Working with PowerPoint Shapes
9 Sep 202420 minutes to read
Adding shapes to a slide
In every slide, there is a shape collection that can contain any form of graphical objects such as AutoShape, chart, text, or picture. You can add any shape element to this collection. The IShape is the base type for the shape elements.
The following code example demonstrates how to add an AutoShape and image to the shape collection of a slide.
//Creates an instance for PowerPoint
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Create();
//Adds a blank slide to Presentation
ISlide slide = pptxDoc.Slides.Add(SlideLayoutType.Blank);
//Adds normal shape to slide
slide.Shapes.AddShape(AutoShapeType.Cube, 50, 200, 300, 300);
//Creates an instance for image as stream
FileStream imageStream = new FileStream(imagePath, FileMode.Open);
//Add picture to the shape collection
IPicture picture = slide.Shapes.AddPicture(imageStream, 373, 83, 526, 382);
//Save the PowerPoint Presentation as stream
FileStream outputStream = new FileStream("Sample.pptx", FileMode.Create);
pptxDoc.Save(outputStream);
//Closes the stream
imageStream.Close();
//Closes the Presentation
pptxDoc.Close();//Creates an instance for PowerPoint
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Create();
//Adds a blank slide to Presentation
ISlide slide = pptxDoc.Slides.Add(SlideLayoutType.Blank);
//Adds normal shape to slide
slide.Shapes.AddShape(AutoShapeType.Cube, 50, 200, 300, 300);
//Creates an instance for image as stream
Stream imageStream = File.Open("Image.jpg", FileMode.Open);
//Add picture to the shape collection
IPicture picture = slide.Shapes.AddPicture(imageStream, 373, 83, 526, 382);
//Saves the Presentation
pptxDoc.Save("Sample.pptx");
//Closes the stream
imageStream.Close();
//Closes the Presentation
pptxDoc.Close();'Creates an instance for PowerPoint Presentation
Dim pptxDoc As IPresentation = Presentation.Create()
'Adds a blank slide to Presentation
Dim slide As ISlide = pptxDoc.Slides.Add(SlideLayoutType.Blank)
'Adds normal shape to slide
slide.Shapes.AddShape(AutoShapeType.Cube, 50, 200, 300, 300)
'Creates an instance for image as stream
Dim imageStream As Stream = File.Open("Image.jpg", FileMode.Open)
'Adds picture to the shape collection
Dim picture As IPicture = slide.Shapes.AddPicture(imageStream, 373, 83, 500, 382)
'Saves the Presentation
pptxDoc.Save("Sample.pptx")
'Closes the stream
imageStream.Close()
'Closes the Presentation
pptxDoc.Close()You can download a complete working sample from GitHub.
Iterating through shapes
You can iterate through the shapes in a PowerPoint slide. The following code example demonstrates how to iterate through the shapes present in a slide for modifying its properties.
//Loads or open an PowerPoint Presentation
FileStream inputStream = new FileStream("Sample.pptx",FileMode.Open);
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Open(inputStream);
//Iterates through shapes in a slide and sets title
foreach(IShape shape in pptxDoc.Slides[0].Shapes)
{
if (shape is IPicture)
shape.Title = "Picture";
else if (shape is IShape)
shape.Title = "AutoShape";
}
//Save the PowerPoint Presentation as stream
FileStream outputStream = new FileStream("Output.pptx", FileMode.Create);
pptxDoc.Save(outputStream);
//Closes the Presentation
pptxDoc.Close();//Opens an existing Presentation from the file system
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Open("Sample.pptx");
//Iterates through shapes in a slide and sets title
foreach(IShape shape in pptxDoc.Slides[0].Shapes)
{
if (shape is IPicture)
shape.Title = "Picture";
else if (shape is IShape)
shape.Title = "AutoShape";
}
//Saves the Presentation
pptxDoc.Save("Output.pptx");
//Closes the Presentation
pptxDoc.Close();'Opens an existing Presentation from the file system
Dim pptxDoc As IPresentation = Presentation.Open("Sample.pptx")
'Iterates through shapes in a slide and sets title
For Each shape As IShape In pptxDoc.Slides(0).Shapes
If TypeOf shape Is IPicture Then
shape.Title = "Picture"
ElseIf TypeOf shape Is IShape Then
shape.Title = "AutoShape"
End If
Next
'Saves the Presentation
pptxDoc.Save("Output.pptx")
'Closes the Presentation
pptxDoc.Close()You can download a complete working sample from GitHub.
Specifying shape properties
The shape properties can be used to format and modify the shapes in a slide. The following code example demonstrates how to apply formatting to a shape.
//Loads or open an PowerPoint Presentation
FileStream inputStream = new FileStream("Sample.pptx",FileMode.Open);
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Open(inputStream);
//Gets the first slide of the Presentation
ISlide slide = pptxDoc.Slides[0];
//Gets the shape of the slide
IShape shape = slide.Shapes[0] as IShape;
//Sets the shape name.
shape.ShapeName = "Shape1";
//Retrieves the line format of the shape.
ILineFormat lineFormat = shape.LineFormat;
//Sets the dash style of the line format.
lineFormat.DashStyle = LineDashStyle.DashDotDot;
//Sets the weight of the line format.
lineFormat.Weight = 3;
//Sets the pattern fill type to shape
shape.Fill.FillType = FillType.Pattern;
//Chooses the type of pattern
shape.Fill.PatternFill.Pattern = PatternFillType.DashedDownwardDiagonal;
//Sets the fore color
shape.Fill.PatternFill.ForeColor = ColorObject.AliceBlue;
//Sets the back color
shape.Fill.PatternFill.BackColor = ColorObject.DarkSalmon;
//Save the PowerPoint Presentation as stream
FileStream outputStream = new FileStream("Output.pptx", FileMode.Create);
pptxDoc.Save(outputStream);
//Closes the Presentation
pptxDoc.Close();//Creates instance for PowerPoint
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Open("Sample.pptx");
//Gets the first slide of the Presentation
ISlide slide = pptxDoc.Slides[0];
//Gets the shape of the slide
IShape shape = slide.Shapes[0] as IShape;
//Sets the shape name.
shape.ShapeName = "Shape1";
//Retrieves the line format of the shape.
ILineFormat lineFormat = shape.LineFormat;
//Sets the dash style of the line format.
lineFormat.DashStyle = LineDashStyle.DashDotDot;
//Sets the weight of the line format.
lineFormat.Weight = 3;
//Sets the pattern fill type to shape
shape.Fill.FillType = FillType.Pattern;
//Chooses the type of pattern
shape.Fill.PatternFill.Pattern = PatternFillType.DashedDownwardDiagonal;
//Sets the fore color
shape.Fill.PatternFill.ForeColor = ColorObject.AliceBlue;
//Sets the back color
shape.Fill.PatternFill.BackColor = ColorObject.DarkSalmon;
//Saves the Presentation
pptxDoc.Save("Output.pptx");
//Closes the Presentation
pptxDoc.Close();'Creates instance for PowerPoint
Dim pptxDoc As IPresentation = Presentation.Open("Sample.pptx")
'Gets the first slide of the Presentation
Dim slide As ISlide = pptxDoc.Slides(0)
'Gets the shape of the slide
Dim shape As IShape = TryCast(slide.Shapes(0), IShape)
'Sets the shape name.
shape.ShapeName = "Shape1"
'Retrieves the line format of the shape.
Dim lineFormat As ILineFormat = shape.LineFormat
'Sets the dash style of the line format.
lineFormat.DashStyle = LineDashStyle.DashDotDot
'Sets the weight of the line format.
lineFormat.Weight = 3
'Sets the pattern fill type to shape
shape.Fill.FillType = FillType.Pattern
'Chooses the type of pattern
shape.Fill.PatternFill.Pattern = PatternFillType.DashedDownwardDiagonal
'Sets the fore color
shape.Fill.PatternFill.ForeColor = ColorObject.AliceBlue
'Sets the back color
shape.Fill.PatternFill.BackColor = ColorObject.DarkSalmon
'Saves the Presentation
pptxDoc.Save("Output.pptx")
'Closes the Presentation
pptxDoc.Close()You can download a complete working sample from GitHub.
Removing the shapes
The shapes can be removed from a slide by its instance or by its index position in the shape collection. The following code example demonstrates how to remove the shapes from a slide.
//Loads or open an PowerPoint Presentation
FileStream inputStream = new FileStream("Sample.pptx",FileMode.Open);
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Open(inputStream);
//Retrieves the first slide from Presentation
ISlide slide = pptxDoc.Slides[0];
//Retrieves the first shape.
IShape shape = slide.Shapes[0] as IShape;
//Removes the shape from the shape collection.
slide.Shapes.Remove(shape);
//Save the PowerPoint Presentation as stream
FileStream outputStream = new FileStream("Output.pptx", FileMode.Create);
pptxDoc.Save(outputStream);
//Closes the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Close();//Opens an existing Presentation from file system
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Open("Sample.pptx");
//Retrieves the first slide from Presentation
ISlide slide = pptxDoc.Slides[0];
//Retrieves the first shape.
IShape shape = slide.Shapes[0] as IShape;
//Removes the shape from the shape collection.
slide.Shapes.Remove(shape);
//Saves the Presentation to the file system.
pptxDoc.Save("Result.pptx");
//Closes the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Close();'Opens an existing Presentation from file system
Dim pptxDoc As IPresentation = Presentation.Open("Sample.pptx")
'Retrieves the first slide from Presentation
Dim slide As ISlide = pptxDoc.Slides(0)
'Retrieves the first shape.
Dim shape As IShape = TryCast(slide.Shapes(0), IShape)
'Removes the shape from the shape collection.
slide.Shapes.Remove(shape)
'Saves the Presentation to the file system.
pptxDoc.Save("Result.pptx")
'Closes the Presentation.
pptxDoc.Close()You can download a complete working sample from GitHub.
Working with GroupShape
Creating a GroupShape
The shapes in a slide can be grouped into a single shape. The following code snippet demonstrates how to group different slide items into a single GroupShape.
//Creates an instance for PowerPoint presentation
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Create();
//Adds a blank slide to presentation
ISlide slide = pptxDoc.Slides.Add(SlideLayoutType.Blank);
//Adds a group shape to the slide
IGroupShape groupShape = slide.GroupShapes.AddGroupShape(20, 20, 450, 300);
//Adds a TextBox to the group shape
groupShape.Shapes.AddTextBox(30, 25, 100, 100).TextBody.AddParagraph("My TextBox");
//Gets the image stream
FileStream pictureStream = new FileStream(imagePath, FileMode.Open);
//Adds a picture to the group shape
groupShape.Shapes.AddPicture(pictureStream, 40, 100, 100, 100);
//Adds a shape to the group shape
groupShape.Shapes.AddShape(AutoShapeType.Rectangle, 200, 200, 90, 30);
//Save the PowerPoint Presentation as stream
FileStream outputStream = new FileStream("Sample.pptx", FileMode.Create);
pptxDoc.Save(outputStream);
//Close the presentation
pptxDoc.Close();//Creates an instance for PowerPoint presentation
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Create();
//Adds a blank slide to presentation
ISlide slide = pptxDoc.Slides.Add(SlideLayoutType.Blank);
//Adds a group shape to the slide
IGroupShape groupShape = slide.GroupShapes.AddGroupShape(20, 20, 450, 300);
//Adds a TextBox to the group shape
groupShape.Shapes.AddTextBox(30, 25, 100, 100).TextBody.AddParagraph("My TextBox");
//Gets the image stream
Stream pictureStream = File.Open("Image.png", FileMode.Open);
//Adds a picture to the group shape
groupShape.Shapes.AddPicture(pictureStream, 40, 100, 100, 100);
//Adds a shape to the group shape
groupShape.Shapes.AddShape(AutoShapeType.Rectangle, 200, 200, 90, 30);
//Save the presentation
pptxDoc.Save("Output.pptx");
//Close the presentation
pptxDoc.Close();'Creates an instance for PowerPoint presentation
Dim pptxDoc As IPresentation = Presentation.Create()
'Adds a blank slide to presentation
Dim slide As ISlide = pptxDoc.Slides.Add(SlideLayoutType.Blank)
'Adds a group shape to the slide
Dim groupShape As IGroupShape = slide.GroupShapes.AddGroupShape(20, 20, 450, 300)
'Adds a TextBox to the group shape
groupShape.Shapes.AddTextBox(30, 25, 100, 100).TextBody.AddParagraph("My TextBox")
'Gets the image stream
Dim pictureStream As Stream = File.Open("Image.png", FileMode.Open)
'Adds a picture to the group shape
groupShape.Shapes.AddPicture(pictureStream, 40, 100, 100, 100)
'Adds a shape to the group shape
groupShape.Shapes.AddShape(AutoShapeType.Rectangle, 200, 200, 90, 30)
'Saves the presentation
pptxDoc.Save("Output.pptx")
'Closes the presentation
pptxDoc.Close()You can download a complete working sample from GitHub.
Iterating and modifying a particular GroupShape
You can iterate through the shape collection of a GroupShape. Below code snippet demonstrates how to iterate through the shapes of a GroupShape to modify it by removing a specific shape.
//Loads or open an PowerPoint Presentation
FileStream inputStream = new FileStream("Sample.pptx",FileMode.Open);
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Open(inputStream);
//Retrieves the first slide
ISlide slide = pptxDoc.Slides[0];
//Retrieves the first group shape of the slide
IGroupShape groupShape = slide.GroupShapes[0];
//Creates an instance to hold shape collection
IShapes shapes = groupShape.Shapes;
//Iterates the shape collection to remove the picture in a group shape
foreach (IShape shape in shapes)
{
if (shape.SlideItemType == SlideItemType.Picture)
{
shapes.Remove(shape);
break;
}
}
//Save the PowerPoint Presentation as stream
FileStream outputStream = new FileStream("Output.pptx", FileMode.Create);
pptxDoc.Save(outputStream);
//Closes the presentation
pptxDoc.Close();//Opens a PowerPoint presentation with group shapes
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Open("Sample.pptx");
//Retrieves the first slide
ISlide slide = pptxDoc.Slides[0];
//Retrieves the first group shape of the slide
IGroupShape groupShape = slide.GroupShapes[0];
//Creates an instance to hold shape collection
IShapes shapes = groupShape.Shapes;
//Iterates the shape collection to remove the picture in a group shape
foreach (IShape shape in shapes)
{
if (shape.SlideItemType == SlideItemType.Picture)
{
shapes.Remove(shape);
break;
}
}
//Saves the presentation
pptxDoc.Save("Output.pptx");
//Closes the presentation
pptxDoc.Close();'Opens a PowerPoint presentation with group shapes
Dim pptxDoc As IPresentation = Presentation.Open("Sample.pptx")
'Retrieves the first slide
Dim slide As ISlide = pptxDoc.Slides(0)
'Retrieves the first group shape of the slide
Dim groupShape As IGroupShape = slide.GroupShapes(0)
'Creates an instance to hold shape collection
Dim shapes As IShapes = groupShape.Shapes
'Iterates shape collection to remove the picture in a group shape
For Each shape As IShape In shapes
If shape.SlideItemType = SlideItemType.Picture Then
shapes.Remove(shape)
Exit For
End If
Next
'Saves the presentation
pptxDoc.Save("Output.pptx")
'Closes the presentation
pptxDoc.Close()You can download a complete working sample from GitHub.
Removing a GroupShape
GroupShape can be removed from a slide using its instance or by its index position in the GroupShape collection of the slide. Below code snippet explains how to remove a GroupShape from a slide.
//Loads or open an PowerPoint Presentation
FileStream inputStream = new FileStream("Sample.pptx",FileMode.Open);
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Open(inputStream);
//Retrieves the first slide
ISlide slide = pptxDoc.Slides[0];
//Retrieves the first group shape of the slide
IGroupShape groupShape = slide.GroupShapes[0];
//Removes the group shape from group shape collection
slide.GroupShapes.Remove(groupShape);
//Save the PowerPoint Presentation as stream
FileStream outputStream = new FileStream("Output.pptx", FileMode.Create);
pptxDoc.Save(outputStream);
//Closes the presentation
pptxDoc.Close();//Opens a PowerPoint presentation with group shapes
IPresentation pptxDoc = Presentation.Open("Sample.pptx");
//Retrieves the first slide
ISlide slide = pptxDoc.Slides[0];
//Retrieves the first group shape of the slide
IGroupShape groupShape = slide.GroupShapes[0];
//Removes the group shape from group shape collection
slide.GroupShapes.Remove(groupShape);
//Saves the presentation
pptxDoc.Save("Output.pptx");
//Closes the presentation
pptxDoc.Close();'Opens a PowerPoint presentation with group shapes
Dim pptxDoc As IPresentation = Presentation.Open("Sample.pptx")
'Retrieves the first slide
Dim slide As ISlide = pptxDoc.Slides(0)
'Retrieves the first group shape of the slide
Dim groupShape As IGroupShape = slide.GroupShapes(0)
'Removes the group shape from group shape collection
slide.GroupShapes.Remove(groupShape)
'Saves the presentation
pptxDoc.Save("Output.pptx")
'Closes the presentation
pptxDoc.Close()You can download a complete working sample from GitHub.
NOTE
The Presentation library do not have support for converting the auto-shapes with modified adjustment values in PowerPoint presentation to image or PDF conversion. To know more about adjustment values in PowerPoint shapes please click here.