Using Microsoft Office Charts, Graphs, Tables in Desktop Publishing

Charts and graphs created in programs such as Microsoft Office are not usually immediately usable in desktop publishing applications. They require an intermediate stop in a graphics drawing application when going from spreadsheet or word processor to page layout program.

Office Charts, Graphs, & Tables and Desktop Printing
For desktop printing, you may get acceptable results by copying and pasting the image directly into the desktop publishing application or using the "insert object" option (if available), skipping the graphics software step.

Office Charts, Graphs, & Tables and Commercial Printing
If the chart or graph needs tweaking, including converting it from RGB to CMYK or Pantone spot colors for commercial printing, then the intermediate step is necessary.

Get Office Charts & Graphs Into a Graphics Program
There are two primary methods for getting these Office graphics into an illustration program.

1. If the option is available it is best to export the image in a suitable graphics format.

2. Alternately, use the clipboard to transfer the image between programs.

Once the graphic is in the graphics program it can be edited then saved as either EPS or other graphics format.

The Office Charts, Graphis, & Tables Step-by-Step tutorial uses Microsoft Excel, CorelDRAW, and Adobe InDesign but the basic instructions work for other combinations of programs as well.