XL: Drawing Objects May Appear Incorrectly

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel versions 5.0, 5.0c, and 7.0, when you open a workbook that contains a drawing object, the following problems may occur:

• A rotated drawing object appears to lose its rotation, or the rotation is changed.
• The gradient fill pattern for a drawing object is replaced with a solid color that is the wrong color.
• The textured fill pattern for a drawing object disappears completely.
• A drawing object with a fill pattern that consists of a picture becomes transparent.

CAUSE

This behavior may occur when you create the drawing object or AutoShape in Microsoft Excel 97 and then open the workbook in an earlier version of Microsoft Excel. The drawing system in Microsoft Excel 97 includes new features that do not translate correctly to earlier versions of Microsoft Excel.

WORKAROUND

To work around this behavior, use the Copy Picture command to convert AutoShapes and drawing objects to pictures before you save the workbook in the Microsoft Excel 5.0/95 format. To convert an object or an AutoShape into a picture, use the following steps:

1. Select the object.

2. Press and hold the SHIFT key, click Copy Picture on the Edit menu, and then release the SHIFT key.

3. In the Copy Picture dialog box, and click OK.

4. Select a cell in the worksheet.

5. On the Edit menu, click Paste.

NOTE: When you use this method, you can no longer format the converted object as an AutoShape or drawing object.

MORE INFORMATION

When you open a workbook in Microsoft Excel 5.0, 5.0c or 7.0, drawing objects that you create in Microsoft Excel 97 may appear incorrectly, either on the screen or in the Format dialog box. The following sections discuss the symptoms in more detail.

Drawing Object Is Rotated Incorrectly

When you create a rotated drawing object or AutoShape in Microsoft Excel 97, and you open the workbook in earlier versions of Microsoft Excel, the rotation may be lost or changed.

Gradient Fill Pattern Appears Incorrectly

Texture Fill Pattern Disappears Completely

When you create a drawing object or AutoShape with a textured fill pattern in Microsoft Excel 97, and you open the workbook in earlier versions of Microsoft Excel, the texture is replaced by a solid color. The color of the fill pattern becomes "average" color of the texture that is replaced.

Picture Fill Pattern Disappears Completely

When you create a drawing object or AutoShape with a picture as the fill pattern in Microsoft Excel 97, and you open the workbook in earlier versions of Microsoft Excel, the drawing object appears completely transparent. You can see cells "through" the drawing object.