Rewrite of the PowerPoint UDF

[water]

I have started to rewrite the PowerPoint UDF similar to the Word, Excel and Outlook UDF. The new UDF will not be compatible with the existing one.
I will add examples, documentation, a section in the wiki etc.
So far the following functions have been coded - more are on the ToDo list.

• _PPT_Open: Open a connection to a running instance of PowerPoint or start a new one
• _PPT_Close: Close a PowerPoint instance
• _PPT_CommentAdd: Add a Comment anywhere on a Slide or connected to a Shape (version 1.5.0.0 2021-08-31)
• _PPT_CommentDelete: Delete a single Comment from a Slide or all Comments from a SlideRange (version 1.5.0.0 2021-08-31)
• _PPT_CommentList: Get a list of all Comments in a Presentation (version 1.5.0.0 2021-08-31)
• _PPT_ConvertUnits: Convert units (like centimeters) to other units (like points) (version 1.3.0.0 2021-08-17)
• _PPT_HeaderFooterList: Returns a list of Headers and Footers for a Presentation (version 1.1.0.0 2021-07-25, removed with version 1.4.0.0 2021-08-25)
• _PPT_HeaderFooterSet: Sets the Header/Footer for a Slide/Slides or the Slide-/Notes-/Handout-/Title-Master of the Presentation (version 1.2.0.0 2021-08-09)
• _PPT_PresentationAttach: Attach to an already opened Presentation
• _PPT_PresentationClose: Close a Presentation
• _PPT_PresentationExport: Export one/multiple/all Slides as PDF or XPS.
• _PPT_PresentationExportGraphic: Export one/multiple/all Slides in a graphic format.
• _PPT_PresentationList: Returns a list of currently open Presentations (version 1.0.0.0 2021-07-20)
• _PPT_PresentationNew: Create a new Presentation
• _PPT_PresentationOpen: Open an existing Presentation
• _PPT_Print: Print one/multiple/all Slides of a Presentation (version 1.0.0.0 2021-07-20)
• _PPT_PresentationSave: Save a Presentation
• _PPT_PresentationSaveAs: Save a Presentation to another location or with another type
• _PPT_ShapeAdd: Add a Shape to a single or multiple Slides (version 1.1.0.0 2021-07-25)
• _PPT_ShapeAlignDistribute: Aligns and distributes the Shapes in the specified ShapeRange (version 1.6.0.0 - to be released)
• _PPT_ShapeCopyMove: Copy/move a Shape(s) of a single Slide to a Slide(s) in the same or a different Presentation (version 1.1.0.0 2021-07-25)
• _PPT_ShapeDelete: Delete a Shape or Shapes from a single or multiple Slides (version 1.1.0.0 2021-07-25)
• _PPT_SlideAdd: Add slide(s) to a Presentation
• _PPT_SlideCopyMove: Copy, move, duplicate Slide(s)
• _PPT_SlideDelete: Delete Slide(s)
• _PPT_SlideShow: Show a Presentation
• _PPT_TableGet: Extract data from a PowerPoint Table Shape to an array (version 1.3.0.0 2021-08-17)
• _PPT_TableSet: Write data to a PowerPoint Table Shape (version 1.3.0.0 2021-08-17)
• _PPT_TextFindReplace: Find & replace text throughout entire PowerPoint presentation (version 1.0.0.0 2021-07-20)
• _PPT_TextSet: Sets/modifies the Text of a Shape or Shapes of a single or multiple Slides (version 1.2.0.0 2021-08-09

Which functions do you want me to add to the UDF?

ToDo list:

• create slide (JLogan3o13) - Done: _PPT_SlideAdd
• Apply template to slide (JLogan3o13) - Done: _PPT_SlideAdd
• Apply theme to slide (JLogan3o13)
• Cut/Copy/Duplicate/Move/Delete slide(s) (JLogan3o13) - Done: _PPT_SlideCopyMove, _PPT_SlideDelete
• Export slides (JLogan3o13) - Done: _PPT_PresentationExport
• Cut/Copy/Duplicate/Move/Delete shape(s) (JLogan3o13): Done : _PPT_ShapeCopyMove, _PPT_ShapeDelete (version 1.1.0.0 2021-07-25)
• ApplyAnimation, Select, SetDefaultProperties, and zOrder for shape(s) (JLogan3o13)
• Searching and replacing text (pcjunki) - Done: _PPT_TextFindReplace (version 1.0.0.0 2021-07-20)
• Export slides in a graphic format (JPG, GIF, PNG ...) (UEZ) - Done: _PPT_PresentationExportGraphic

The UDF can be downloaded from the download forum.
 

Edited September 28, 2021 by water
Added functions of version 1.5.0.0 to the list

[JLogan3o13]

Just my 2c, but I think the biggest bang for most users will be to include as many members as possible under the slide object: create, and delete of course, but maybe also ApplyTemplate/ApplyTheme, Cut/Copy/Duplicate, MoveTo (reorder) and Export. 

[water]

Thanks for the reply!
I've added them to the ToDo list.

[pcjunki]

searching and replacing text would be awesome!

like in those pesky text boxes.

[water]

Thanks too for your input!
Added to the list.

[JLogan3o13]

Trying to think of things I do in PPT, and what I might automate. The only other one I can think of would be the Shapes object. Mostly the same members as Slide: Copy,Cut,Delete,Duplicate. But also ApplyAnimation, Select,SetDefaultProperties, and zOrder.

[water]

Wow! The list gets longer and longer

[UEZ]

A progress bar or something like that would be fine.

[water]

When would you like to see a progress bar? Does PowerPoint any long lasting processing?

[UEZ]

Just add it to the PPP, e.g. you have 8 slides then a small progress at the buttom will show the current progress of the slides.

Slide / current progress at the buttom

1       #

...

7       #######

8       ########

 

[water]

Something for you to play with:
<Removed the files>
Alpha version added to the download forum (see first post in this thread).
 
 
 

Edited November 22, 2015 by water

[JLogan3o13]

Awesome work, as usual. The script runs through, and I see the intended layouts in the presentation. It does catch the following COM error out of the UDF:

Test.au3 (69) : ==> COM Error intercepted !
    err.number is:      0x80020006
    err.windescription: Unknown name.

    err.description is:     
    err.source is:      
    err.helpfile is:    
    err.helpcontext is:     
    err.lastdllerror is:    0
    err.scriptline is:  69
    err.retcode is:     0x00000000

 

[water]

If PowerPoint is not running when you start the script ObjGet returns this "error". This can be ignored and will not be seen with full blown example scripts

[BrewManNH]

Not to throw water on this idea, but how often does one need to automate creating a powerpoint presentation? I always thought it would be a manual process as they're usually a one-off type of thing.

[JLogan3o13]

My 2c, but I look at it the same as "Why climb Mt. Everest?". If it is something water is wants to put the work in on, I'm all for it, and think there are those that would find benefit.

[water]

I know this UDF won't be used on a daily basis like the Excel UDF. That's why I was reluctant for quite some time to start working on it.
But as it would be useful for me I now use some of my spare time for this project.
I have a meeting each month where I need to prepare the presentation manually by changing the date and the number of the meeting etc. This can be done automagically

[BrewManNH]

I never said don't put the time into it, I just wondered the purpose of automating what I saw as basically a one time document.

I worked on the ToolTip UDF and I'm pretty sure practically no one uses that either, but it was something I could sink my teeth into at the time. So I understand the desire.

[mLipok]

This can be done automagically

autoitmagically

 

[water]

Added the Alpha version to the download forum.

New function _PPT_SlideCopyMove.

[mLipok]

I was reading something about 

• Searching and replacing text (pcjunki)

Just here:

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/ff746607.aspx

and playing around:

Func _PPT_PresentationGetText(ByRef $oPresentation)
    Local $sText = ""
    If Not IsObj($oPresentation) Or ObjName($oPresentation, 1) <> "_Presentation" Then Return SetError(1, 0, 0)
    For $oSlide_enum In $oPresentation.Slides
        For $oShape_enum In $oSlide_enum.Shapes
            If $oShape_enum.HasTextFrame Then
                $sText &= $oShape_enum.TextFrame.TextRange.Text & @CRLF
            EndIf
        Next
    Next
    Return $sText
EndFunc

mLipok

 

EDIT:
Better example:

Func _PPT_PresentationGetText(ByRef $oPresentation, $iSlide  = -1 )
    Local $sText = ""
    If Not IsObj($oPresentation) Or ObjName($oPresentation, 1) <> "_Presentation" Then Return SetError(1, 0, 0)
    
    If $oPresentation.Slides.Count = 0
        Return SetError(2, 0, 0)
    ElseIf Not IsInt($iSlide) Then
        Return SetError(3, 0, 0)
    ElseIf $iSlide = -1 then
        For $oSlide_enum In $oPresentation.Slides
            $sText &= _PPT_SlideGetText($oSlide_enum)
        Next
        Return $sText
    ElseIf $iSlide < 1 or $iSlide > $oPresentation.Slides.Count
        Return SetError(4, 0, 0)
    Else
        Return _PPT_SlideGetText($oPresentation.Slides.Item($iSlide))
    EndIf
EndFunc

Func _PPT_SlideGetText(ByRef $oSlide)
    Local $sText = ''
    For $oShape_enum In $oSlide.Shapes
        If $oShape_enum.HasTextFrame Then
            $sText &= $oShape_enum.TextFrame.TextRange.Text & @CRLF
        EndIf
    Next
    Return $sText
Next

Hope will be useful.

ps. not tested

 

btw.
For this who want to read more:
Object model (PowerPoint VBA reference)

mLipok

Edited November 23, 2015 by mLipok