’s situation, along with the code. If you can solve the problem or suggest a solution, post an answer to her query.

Why choose to link the objects?
Chase’s client uses data from a database to generate briefing slides on a monthly basis. The data is first imported to Excel and converted to tables and charts. Those tables and charts are then linked to PowerPoint slides. The process works fine when the files are in their original locations. However, the client wants to allow other offices to download the Excel and PowerPoint files.

“Since, I cannot control where they place the files on their machines, I wanted to create code that they could use to update the links no matter where they were placed,” Chase said.

Chase used sample code from Microsoft’s Knowledge Base that has worked successfully for the table links. However, the charts are still a problem.

“It truncates the chart data to just using the entire file name, and then shows the entire first worksheet on the slide,” Chase wrote in TechRepublic’s Technical Q & A. Listing A shows Chase’s code.

Post your solutions, suggestions, or problems
If you think you can write corrected code or have suggestions for Chase to try, post a reply in our Technical Q&A. If you have a problem, post it to the site and draw on the expertise in the TechRepublic community. When you’re wondering what your fellow consultants are working on, peruse the open questions and post your advice. You may be the answer to someone’s prayer.

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