Create Excel shape from MapInfo *OR* make picture background transparent?

[caringsharingbristolbilly]

Hi all.

Further to an original thread (http://www.mrexcel.com/forum/showthread.php?t=335897), I have a question regarding shapes and images in Excel.

Basically, I'm trying to make a map of 14 regions where each region changes brightness depending on values in the worksheets. I think I've got this bit sorted. I'm planning on creating the map using a collection of tessellated shapes or images, and using VBA to alter the properties of each one to create a dynamic map.

The output of the individual maps from MapInfo, our GIS software, is in .png or .jpg. format, and come with a white background. Is there any way to either make the background transparent so multiple shapes can be tessellated effectively, or a way to crop the image to the area's border?

Either that, or does someone know a way to output from MapInfo in such a way to make this possible? (Granted, it's a long shot, but you can't blame a guy for trying...)

Any help would be immensely appreciated. Sorry if I've not explained it well, but hopefully you'll get the drift.

Thanks,
CSBBB.

 

[caringsharingbristolbilly]

Oh, that's a shame. I can assure you it works a treat on Excel 2007!

Andrew Poulsom was very helpful in helping me reach this point on my original post, http://www.mrexcel.com/forum/showthread.php?t=335897, so my suggestion would be to post to that thread and we may well have some luck (and save us getting too off topic)!

Sorry, I didn't know that would happen as everyone in our office now has the newer (and imo rubbisher) Excel 2007 installed!

 

[Gunswick]

i was playing about with it, and i just ungrouped the map pieces (after first moving the black outline picture that was on top) and it started working!

so i dont know why if they are grouped it doesnt work, but it is now working very nicely.

i wonder where i can get continent / country maps from.... hmmm any ideas?