Linking an Excel chart from Excel to PowerPoint doesn't work because the paste link option is greyed out

Question

Hi

I am trying link an excel graph to PowerPoint but it's not working because the paste link option is greyed out.

I right click on the excel chart and select copy

then i go to PowerPoint to paste the chart by going to Paste, Paste Special and i get this -

When i go to Info in PowerPoint, there are list of links relating to excel charts in the PowerPoint which I "update now" but this makes no difference - the charts do not update.

When I go to Options in both the Excel and the PowerPoint file and select Advanced, Cut,Copy and Paste section has "show paste options button" ticked.

Please help!
thanks
d

Answer 1

Hi David,

Thanks for posting in the community. We are happy to help you.

Per your description, I would like to collect more information to troubleshoot.

Generally, the "Paste link" option is available when copying an Excel chart object, but not available when copying an image file. For the chart you copied, I would like to know if it is an Excel chart or an image file. For example, if you save an Excel chart as a picture to your device, and then insert the image file into an Excel workbook. Although the inserted image looks like an Excel chart, it is not an Excel chart object, and the "Paste link" option will be grayed out in PowerPoint.

Also, to verify this, you can create a new Excel chart via the Insert tab> the chart option in the Charts group, such as Column, and then copy the real Excel chart and check the options in the Paste Special dialog in PowerPoint.

If the option is still grayed out when you copy the newly created Excel chart, please point it out and let us know. We will keep on assisting you.

We look forward to your response. Thanks for your cooperation.

Sincerely, 

George | Microsoft Community Moderator

Answer 2

Have you saved the Excel file BEFORE trying to copy/paste special?

If so, it might mean that MS has finally fixed a long-standing bug that allowed you to create links to files that you hadn't yet saved (in other words, that don't exist, so guaranteed to break).

Save the Excel file then try again.

Answer 3

HI,

yes the files are saved first.

Answer 4

Hi David,

 

Thanks for posting in the community. We are happy to help you.

 

Per your description, I would like to collect more information to troubleshoot.

 

Generally, the "Paste link" option is available when copying an Excel chart object, but not available when copying an image file. For the chart you copied, I would like to know if it is an Excel chart or an image file. For example, if you save an Excel chart as a picture to your device, and then insert the image file into an Excel workbook. Although the inserted image looks like an Excel chart, it is not an Excel chart object, and the "Paste link" option will be grayed out in PowerPoint.

 

Also, to verify this, you can create a new Excel chart via the Insert tab> the chart option in the Charts group, such as Column, and then copy the real Excel chart and check the options in the Paste Special dialog in PowerPoint.

 

If the option is still grayed out when you copy the newly created Excel chart, please point it out and let us know. We will keep on assisting you.

 

We look forward to your response. Thanks for your cooperation.

 

Sincerely, 

George | Microsoft Community Moderator 

HI there,

I'm trying to link an excel chart from an excel file. I right click on the chart, press copy, go to PowerPoint click on the paste dropdown to paste special and this is what i see -

this is also the dialog box i get when i try to create a new excel chart and copy that chart into PowerPoint.

thanks

David

Answer 5

Hi David,

Thanks for posting back.

I suggest you try the following suggestions and then check the result.

1. Please try to update Office to the latest version via File> Account> Update Options> Update Now, then check again.
2. You can run PowerPoint and Excel into Safe Mode, open the files in PowerPoint and Excel, then check again.

Close Excel first, press win + R, in the Run box, type excel /safe, and click OK. After that, open the Excel file.

Close PowerPoint first, press win + R, in the Run box, type powerpnt /safe, and click OK. After that, open the PowerPoint file.

3. I suggest you repair Office and choose Online Repair. After that, open these files and check again.

If you have tried the above suggestions, but the situation still happens, I would like to collect more information.

1. Please share a test Excel file and a test PowerPoint with us. You can upload them to any online drive, such as OneDrive, and then share the Anyone sharing link with us.
2. Please provide your Excel version and Product Information. Go to File> Account, take a full screenshot including Product Information and About Excel, and then click "Insert Image" to upload it.

We look forward to your response. Thanks for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

George | Microsoft Community Moderator