Chart Creation 9.6

General Information

Due to the significantly changed and optimized data storage, it is not possible to edit charts created with version 9.6 with older versions of empower®. Conversely, it is of course possible to continue editing older charts. These will be technically migrated upon first selection.
The functions of empower® Chart Creation have been consolidated into an add-in that works completely locally and without a sync process. If the .NET 8 version is used, then in version 9.6, two add-ins will be visible under COM-Add-ins in PowerPoint since not all non-charting functions (e. g., Agenda) have been switched to .NET 8 yet. In the future, there will be a pure .NET Framework and a pure .NET 8 version of empower® Chart Creation. The .NET 8 version has slightly better performance but requires an Office 64-bit version and an installed .NET 8 Desktop Runtime.

Numerous performance optimizations have been implemented, including:
- PowerPoint startup is only minimally delayed. Chart Creation loading takes place in the background after startup.
- Data storage in charts has been significantly reduced. This leads to smaller files despite large/many charts and improved OneDrive synchronization.
- Working with charts, large line charts, many charts on a slide, Gantt Charts, and Excel links has been performance improved.
- The issue where PowerPoint objects occasionally stick to the mouse cursor has been resolved.
- The performance when creating or editing an agenda has been significantly improved, especially when the process is repeated.
To fix minor issues, the following changes have been implemented:

Inserting PowerPoint symbols works slightly differently now:

A PowerPoint symbol can be inserted into a shape if the user has navigated into the respective shape with the mouse cursor. The shape must be in text editing mode. If this is not the case, the symbol is inserted in a new shape/textbox.

In the slide master view, empower® Elements (Harvey Ball, check boxes, traffic lights) cannot be inserted. This has caused problems in the past.
Linking with online Excel files (OneDrive, Teams, etc.) has been optimized and simplified. No app registration is required anymore.
Customizing can now be adjusted for all charts in a presentation.
Other small improvements and bug fixes.

The mixed chart (bar + line) function has been added directly to the main menu for inserting new charts.
Note: Mixed charts can be created from any column or bar chart by changing the type of one or more series.
The calculation for delta arrows has been optimized and now always aligns with the axis delta between two points, also in waterfall charts.
In bubble charts, individual bubbles can now be brought to the forefront in case of overlaps.
Multiple data labels can be selected and formatted.
The space required in charts with multiple arrows has been optimized.
The icons/color blocks in the legend have been enlarged for better readability.
All axis settings can now also be found directly at the axis (e. g., changing the limits).
Series colors can be reset to the customizing standard.
Options for text additions in data labels have been consolidated (Custom Format - Free Text).

When hovering the mouse over Gantt objects and when moving objects (e. g., a bar), information about the start, end, and duration of the bar is displayed.
It is possible to individually adjust the font sizes for the time axis levels. Additionally, the display of days on the time axis can be changed (e. g., Mon for Monday).
The position of milestones within the day (beginning, middle, end) can be set.