Microsoft Excel Question:

Fill patterns were designed for older printers with low resolution. Today's printers may print the patterns in such fine detail, and so small, that the pattern sometimes disappears. If you really, need to print patterns, you could roll your own, using white rectangles, with transparent border, and lines, etc.

Create a square that represents one repeat of the pattern. For example, if you want closely spaced vertical lines, draw a 1" white square with 6 vertical 1" black lines. Use the alignment and spacing commands to finish the pattern. Group the objects in each pattern, copy, and paste into the data series. Then format the series to have a black border. If necessary, set the Picture format (in Fill Effects) to Stack. It doesn't look too good on the screen, but prints beautifully