line color in charts

[ELLIOTTQ]

I understand how to use the color picker and custom colors for design
templates and fonts. However, when creating charts with lines, when you try
to select a color for the line you are only presented with an array of 25
color boxes, a line beneath them, and 2 rows of 8 additional boxes. I know
that the first row of 8 boxes are the 8 colors you have defined in the design
template. How do you define the next 8 colors? Or is there anyway to get
into custom colors when working with charts?

I am in PowerPoint2002. Thank you.

 

[Echo S]

You can't define the next 8 colors. Those are what I call the "Microsoft
Brights," and they reset each time you create a new chart.

The 40 colors above the line will also reset themselves each time you create
a new chart.

You can modify those colors *for one chart* by opening a chart and going to
Tools/Options/Color. Then, of course, right-click the data series and choose
Format Data Series and click that swatch. Unfortunately, this change doesn't
stick around -- the colors reset when you create a new chart. So if you want
to not have to change the color each time, copy the slide or the chart and
change the data for each new chart.

You can also create user-defined charts, but even if you modify those 40
swatches, they'll reset. There's info on charts and colors at
http://www.echosvoice.com/charts.htm and
http://www.echosvoice.com/colorschemes3.htm but I didn't make it clear there
that the modified colors reset when you insert a new chart.

It's easier to deal with chart color schemes in Excel. (Why they didn't
include this ability in *PowerPoint* charts, I do not know.) Make a chart,
modify its colors (Tools/Options/Color), and save the workbook. Create a new
chart in a new workbook, go to Tools/Options/Color and use the pull-down
that says "copy colors from" (or something to that effect). The pull-down
lists all open workbooks so make sure your original workbook with the
modified color scheme is open at the time.