Powerpoint VBA Reference Library

The code below is intended to be a basic reference to anybody trying to use VBA code for Powerpoint.  It’s certainly not complete, but it is code I’ve used for various reasons.  I will try to add to and improve this reference as I use more PowerPoint VBA code.

Referencing presentations, slides and shapes

'Set the pptPresentation variable to the active presentation 
Dim pptPresentation As Presentation
Set pptPresentation = ActivePresentation

'Set the pptSlide variable to the active slide
Dim pptSlide As Slide
Set pptSlide = Application.ActiveWindow.View.Slide

'Set the pptSlide variable to a specific slide (the 4th slide)
Dim pptSlide As Slide
Set pptSlide = ActivePresentation.Slides(4)

'Set pptObject variable to the selected Object
Dim pptObject As Object
Set pptObject = ActiveWindow.Selection.ShapeRange

Count the number of slides

'Count the number of slides in the active presentation
Debug.Print ActivePresentation.slides.Count

Get the slide index number of the current slide

'Get the slide number of the active slide
Debug.Print Application.ActiveWindow.View.Slide.SlideIndex

Add slides

'Create a new blank slide in position 5 of the active presentation
Dim pptSlide As Slide
Set pptSlide = ActivePresentation.Slides.Add(5, ppLayoutBlank)

'Create a new blank slide at the end of the active presentation
Dim pptSlide As Slide
Set pptSlide = ActivePresentation.Slides.Add(ActivePresentation.Slides.Count + 1, ppLayoutBlank)

ppLayoutBlank is just one of a number of available layout options.

Delete Slides

'Delete a slide, slide 6 in this example 
ActivePresentation.Slides(6).Delete

 Move Slides

'Move the position of a slide, move slide 4 to become slide 2
ActivePresentation.Slides(4).MoveTo toPos:=2

Looping through all the slides of the active presentation

'Loop through each slide in the active presentation
Dim pptSlide As Slide
Dim pptShape As Shape

For Each pptSlide In ActivePresentation.Slides
 
    'Do something to each slide
 
Next

Looping through all the shapes on the active slide

'Looping through all shapes on the active slide
Dim pptSlide As Slide
Dim pptShape As Shape
Set pptSlide = Application.ActiveWindow.View.Slide

For Each pptShape In pptSlide.Shapes

    'Do something to each shape

Next

Looping through all shapes on all slides

'Loop through all shapes on a all slides of active presentation
Dim pptSlide As Slide
Dim pptShape As Shape
For Each pptSlide In ActivePresentation.Slides
    For Each pptShape In pptSlide.Shapes
        'Do something to those shapes

    Next

Next

Looping through all linked shapes on all slides

'Loop through all linked shapes on a all slides of active presentation
Dim pptSlide As Slide
Dim pptShape As Shape
For Each pptSlide In ActivePresentation.Slides
    For Each pptShape In pptSlide.Shapes

        If pptShape.Type = msoLinkedPicture Or pptShape.Type = msoLinkedOLEObject Then

            'Do something to those linked shapes

        End If
    
    Next

Next

If you are applying a method, the other option is to apply the method to all shapes, even if they are not linked. You will need to handle the errors where that shape is not a linked shape.

'Loop through all linked shapes on a all slides of active presentation
Dim pptSlide As Slide
Dim pptShape As Shape
For Each pptSlide In ActivePresentation.Slides
    For Each pptShape In pptSlide.Shapes

        On Error Resume Next

        'Apply method to all shapes, even if some shapes will error

        On Error Goto 0
    
    Next

Next

Managing Links

Some of the methods related to links occur at the presentation level, whilst others occur at the shape level.

Presentation level methods

'Break all links
ActivePresentation.BreakLinks

'Update all links
ActivePresentation.UpdateLinks

Shape level methods

The code snippets in this section do not stand alone.  They must be used where the pptShape has been set or defined through a loop.

'Break the link for a specific linked shape
pptShape.LinkFormat.BreakLink

'Update the link to a specific linked shape
pptShape.LinkFormat.UpdateLink

'Change the link type to Manual update
pptShape.LinkFormat.AutoUpdate = ppUpdateOptionManual

'Change the link type to automatic update
pptShape.LinkFormat.AutoUpdate = ppUpdateOptionAutomatic

'Change a link to go to a new source file
pptShape.LinkFormat.SourceFullName = "C:\Users\marks\ExcelBook.xlsx!Sheet1!R1C1:R20C20"

Shapes

'Create a shape and set to a variable
Dim pptSlide As Slide
Dim pptShape As Shape

Set pptSlide = Application.ActiveWindow.View.Slide 
Set pptShape = pptSlide.Shapes.AddShape(Type:=msoShapeRectangle, _
Left:=50, Top:=50, Width:=50, Height:=50)

'Name the shape
pptShape.Name = "myShape

'Display the sizes of the selected shape
Dim msgText As String
msgText = "Top: " & ActiveWindow.Selection.ShapeRange.Top & vbNewLine
msgText = msgText & "Left: " & ActiveWindow.Selection.ShapeRange.Left & vbNewLine
msgText = msgText & "Height: " & ActiveWindow.Selection.ShapeRange.Height & vbNewLine
msgText = msgText & "Width: " & ActiveWindow.Selection.ShapeRange.Width & vbNewLine

MsgBox msgText

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About the author

Hey, I’m Mark, and I run Excel Off The Grid.

My parents tell me that at the age of 7 I declared I was going to become a qualified accountant. I was either psychic or had no imagination, as that is exactly what happened. However, it wasn't until I was 35 that my journey really began.

In 2015, I started a new job, for which I was regularly working after 10pm. As a result, I rarely saw my children during the week. So, I started searching for the secrets to automating Excel. I discovered that by building a small number of simple tools, I could combine them together in different ways to automate nearly all my regular tasks. This meant I could work less hours (and I got pay raises!). Today, I teach these techniques to other professionals in our training program so they too can spend less time at work (and more time with their children and doing the things they love).

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Do you need help adapting this post to your needs?

I'm guessing the examples in this post don't exactly match your situation. We all use Excel differently, so it's impossible to write a post that will meet everybody's needs. By taking the time to understand the techniques and principles in this post (and elsewhere on this site), you should be able to adapt it to your needs.

But, if you're still struggling you should:

1. Read other blogs, or watch YouTube videos on the same topic. You will benefit much more by discovering your own solutions.
2. Ask the 'Excel Ninja' in your office. It's amazing what things other people know.
3. Ask a question in a forum like Mr Excel, or the Microsoft Answers Community. Remember, the people on these forums are generally giving their time for free. So take care to craft your question, make sure it's clear and concise.  List all the things you've tried, and provide screenshots, code segments and example workbooks.
4. Use Excel Rescue, who are my consultancy partner. They help by providing solutions to smaller Excel problems.

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What next?
Don't go yet, there is plenty more to learn on Excel Off The Grid.  Check out the latest posts:

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