How to combine two vector shapes (e.g.: EMF/ WMF files) using "Union" or "Intersection" operations ?

This can be useful to design a merged region made of former independant areas.
This is also very interesting to get a color-coded border for a set of shapes.

If you don't see what I mean, look at this explanation:

• http://www.mpsupershape.com/
• http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/~toby/alan/software/

Caution: these two previous tools don't work with Ms Office. Just here to show examples !


The solution is ready-to-use inside PowerPoint 2010.
Even if the charting engine is the same in Excel and PowerPoint, the functions are not enabled the same way in the two tools
(because some functions are shown in one tool and hidden in the other... even if they are still usable programing VBA).
Therefore you may have to cut & paste shapes from one software to the other (PowerPoint to Excel or opposite), to get all functions.

• http://blogs.msdn.com/b/powerpoint/archive/2010/02/01/creating-custom-shapes-in-powerpoint-2010.aspx
• http://office.blogs.webucator.com/2010/08/20/microsoft-powerpoint-2010-shape-tools/
• http://www.nirmaltv.com/2010/06/11/how-to-create-custom-shapes-in-powerpoint-2010/
• http://www.microsoftblog.co.in/?cat=195

To divide an editable WMF / EMF shape into several parts, it is easier even without PowerPoint 2010.
Here are some training videos produced by a nice competitor (even if he wants to sell what is free inside BeGraphic)
These videos explain how to "Divide a country in two" the old way:

• part 1 http://www.bjdesign.com/html/video/HowtoSplitStatePt1B2.php
• part 2 http://www.bjdesign.com/html/video/HowToCustomizeTipsPt1B2.php
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIz-WgtropA

By the way, here are many more training videos showing what can be changed in editable maps / freeforms (inside PowerPoint and Excel):

• http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=editablemaps#g/u
• other videos http://www.bjdesign.com/html/questions.html

For raster images (e.g.: jpeg, gif...files made of millions of small dots) the equivalent function (nearly "Shape substract") is called:

automatic "Remove background" (by detecting an area made of one single color). Caution: This function exists only in Excel 2010

• http://office.microsoft.com/en-in/excel-help/remove-a-picture-background-HA010355182.aspx
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeS9XYawpc4

manual "crop" (only possible by selecting and keeping a sub-rectangle from a wider picture)

• "Crop" an existing image (except animated gif) http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/crop-a-picture-HP005192953.aspx
• "Screen clipping" (exists only in Excel 2010) to make two jobs in one step: 1) take a snapshot of the screen 2) crop the selection as an image
  http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/screen-clipping-capture-screenshot-using-microsoft-office-2010/

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