I am using Office 365 on a Windows 8 installation on parallels on a mac

In previous versions of Excel (2007 and 2010) I could create a PivotChart, make modifications to it and save it as a template.  I could apply this template to both regular charts as well as PivotCharts.

In Excel 2013 - it appears that I can create the templates and save them, but it doesn't allow me to apply a template to a PivotChart, only to a regular chart.

When I try to change the chart type of a PivotChart and navigate to the Templates folder, each template states the following: "This template can't be applied. It's either damaged or won't work for the selected chart. Please try recreating it."

I have tried that several times with several types of PivotCharts all with the same results.  

Is there some setting I am missing or was this functionality removed from Office 365/Excel 2013?

Hi,

To my knowledge, the functionality you mentioned hasnt been removed from excel 2013/office 365.  I tested in my environment, it works just fine.

So there might be other factors causing this problem. My suggestion is to clean up the Charts folder
C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates\Charts
Remember to backup Chart Template Files (*.crtx) before we delete it, then we recreate a pivot chart template to see whether it can be applied to both regular chart and pivot chart.

Also you can make a clean boot for your computer before you run excel 2013. This issue may cause by 3rd party software. For the detailed steps, please refer to the below link:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/331796/en-us
Or you can use another user account to log into the computer to test this issue.

If the suggestion above doesnt bring any help, try to repair your office from Control Panel.
Hope that helps.

I appreciate the ideas noted in your post. I have tried them all and I am still having the issue.  Seems to be the same on both installs I have of Excel 2013 - but again both are running on Parallels installs on a Mac. One is in Windows 7 the other in Windows 8 - both exhibit similar behavior.

I have exactly the same problem, as well Excel 2013, but a regular Win7 setup, please see screen shot. Was there a solution to this issue?

Screenshot: http://up.picr.de/18119347jh.png

• Edited by Aisler Monday, April 28, 2014 9:39 PM

I have the same issue. Did you find any solution?

I just migrated to Excel 2013 (Win7).

I've found that if the PivotChart contains only one field in the "axis (category)" area, then I can apply my old templates.  With multiple fields, no matter whether I try with an old template or save a new template, I get the same error message "This template can't be applied...".

Has anyone found a solution for this?

I just migrated to Excel 2013 (Win7).

I've found that if the PivotChart contains only one field in the "axis (category)" area, then I can apply my old templates.  With multiple fields, no matter whether I try with an old template or save a new template, I get the same error message "This template can't be applied...".

Has anyone found a solution for this?

I'm running Excel 2013 365 ProPlus on Windows 8.1 and I have the same problem with ordinary (not Pivot) charts. Like contributor 5890... it seems to depend on the number of series I select. If it is the same number as in the templates I created then Excel seems to recognise the template, otherwise it gives me the 'This template can't be applied...' message.

So the workaround I'm using is to select the right number of series to activate the template and then to add or delete series as required.