Linked/embedded Excel chart objects distort in Word on different PCs

Question

Hello

I've created a Word report that has a lot of embedded/linked graphs from Excel in it (inserted using Paste Special/Link/Excel object) and we're having problems with these graphs distorting when different users access the report. The reports are generated automatically via an Access database (which I also developed) and up to 15 different reports are produced at a time (they are evaluations of training courses so they are all unique - hence the linked graphs).

All files are held on a Virtual PC on the company's server because the Excel graphs were not updating in the Word file (the report) when they were on the network, and would only update if they were on the c drive. I access this via a remote connection from home (I'm not based in the office, I'm just helping them out with this) and the other users also connect to it using a remote connection, but from within the network.

We had this problem of distorting before, but we thought the Virtual PC had fixed it as both myself and the main office user have been able to access and produce reports without the graphics distorting since we started using it. The problem reared its ugly head again when an additional user tried to produce reports from their machine in the office. It was fine when this new user was logged into the main user's machine, but distorted when she logged into the Virtual PC from her own machine to do it.

So, it's obviously something native to the machine being used to access the Virtual PC that's causing the problem....and not the actual user account. The Virtual PC is running Win 7 enterprise, and Office 365. My machine is Win 10, both the office users' machines are Win 7. Myself and the main user have Office 365, but I'm not sure about the additional user - I can't see how that would make a difference though, given the reports are generated using the Virtual PC's Office installation (ie O365)?

In the course of the many hours I've spent searching for a solution to this problem, I did come across a suggestion the problem may be display/graphics card related so we've tested several other machines in the office this afternoon, some with the same graphics card as the machine that's working OK and others with at least one monitor on the same display resolution (but none actually identical). All the other machines tested distort the graphs on the report.

I have seen the registry hack suggested for similar problems, but that's not something I'm permitted to do on the Virtual PC - and I read that it doesn't apply to Office 365 (which the Virtual PC has). I've also seen a suggestion that the graph could be put into fixed table cells to constrain their proportions, but this won't work for us - many of the graphs are custom graphs, made up of several different graphs put together, so this will only constrain the largest in these groups of graphs and the others can still distort.

Any ideas anyone? I'm out of ideas as to what I can try next to fix this!!

Thanks in advance for any help or ideas you might be able to give me!

C

Answer 1

Hi,

Your concern with accessing embedded graphs in Excel and Word using Virtual PCs needs in-depth technical assistance. It is best if you will be posting your concern to our TechNet Forums. Its a community of IT professionals and network specialist who can best address your concern. Below are the links to the forum discussions where you can post your concern:

Virtual Machine Manager - General discussions

Word IT pro discussions

Excel IT pro discussions

If you have other questions, feel free to reach out to us.

Answer 2

Hi Dyan

Thank you for your quick response. I will move my query to one of the other forums you've suggested.

Carla