Excel 2007 has a bug related to Excel 2003 and WordArt – Microsoft has a fix if you need the hotfix.
Microsoft has released a ‘hotfix’ to a repair a bug that arises in Excel 2007.
The problem is described thus:
” Consider the following scenario:
- You create a new file in Excel 2003 that contains a WordArt object in a chart.
- You open and save this file in Excel 2007.
- You close this file.
- You reopen the file in Excel 2007.
In this scenario, the WordArt object is removed from the chart. “
which sound like an unusual set of circumstances but Microsoft’s description use the word ‘you’ is a little misleading. Look at this re-wording to see it’s not quite as unusual:
- Someone with Office 2003 makes a worksheet with a WordArt object in a chart.
- They send it to you and you open and edit the file in Excel 2007.
- You close this file.
- Later you (or someone else) opens the file in Excel 2007.
Microsoft only talks about ‘Excel 2007’ so you have to assume the problem applies to both Excel 2007 and Excel 2007 with Service Pack 1.
Microsoft ‘hotfixes’ are really interim patches designed to fix a specific problem. However these patches haven’t undergone the extensive testing needed when there’s any change made to such a large and complex beastie as Microsoft Office.
In other words, the hotfix might solve the immediate problem but cause other difficulties.
So it’s a good idea NOT to install any Microsoft hotfix unless you have the problem described or a reasonable expectation that you might strike it.
The hotfix isn’t available for direct download, you have to specifically request it via a link provided in the Knowledge Base article.
