Working with PowerPoint SmartArt

6 Nov 202323 minutes to read

A SmartArt diagram is a visual representation of your information, to effectively communicate your ideas in presentations. You can add and modify the SmartArt diagrams in PowerPoint presentations using Essential Presentation library.

To quickly start creating a SmartArt in a PowerPoint Presentation using .NET PowerPoint libray, please check out this video:

Adding SmartArt to a Slide

You can add any of the predefined SmartArt diagrams to PowerPoint Presentation. The following code example demonstrates adding a SmartArt to a Slide.

// Create an instance of PowerPoint Presentation
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Create();
//Add a blank slide to the Presentation
ISlide slide = pptxDoc.Slides.Add(SlideLayoutType.Blank);
//Add a BasicBlockList SmartArt to the slide at the specified size and position.
ISmartArt smartArt = slide.Shapes.AddSmartArt(SmartArtType.BasicBlockList, 0, 0, 640, 426); 
//Save the PowerPoint Presentation as stream
FileStream outputStream = new FileStream("SmartArt.pptx", FileMode.Create);
pptxDoc.Save(outputStream);
//Close the Presentation
pptxDoc.Close();
// Create an instance of PowerPoint Presentation
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Create();
//Add a blank slide to the Presentation
ISlide slide = pptxDoc.Slides.Add(SlideLayoutType.Blank);
//Add a BasicBlockList SmartArt to the slide at the specified size and position.
ISmartArt smartArt = slide.Shapes.AddSmartArt(SmartArtType.BasicBlockList, 0, 0, 640, 426); 
//Save the Presentation
pptxDoc.Save("SmartArt.pptx");
//Close the Presentation
pptxDoc.Close();
'Create an instance of PowerPoint Presentation
Dim pptxDoc As IPresentation = Presentation.Create()
'Add a blank slide to the Presentation
Dim slide As ISlide = pptxDoc.Slides.Add(SlideLayoutType.Blank)
'Add a BasicBlockList SmartArt to the slide at the specified size and position.
Dim smartArt As ISmartArt = slide.Shapes.AddSmartArt(SmartArtType.BasicBlockList, 0, 0, 640, 426)
'Save the Presentation
pptxDoc.Save("SmartArt.pptx")
'Close the Presentation
pptxDoc.Close()

You can download a complete working sample from GitHub.

Adding a node to the SmartArt

You can add a new node to the SmartArt diagram. The following code example demonstrates the same.

// Create an instance of PowerPoint Presentation
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Create();
//Add a blank slide to the Presentation
ISlide slide = pptxDoc.Slides.Add(SlideLayoutType.Blank);
//Add a SmartArt to the slide at the specified size and position
ISmartArt smartArt = slide.Shapes.AddSmartArt(SmartArtType.AlternatingHexagons, 0, 0, 640, 426);
// Add a new node to the SmartArt.
ISmartArtNode newNode = smartArt.Nodes.Add();
// Set the text to the newly added node.
newNode.TextBody.AddParagraph("New main node added.");
//Save the PowerPoint Presentation as stream
FileStream outputStream = new FileStream("SmartArt.pptx", FileMode.Create);
pptxDoc.Save(outputStream);
//Close the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Close();
// Create an instance of PowerPoint Presentation
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Create();
//Add a blank slide to the Presentation
ISlide slide = pptxDoc.Slides.Add(SlideLayoutType.Blank);
//Add a SmartArt to the slide at the specified size and position
ISmartArt smartArt = slide.Shapes.AddSmartArt(SmartArtType.AlternatingHexagons, 0, 0, 640, 426);
// Add a new node to the SmartArt.
ISmartArtNode newNode = smartArt.Nodes.Add();
// Set the text to the newly added node.
newNode.TextBody.AddParagraph("New main node added.");
//Save the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Save("SmartArt.pptx");
//Close the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Close();
'Create an instance of PowerPoint Presentation
Dim pptxDoc As IPresentation = Presentation.Create()
'Add a blank slide to the Presentation
Dim slide As ISlide = pptxDoc.Slides.Add(SlideLayoutType.Blank)
'Add a SmartArt to the slide at the specified size and position
Dim smartArt As ISmartArt = slide.Shapes.AddSmartArt(SmartArtType.AlternatingHexagons, 0, 0, 640, 426)
'Add a new node to the SmartArt.
Dim newNode As ISmartArtNode = smartArt.Nodes.Add()
'Set the text to the newly added node.
newNode.TextBody.AddParagraph("New main node added.")
'Save the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Save("SmartArt.pptx")
'Close the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Close()

You can download a complete working sample from GitHub.

In SmartArt diagrams, you can also add nodes to several nested levels. The maximum limit of nested levels may vary based on SmartArt types. The following code example demonstrates adding nested level nodes in a SmartArt.

// Create an instance of PowerPoint Presentation
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Create();
//Add a blank slide to the Presentation
ISlide slide = pptxDoc.Slides.Add(SlideLayoutType.Blank);
//Add a SmartArt to the slide at the specified size and position.
ISmartArt smartArt = slide.Shapes.AddSmartArt(SmartArtType.AlternatingHexagons, 0, 0, 640, 426);
// Add a new node to the SmartArt.
ISmartArtNode newNode = smartArt.Nodes.Add();
// Add a child node to the SmartArt node
ISmartArtNode childNode = newNode.ChildNodes.Add();
// Set a text to newly added child node.
childNode.TextBody.AddParagraph("Child node of the existing node.");
//Save the PowerPoint Presentation as stream
FileStream outputStream = new FileStream("SmartArt.pptx", FileMode.Create);
pptxDoc.Save(outputStream);
//Close the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Close();
// Create an instance of PowerPoint Presentation
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Create();
//Add a blank slide to the Presentation
ISlide slide = pptxDoc.Slides.Add(SlideLayoutType.Blank);
//Add a SmartArt to the slide at the specified size and position.
ISmartArt smartArt = slide.Shapes.AddSmartArt(SmartArtType.AlternatingHexagons, 0, 0, 640, 426);
// Add a new node to the SmartArt.
ISmartArtNode newNode = smartArt.Nodes.Add();
// Add a child node to the SmartArt node
ISmartArtNode childNode = newNode.ChildNodes.Add();
// Set a text to newly added child node.
childNode.TextBody.AddParagraph("Child node of the existing node.");
//Save the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Save("SmartArt.pptx");
//Close the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Close();
'Create an instance of PowerPoint Presentation
Dim pptxDoc As IPresentation = Presentation.Create()
'Add a blank slide to the Presentation
Dim slide As ISlide = pptxDoc.Slides.Add(SlideLayoutType.Blank)
'Add a SmartArt to the slide at the specified size and position.
Dim smartArt As ISmartArt = slide.Shapes.AddSmartArt(SmartArtType.AlternatingHexagons, 0, 0, 640, 426)
'Add a new node to the SmartArt.
Dim newNode As ISmartArtNode = smartArt.Nodes.Add()
'Add a child node to the SmartArt node
Dim childNode As ISmartArtNode = newNode.ChildNodes.Add()
'Set a text to newly added child node.
childNode.TextBody.AddParagraph("Child node of the existing node.")
'Save the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Save("SmartArt.pptx")
'Close the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Close()

You can download a complete working sample from GitHub.

Modifying SmartArt appearance

You can modify the SmartArt appearance by modifying the fill type, color, transparency etc. The below code example demonstrates modifying the appearance of SmartArt nodes.

//Loads or open an PowerPoint Presentation
FileStream inputStream = new FileStream("Sample.pptx",FileMode.Open);
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Open(inputStream);
//Get the Slide from Presentation
ISlide slide = pptxDoc.Slides[0];
//Get the SmartArt from Slide.
ISmartArt smartArt = slide.Shapes[0] as ISmartArt;
//Get the first node
ISmartArtNode firstNode = smartArt.Nodes[0];
// Set the text content of node.
firstNode.TextBody.AddParagraph("First Node");
//Set the fill type of node.
firstNode.Shapes[0].Fill.FillType = FillType.Solid;
// Set the fill color of node.
firstNode.Shapes[0].Fill.SolidFill.Color = ColorObject.GreenYellow;
//Set  transparency value of fill
firstNode.Shapes[0].Fill.SolidFill.Transparency = 30;
//Save the PowerPoint Presentation as stream
FileStream outputStream = new FileStream("SmartArt.pptx", FileMode.Create);
pptxDoc.Save(outputStream);
//Close the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Close();
//Open a PowerPoint Presentation
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Open("SampleDocument.pptx");
//Get the Slide from Presentation
ISlide slide = pptxDoc.Slides[0];
//Get the SmartArt from Slide.
ISmartArt smartArt = slide.Shapes[0] as ISmartArt;
//Get the first node
ISmartArtNode firstNode = smartArt.Nodes[0];
// Set the text content of node.
firstNode.TextBody.AddParagraph("First Node");
//Set the fill type of node.
firstNode.Shapes[0].Fill.FillType = FillType.Solid;
// Set the fill color of node.
firstNode.Shapes[0].Fill.SolidFill.Color = ColorObject.GreenYellow;
//Set  transparency value of fill
firstNode.Shapes[0].Fill.SolidFill.Transparency = 30;
//Save the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Save("SmartArt.pptx");
//Close the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Close();
'Open a PowerPoint Presentation
Dim pptxDoc As IPresentation = Presentation.Open("SampleDocument.pptx")
'Get the Slide from Presentation
Dim slide As ISlide = pptxDoc.Slides(0)
'Get the SmartArt from Slide.
Dim smartArt As ISmartArt = TryCast(slide.Shapes(0), ISmartArt)
'Get the first node
Dim firstNode As ISmartArtNode = smartArt.Nodes(0)
' Set the text content of node.
firstNode.TextBody.AddParagraph("First Node")
'Set the fill type of node.
firstNode.Shapes(0).Fill.FillType = FillType.Solid
' Set the fill color of node.
firstNode.Shapes(0).Fill.SolidFill.Color = ColorObject.GreenYellow
'Set  transparency value of fill
firstNode.Shapes(0).Fill.SolidFill.Transparency = 30
'Save the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Save("SmartArt.pptx")
'Close the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Close()

You can download a complete working sample from GitHub.

Iterating through child nodes of an existing SmartArt

You can iterate through the child nodes and access the properties of each node in a SmartArt. The following code example demonstrates accessing and modifying the text content of node.

//Loads or open an PowerPoint Presentation
FileStream inputStream = new FileStream("Sample.pptx",FileMode.Open);
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Open(inputStream);
//Traverse through shape in the first slide.
foreach (IShape shape in pptxDoc.Slides[0].Shapes)
{
    if (shape is ISmartArt)
    {
        //Traverse through all nodes inside SmartArt
        foreach (ISmartArtNode mainNode in (shape as ISmartArt).Nodes)
        {
            if (mainNode.TextBody.Text == "Old Content")
            //Change the node content
            mainNode.TextBody.Paragraphs[0].TextParts[0].Text = "New Content";
        }
    }
}
//Save the PowerPoint Presentation as stream
FileStream outputStream = new FileStream("SmartArt.pptx", FileMode.Create);
pptxDoc.Save(outputStream);
//Close the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Close();
//Open a PowerPoint Presentation
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Open("SampleDocument.pptx");
//Traverse through shape in the first slide.
foreach (IShape shape in pptxDoc.Slides[0].Shapes)
{
    if (shape is ISmartArt)
    {
        //Traverse through all nodes inside SmartArt
        foreach (ISmartArtNode mainNode in (shape as ISmartArt).Nodes)
        {
            if (mainNode.TextBody.Text == "Old Content")
            //Change the node content
            mainNode.TextBody.Paragraphs[0].TextParts[0].Text = "New Content";
        }
    }
}
//Save the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Save("SmartArt.pptx");
//Close the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Close();
'Open a PowerPoint Presentation
Dim pptxDoc As IPresentation = Presentation.Open("SampleDocument.pptx")
'Traverse through shape in the first slide.
For Each shape As IShape In pptxDoc.Slides(0).Shapes
    If TypeOf shape Is ISmartArt Then
        'Traverse through all nodes inside SmartArt
        For Each mainNode As ISmartArtNode In TryCast(shape, ISmartArt).Nodes
            If mainNode.TextBody.Text = "Old Content" Then
                'Change the node content
                mainNode.TextBody.Paragraphs(0).TextParts(0).Text = "New Content"
            End If
        Next
    End If
Next
'Save the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Save("SmartArt.pptx")
'Close the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Close()

You can download a complete working sample from GitHub.

Removing node from an existing SmartArt

You can remove a node from the SmartArt diagram. The following code example demonstrates the same.

//Loads or open an PowerPoint Presentation
FileStream inputStream = new FileStream("Sample.pptx",FileMode.Open);
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Open(inputStream);
//Get the first slide from the Presentation.
ISlide slide = pptxDoc.Slides[0];
//Get the SmartArt from slide.
ISmartArt smartArt = slide.Shapes[0] as ISmartArt;
//Remove a node at the specified index.
smartArt.Nodes.RemoveAt(4);
//Save the PowerPoint Presentation as stream
FileStream outputStream = new FileStream("SmartArt.pptx", FileMode.Create);
pptxDoc.Save(outputStream);
//Close the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Close();
//Open a PowerPoint Presentation
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Open("SampleDocument.pptx");
//Get the first slide from the Presentation.
ISlide slide = pptxDoc.Slides[0];
//Get the SmartArt from slide.
ISmartArt smartArt = slide.Shapes[0] as ISmartArt;
//Remove a node at the specified index.
smartArt.Nodes.RemoveAt(4);
//Save the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Save("SmartArt.pptx");
//Close the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Close();
'Open a PowerPoint Presentation
Dim pptxDoc As IPresentation = Presentation.Open("SampleDocument.pptx")
'Get the first slide from the Presentation.
Dim slide As ISlide = pptxDoc.Slides(0)
'Get the SmartArt from slide.
Dim smartArt As ISmartArt = TryCast(slide.Shapes(0), ISmartArt)
'Remove a node at the specified index.
smartArt.Nodes.RemoveAt(4)
'Save the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Save("SmartArt.pptx")
'Close the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Close()

You can download a complete working sample from GitHub.

Assistant nodes in SmartArt

You can check whether a node is an assistant or not. Also you can change a node as assistant node or revert an assistant node to normal node.  The following code example demonstrates making an assistant node as normal node.

// Create an instance of PowerPoint Presentation
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Create();
//Add a blank slide to the Presentation
ISlide slide = pptxDoc.Slides.Add(SlideLayoutType.Blank);
//Add a SmartArt to the slide at the specified size and position
ISmartArt smartArt = slide.Shapes.AddSmartArt(SmartArtType.OrganizationChart, 0, 0, 640, 426.96);
//Traverse through all nodes of the SmartArt.
foreach (ISmartArtNode node in smartArt.Nodes)
{
    //Check if the node is assistant or not.
    if (node.IsAssistant)
        //Set the assistant node to false.
        node.IsAssistant = false;
}
//Save the PowerPoint Presentation as stream
FileStream outputStream = new FileStream("SmartArt.pptx", FileMode.Create);
pptxDoc.Save(outputStream);
//Close the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Close();
// Create an instance of PowerPoint Presentation
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Create();

//Add a blank slide to the Presentation
ISlide slide = pptxDoc.Slides.Add(SlideLayoutType.Blank);
//Add a SmartArt to the slide at the specified size and position
ISmartArt smartArt = slide.Shapes.AddSmartArt(SmartArtType.OrganizationChart, 0, 0, 640, 426.96);
//Traverse through all nodes of the SmartArt.
foreach (ISmartArtNode node in smartArt.Nodes)
{
    //Check if the node is assistant or not.
    if (node.IsAssistant)
    //Set the assistant node to false.
    node.IsAssistant = false;
}
//Save the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Save("Sample.pptx");
//Close the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Close();
'Create an instance of PowerPoint Presentation
Dim pptxDoc As IPresentation = Presentation.Create()
'Add a blank slide to the Presentation
Dim slide As ISlide = pptxDoc.Slides.Add(SlideLayoutType.Blank)
'Add a SmartArt to the slide at the specified size and position
Dim smartArt As ISmartArt = slide.Shapes.AddSmartArt(SmartArtType.OrganizationChart, 0, 0, 640, 426.96)
'Traverse through all nodes of the SmartArt.
For Each node As ISmartArtNode In smartArt.Nodes
    'Check if the node is assistant or not.
    If node.IsAssistant Then
        'Set the assistant node to false.
        node.IsAssistant = False
    End If
Next
'Save the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Save("Sample.pptx")
'Close the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Close()

Limitations

The modifications in a SmartArt (like add/remove nodes, modify position and size of nodes etc., which involve SmartArt layout changes) done by Essential Presentation will not reflected in Image and PDF conversion. Whereas layout changes will be reflected properly in the generated PPTX file when opened using Microsoft PowerPoint.

Supported SmartArt layout types

  1. Basic Block List
  2. Alternating Hexagons
  3. Picture Caption List
  4. Lined List
  5. Vertical Bullet List
  6. Vertical Box List
  7. Horizontal Bullet List
  8. Square Accent List
  9. Picture Accent List
  10. Bending Picture Accent List
  11. Stacked List
  12. Increasing Circle Process
  13. Pie Process
  14. Detailed Process
  15. Grouped List
  16. Horizontal Picture List
  17. Continuous Picture List
  18. Picture Strips
  19. Vertical Picture List
  20. Alternating Picture Blocks
  21. Vertical Picture Accent List
  22. Titled Picture Accent List
  23. Vertical Block List
  24. Vertical Chevron List
  25. Vertical Accent List
  26. Vertical Arrow List
  27. Trapezoid List
  28. Descending Block List
  29. Table List
  30. Segmented Process
  31. Vertical Curved List
  32. Pyramid List
  33. Target List
  34. Vertical Circle List
  35. Table Hierarchy
  36. Basic Process
  37. Step Up Process
  38. Step Down Process
  39. Accent Process
  40. Alternating Flow
  41. Continuous Block Process
  42. Increasing Arrows Process
  43. Continuous Arrow Process
  44. Process Arrows
  45. Circle Accent Time Line
  46. Basic Time Line
  47. Basic Chevron Process
  48. Closed Chevron Process
  49. Chevron List
  50. Sub-Step Process
  51. Phased Process
  52. Random to Result Process
  53. Staggered Process
  54. Process List
  55. Circle Arrow Process
  56. Basic Bending Process
  57. Vertical Bending Process
  58. Ascending Picture Accent Process
  59. Upward Arrow
  60. Descending Process
  61. Circular Bending Process
  62. Equation
  63. Vertical Equation
  64. Funnel
  65. Gear
  66. Arrow Ribbon
  67. Opposing Arrows
  68. Converging Arrows
  69. Diverging Arrows
  70. Basic Cycle
  71. Text Cycle
  72. Block Cycle
  73. Non directional Cycle
  74. Continuous Cycle
  75. Multi Directional Cycle
  76. Segmented Cycle
  77. Basic Pie
  78. Radial Cycle
  79. Basic Radial
  80. Diverging Radial
  81. Radial Venn
  82. Radial Cluster
  83. Organization Chart
  84. Name and Title Organization Chart
  85. Half Circle Organization Chart
  86. Circle Picture hierarchy
  87. Hierarchy
  88. Labeled Hierarchy
  89. Horizontal Organization Chart
  90. Horizontal Multi-Level Hierarchy
  91. Horizontal Hierarchy
  92. Horizontal Labeled Hierarchy
  93. Balance
  94. Circle Relationship
  95. Hexagon Cluster
  96. Opposing Ideas
  97. Plus and Minus
  98. Reverse List
  99. Counter Balance Arrows
  100. Segmented Pyramid
  101. Nested Target
  102. Converging Radial
  103. Radial List
  104. Basic Target
  105. Basic Matrix
  106. Titled Matrix
  107. Grid Matrix
  108. Cycle Matrix
  109. Accent Picture
  110. Circular Picture Callout
  111. Snapshot Picture List
  112. Spiral Picture
  113. Captioned Pictures
  114. Bending Picture Caption
  115. Bending Picture-Semi Transparent Text
  116. Bending Picture Blocks
  117. Bending Picture Caption List
  118. Titled Picture Blocks
  119. Picture Grid
  120. Picture Accent Blocks
  121. Alternating Picture Circles
  122. Title Picture Lineup
  123. Picture Lineup
  124. Framed Text Picture
  125. Bubble Picture List
  126. Basic Pyramid
  127. Inverted Pyramid
  128. Basic Venn
  129. Linear Venn
  130. Stacked Venn
  131. Hierarchy List
  132. Picture Accent Process
  133. Repeating Bending Process
  134. Vertical Process