Pie chart data labels disappear randomly when viewing slideshow

Question

Hi,

I have a Powerpoint 2013 file which is 7 slides in length and contains a number of pie charts, generated from Excel data.  The data labels look fine in the normal view, but when I start a slideshow, somtimes the data labels disappear.  The behaviour is random and each time I start a slideshow, different data labels disappear.

I've tried opening the Powerpoint file on 2 different machines with the same results.  I have also tried saving the ppt file as 97-2003 instead of the standard 2013 format and the issue remains.

As a work around for the moment, I'm having to copy the charts and paste them back as a picture.

Note:  Powerpoint 2013 64-bit installed on Windows 7 PC with all available Windows and Office updates applied.

Answer 1

Hi Rachel,

I did wonder if the file had been created on a Mac, but in my case only Windows was involved.  I've even tried opening the file on Win 10 and Office 2016 and the issue remains.

So for now, we're going for the work around of using the Snipping tool to screenshot the chart and paste it back in as an image.

Regards

Mark

Answer 2

I ran into this problem while using a windows 7 laptop / ppt 2010, while the client-provided file was created in office 2013, probably on a Mac.

I have not found a fix for this. I tried:

• Deleting chart data labels and adding them in again by way of the chart layout tab.
• Retyping all the plotting labels for the offending axis into the spread sheet, etc.

Recreating the the chart in PowerPoint will work but the client might have viewing issues. I think it's an OS / office versioning issue

My work around was to just makes text boxes and add the data labels over the chart.

I have not seen this problem since in upgraded to win 8 and office 365/2013.