insert excel charts as objects

Hi,

I insert excel charts into publisher using the insert object command. It allows me to double click on the chart and modify it in excel even though it has been pasted in publisher. I have two problems with this. The first is that I am drastically shrinking the charts and when I try to modify them in excel they often become distorted. The second problem I have is that I would like to shrink the chart before inserting it into publisher. Is there a way to do this while also shrinking the background? Now I just end up with a small chart, but tons of blank space around it that gets inserted as well. Any ideas?

Thanks!

Megan