Problem: PDF files created from Word or Powerpoint Windows show Prism graphs poorly.

Even though graphs made in Prism 6 and 7 look fine in Word or PowerPoint Windows, they can look distorted when saved from Word or PowerPoint as pdf files. Sometimes the graphs just seem to vanish when the Word document is exported as a pdf file.  More often, text is distorted. This is a new problem in Prism 6. The biggest problem is that text doesn't look quite right.

The simplest workaround is to export from Prism in PDF format, which works fine. If you really want to export from Word or PowerPoint, read on...

EMF(old) or EMF+?

Prism 6.02 and later gives you a choice in the File tab of Preferences to copy or send graphs using the older EMF format or the newer EMF+ (or the ancient WMF). In general, the older EMF format, shown as "EMF(old)" within Prism works better for going to Word of PowerPoint and then to pdf. More about EMF vs. EMF+.  Choose the format used for copy-paste in the File&Printer tab of Preferences.

Note that bar graphs with thick borders looks worse when copied or exported as EMF(old), as the corners get rounded by EMF(old). Turn off the borders, or make them thin to avoid this problem.

If graphs have been copy and paste embedded or linked (as OLE objects) in the EMF+ format, follow these steps to change to EMF(old):

1. Go to Prism preferences (Edit->Preferences), File & Printer tab and choose "EMF old only" in 'Copy graphs and layouts as:' drop-down, click OK
2. Open the Word or PowerPoint file with embedded Prism graph/ layout.
3. Double-click on embedded Prism object
4. .Choose File->Update... command from main menu.
5. Close Prism.
6. Save as pdf from Word.

Several ways to create PDF files from Word or PowerPoint

There are three approaches to saving a Word or PowerPoint document as PDF:

• File...Save as...pdf
• File...Print..Print to pdf
• Use a third party pdf print driver, such as Adobe

It is worth trying all three.  In general, "Printing" to pdf works better than Saving as pdf (which sometimes changes fonts).

Problem with Office 2010 and 2007

Also, note this other problem with PowerPoint. If you use PowerPoint 2007 and PowerPoint 2010 and simply Paste a Prism graph, you'll paste a picture not an object. That means you won't be able to double-click to edit. Use Paste Special, and choose Prism object Or, from Prism, use the Send-to-Powerpoint button. Details. This is only a problem with PowerPoint.  Excel and Word works fine. It is fixed in PowerPoint 2013.