Chart Colours Not Saving

Question

I'm currently trying to make a column chart template for a client that has a specific colour for negative data.

I've built the chart, which looks like this: 

When you change the data to negative numbers, the bars automatically turn grey:

I did this by setting all of them to colours in the theme, with "Invert if Negative" ticked and that set to a grey (also in the theme):

ALL of the bars and colours are set up like this. However, when I save this chart as a template and apply it to a new chart, it only remembers to "Invert if Negative" for the first three bars. After this, it switches back to Automatic, even though I made sure to set all of them up. Also, as you can see, it's changed the colours of some of the bars to a lighter version of the theme colours instead of a darker one.

Does anyone know how I can fix this so it remembers to turn them all grey when I input negative data?

Thanks so much for your time!

Steph

Answer 1

Have you tried reapplying the template after you add more series?

Answer 2

I am having the exact same issue. Only the first 3 series are formatted in my chart template. I have used and created dozens of chart templates over the years, and they never behaved like this. I think it must be something new with Office. (I'm using Office 365 ProPlus version 1707).

This is a big issue, as I create these for a variety of client templates and themes.

Answer 3

I think I am also seeing this issue, using version 16.0.6001.1068.  It seems that when you save your chart template, it doesn't matter how many series you create within the template, only the first 3 are being saved and used when the template is applied.

To reproduce:

If you insert a slide, insert chart, and select your template chart.

Then in your chart on your slide, insert a new series - This will apply default formatting to this series.  I expected this to apply the formatting from my template. 

However, if you then apply the chart template to this slide, it will apply the required formatting to the new series. 

Is this expected behaviour ?

Answer 4

Hi Steph,

Are you still having this issue?  Could you please let me know what is the Office version (File - Account, click on 'About PowerPoint' to get the version number) that you're using?  

Thanks,

Esther

Answer 5

Hi,

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

I would like to know the Office built.

Let us try installing all the Office updates and check.

You may also try repairing Office from the control panel and check.

https://support.office.com/en-US/Article/Repair-an-Office-application-7821d4b6-7c1d-4205-aa0e-a6b40c5bb88b

Do come back with the required information and we would be glad to assist you

Thank you.