[CELLRANGE] PowerPoint Chart Label error

Question

Hi there,

I seem to have a problem with labels in Excel charts on PowerPoint. For some reason, on my computer the labels appear clearly. However, when sending the PowerPoint file over to somebody in a different country, they cannot read the labels and instead get the error message "[CELLRANGE]". Please see the following picture as an example:

Has anybody else experienced this and/or know how to solve this issue?

Your help is very much appreciated and I want to thank you in advance!

Patrick

Answer 1

1. Click on the chart.
2. Go to Chart Tools -> Layout -> Data Labels -> More Data Label Options
3. Choose the Data Label you want
4. Click on Reset Label Text

Answer 2

Hi Patrick,

I had this exact problem as well, and found the cause of it in my document. Don't know if this will work for you too, but it's worth a try!

The issue for me was a compatibility issue, for PowerPoint 2010 and earlier, caused by links embedded in the worksheet (not in a cell, but hidden somewhere in the workbook properties). In my case, the chart data contained a link to a location on my company server.

To fix it, I opened the chart data in Excel, went to File / Info / Inspect Workbook (check for issues), and clicked Inspect Document.

The document inspector was able to find the reference (in my case it was the "absolute path to the workbook") that caused the issue. I clicked Remove All, saved the presentation, and re-sent it to my client - the [CELLRANGE] markers disappeared, and the proper data labels were visible.

As I say, might not be the same thing causing your issue, but it's definitely worth a shot!

Hope this helps,

Daniel.

EDIT: Incidentally, my labels were also "Value from cells" labels, so I don't think it made a difference for me.

Answer 3

I think I know why this is happening.  In older version of Word the option to display 'values from cells' as data labels is not supported, whereas in later version of Word it is.  Therefore if the person viewing the chart is using an older version of Word they see the [CELLRANGE] text instead of the intended text.

Answer 4

Just a thought...

Thinking this suggests you are linking to Excel via PowerPoint and once you send the PowerPoint file it can no longer find the Excel spreadsheet.  So, is that what is happening?

Answer 5

I just found a solution. 

Step 1 - Click on all labels of chart and delete those

Step 2 - Click on a point (which was actually a data point earlier). Add all labels 

Step 3- If you are getting all labels as zero then select all labels

Step 4- Right click and select format data labels

Step 5 - In label options, select the axis in which you have your data. For example i had my data in X axis so i selected only X axis. Click done and your labels would be there.