# Working Solution for Worksheet Resizing

> Working solution for worksheet resizing in PowerPoint presentations using C++

Source: https://docs.aspose.com/slides/cpp/working-solution-for-worksheet-resizing/
Updated: 2026-08-05


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It has been observed that Excel worksheets embedded as OLE objects in a PowerPoint presentation through Aspose components are resized to an unidentified scale after the first activation. This behavior creates a noticeable visual difference in the presentation between the pre- and post-activation states of the OLE object. We have investigated this issue in detail and provided a solution, which is covered in this article.

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## **Background**

In the article [Manage OLE](/slides/cpp/manage-ole/), we explained how to add an OLE frame to a PowerPoint presentation using Aspose.Slides for C++. To address the [object preview issue](/slides/cpp/object-preview-issue-when-adding-oleobjectframe/), we assigned an image of the selected worksheet area to the OLE object frame. In the output presentation, when you double-click the OLE object frame displaying the worksheet image, the Excel workbook is activated. End users can make any desired changes to the actual Excel workbook and then return to the slide by clicking outside the activated Excel workbook. The size of the OLE object frame will change when the user returns to the slide. The resizing factor will vary depending on the size of the OLE object frame and the embedded Excel workbook. 

## **Cause of Resizing**

Since the Excel workbook has its own window size, it tries to retain its original size upon first activation. On the other hand, the OLE object frame has its own size. According to Microsoft, when the Excel workbook is activated, Excel and PowerPoint negotiate the size to ensure it maintains the correct proportions as part of the embedding process. The resizing occurs based on the differences between the Excel window size and the OLE object frame's size and position.

## **Working Solution**

There are two possible solutions to avoid the resizing effect.

- Scale the OLE frame size in the PowerPoint presentation to match the height and width of the desired number of rows and columns in the OLE frame.
- Keep the OLE frame size constant and scale the size of the participating rows and columns to fit within the selected OLE frame size.

### **Scale the OLE Frame Size**

In this approach, we will learn how to set the OLE frame size of the embedded Excel workbook to match the cumulative size of the participating rows and columns in the Excel worksheet.

Suppose we have a template Excel sheet and want to add it to a presentation as an OLE frame. In this scenario, the size of the OLE object frame will first be calculated based on the cumulative row heights and column widths of the participating rows and columns in the workbook. Then, we will set the size of the OLE frame to this calculated value. To avoid the red "EMBEDDED OLE OBJECT" message for the OLE frame in PowerPoint, we will also capture an image of the desired portions of the rows and columns in the workbook and set it as the OLE frame image.

```cpp
#include <DOM/IImageCollection.h>
#include <DOM/IShapeCollection.h>
#include <DOM/ISlide.h>
#include <DOM/Presentation.h>
#include <Export/SaveFormat.h>
#include <Ole/OleEmbeddedDataInfo.h>
#include <drawing/image.h>
#include <system/array.h>
#include <system/smart_ptr.h>
using namespace Aspose::Slides;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::DOM::Ole;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::Export;
using namespace System;
using namespace System::Drawing;

Aspose::Cells::Startup();

int startRow = 0, rowCount = 10;
int startColumn = 0, columnCount = 13;
int worksheetIndex = 0;

int imageResolution = 96;

Aspose::Cells::Workbook workbook(u"sample.xlsx");
auto worksheet = workbook.GetWorksheets().Get(worksheetIndex);

// Set the displayed size when the workbook file is used as an OLE object in PowerPoint.
auto lastRow = startRow + rowCount - 1;
auto lastColumn = startColumn + columnCount - 1;
workbook.GetWorksheets().SetOleSize(startRow, lastRow, startColumn, lastColumn);

auto cellRange = worksheet.GetCells().CreateRange(startRow, startColumn, rowCount, columnCount);
auto imageStream = CreateOleImage(cellRange, imageResolution);

// Get the width and height of the OLE image in points.
auto image = Image::FromStream(imageStream);
auto imageWidth = image->get_Width() * 72.0f / imageResolution;
auto imageHeight = image->get_Height() * 72.0f / imageResolution;

// We need to use the modified workbook.
auto oleStream = workbook.Save(Aspose::Cells::SaveFormat::Xlsx);
auto oleData = MakeArray<uint8_t>(oleStream.GetLength(), oleStream.GetData());
workbook.Dispose();

auto presentation = MakeObject<Presentation>();
auto slide = presentation->get_Slide(0);

// Add the OLE image to the presentation resources.
auto oleImage = presentation->get_Images()->AddImage(image);
image->Dispose();

// Create the OLE object frame.
auto dataInfo = MakeObject<OleEmbeddedDataInfo>(oleData, u"xlsx");
auto oleFrame = slide->get_Shapes()->AddOleObjectFrame(10, 10, imageWidth, imageHeight, dataInfo);
oleFrame->get_SubstitutePictureFormat()->get_Picture()->set_Image(oleImage);
oleFrame->set_IsObjectIcon(false);

presentation->Save(u"output.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
presentation->Dispose();

Aspose::Cells::Cleanup();
```

```cpp
#include <system/array.h>
#include <system/io/memory_stream.h>
#include <system/smart_ptr.h>
#include "Aspose.Cells/ImageOrPrintOptions.h"
#include "Aspose.Cells/ImageType.h"
#include "Aspose.Cells/PageSetup.h"
#include "Aspose.Cells/Range.h"
#include "Aspose.Cells/SheetRender.h"
#include "Aspose.Cells/Worksheet.h"
using namespace System;
using namespace System::IO;

SharedPtr<MemoryStream> CreateOleImage(Aspose::Cells::Range cellRange, int imageResolution)
{
    auto pageSetup = cellRange.GetWorksheet().GetPageSetup();
    pageSetup.SetPrintArea(cellRange.GetAddress());
    pageSetup.SetLeftMargin(0);
    pageSetup.SetRightMargin(0);
    pageSetup.SetTopMargin(0);
    pageSetup.SetBottomMargin(0);
    pageSetup.ClearHeaderFooter();

    Aspose::Cells::ImageOrPrintOptions imageOptions;
    imageOptions.SetImageType(Aspose::Cells::ImageType::Png);
    imageOptions.SetVerticalResolution(imageResolution);
    imageOptions.SetHorizontalResolution(imageResolution);
    imageOptions.SetOnePagePerSheet(true);
    imageOptions.SetOnlyArea(true);

    Aspose::Cells::SheetRender sheetRender(cellRange.GetWorksheet(), imageOptions);
    auto renderData = sheetRender.ToImage(0);
    auto imageData = MakeObject<Array<uint8_t>>(renderData.GetLength(), renderData.GetData());
    auto imageStream = MakeObject<MemoryStream>(imageData);
    sheetRender.Dispose();

    return imageStream;
}
```

### **Scale the Cell Range Size**

In this approach, we will learn how to scale the heights of the participating rows and the width of the participating columns to match a custom OLE frame size.

Suppose we have a template Excel sheet and want to add it to a presentation as an OLE frame. In this scenario, we will set the size of the OLE frame and scale the size of the rows and columns that participate in the OLE frame area. We will then save the workbook to a stream to apply the changes and convert it to a byte array for adding it to the OLE frame. To avoid the red "EMBEDDED OLE OBJECT" message for the OLE frame in PowerPoint, we will also capture an image of the desired portions of the rows and columns in the workbook and set it as the OLE frame image.

```cpp
#include <DOM/IImageCollection.h>
#include <DOM/IShapeCollection.h>
#include <DOM/ISlide.h>
#include <DOM/Presentation.h>
#include <Export/SaveFormat.h>
#include <Ole/OleEmbeddedDataInfo.h>
#include <system/array.h>
#include <system/smart_ptr.h>
using namespace Aspose::Slides;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::DOM::Ole;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::Export;
using namespace System;

Aspose::Cells::Startup();

int startRow = 0, rowCount = 10;
int startColumn = 0, columnCount = 13;
int worksheetIndex = 0;

int imageResolution = 96;
float frameWidth = 400, frameHeight = 100;

Aspose::Cells::Workbook workbook(u"sample.xlsx");
auto worksheet = workbook.GetWorksheets().Get(worksheetIndex);

// Set the displayed size when the workbook file is used as an OLE object in PowerPoint.
auto lastRow = startRow + rowCount - 1;
auto lastColumn = startColumn + columnCount - 1;
workbook.GetWorksheets().SetOleSize(startRow, lastRow, startColumn, lastColumn);

// Scale the cell range to fit the frame size.
auto cellRange = worksheet.GetCells().CreateRange(startRow, startColumn, rowCount, columnCount);
ScaleCellRange(cellRange, frameWidth, frameHeight);

auto imageStream = CreateOleImage(cellRange, imageResolution);

// We need to use the modified workbook.
auto oleStream = workbook.Save(Aspose::Cells::SaveFormat::Xlsx);
auto oleData = MakeArray<uint8_t>(oleStream.GetLength(), oleStream.GetData());
workbook.Dispose();

auto presentation = MakeObject<Presentation>();
auto slide = presentation->get_Slide(0);

// Add the OLE image to the presentation resources.
auto oleImage = presentation->get_Images()->AddImage(imageStream);
imageStream->Dispose();

// Create the OLE object frame.
auto dataInfo = MakeObject<OleEmbeddedDataInfo>(oleData, u"xlsx");
auto oleFrame = slide->get_Shapes()->AddOleObjectFrame(10, 10, frameWidth, frameHeight, dataInfo);
oleFrame->get_SubstitutePictureFormat()->get_Picture()->set_Image(oleImage);
oleFrame->set_IsObjectIcon(false);

presentation->Save(u"output.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
presentation->Dispose();

Aspose::Cells::Cleanup();
```

```cpp
#include "Aspose.Cells/Cells.h"
#include "Aspose.Cells/CellsUnitType.h"
#include "Aspose.Cells/Range.h"
#include "Aspose.Cells/Worksheet.h"

/// <param name="width">The expected width of the cell range in points.</param>
/// <param name="height">The expected height of the cell range in points.</param>
void ScaleCellRange(Aspose::Cells::Range cellRange, float width, float height)
{
    auto rangeWidth = cellRange.GetWidth();
    auto rangeHeight = cellRange.GetHeight();

    for (int i = 0; i < cellRange.GetColumnCount(); i++)
    {
        auto columnIndex = cellRange.GetFirstColumn() + i;
        auto columnWidth = cellRange.GetWorksheet().GetCells().GetColumnWidth(columnIndex, false, Aspose::Cells::CellsUnitType::Point);

        auto newColumnWidth = columnWidth * width / rangeWidth;
        auto widthInInches = newColumnWidth / 72;
        cellRange.GetWorksheet().GetCells().SetColumnWidthInch(columnIndex, widthInInches);
    }

    for (int i = 0; i < cellRange.GetRowCount(); i++)
    {
        auto rowIndex = cellRange.GetFirstRow() + i;
        auto rowHeight = cellRange.GetWorksheet().GetCells().GetRowHeight(rowIndex, false, Aspose::Cells::CellsUnitType::Point);

        auto newRowHeight = rowHeight * height / rangeHeight;
        auto heightInInches = newRowHeight / 72;
        cellRange.GetWorksheet().GetCells().SetRowHeightInch(rowIndex, heightInInches);
    }
}
```

```cpp
#include <system/array.h>
#include <system/io/memory_stream.h>
#include <system/smart_ptr.h>
#include "Aspose.Cells/ImageOrPrintOptions.h"
#include "Aspose.Cells/ImageType.h"
#include "Aspose.Cells/PageSetup.h"
#include "Aspose.Cells/Range.h"
#include "Aspose.Cells/SheetRender.h"
#include "Aspose.Cells/Worksheet.h"
using namespace System;
using namespace System::IO;

SharedPtr<MemoryStream> CreateOleImage(Aspose::Cells::Range cellRange, int imageResolution)
{
    auto pageSetup = cellRange.GetWorksheet().GetPageSetup();
    pageSetup.SetPrintArea(cellRange.GetAddress());
    pageSetup.SetLeftMargin(0);
    pageSetup.SetRightMargin(0);
    pageSetup.SetTopMargin(0);
    pageSetup.SetBottomMargin(0);
    pageSetup.ClearHeaderFooter();

    Aspose::Cells::ImageOrPrintOptions imageOptions;
    imageOptions.SetImageType(Aspose::Cells::ImageType::Png);
    imageOptions.SetVerticalResolution(imageResolution);
    imageOptions.SetHorizontalResolution(imageResolution);
    imageOptions.SetOnePagePerSheet(true);
    imageOptions.SetOnlyArea(true);

    Aspose::Cells::SheetRender sheetRender(cellRange.GetWorksheet(), imageOptions);
    auto renderData = sheetRender.ToImage(0);
    auto imageData = MakeObject<Array<uint8_t>>(renderData.GetLength(), renderData.GetData());
    auto imageStream = MakeObject<MemoryStream>(imageData);
    sheetRender.Dispose();

    return imageStream;
}
```

## **Conclusion**

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There are two approaches to fix the worksheet resizing issue. The selection of the appropriate approach depends on the specific requirements and use case. Both approaches work the same way, whether the presentations are created from a template or from scratch. Additionally, there is no limit on the size of the OLE object frame in this solution.

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## **FAQ**

### Why does an embedded Excel worksheet change size when first activated in PowerPoint?

This happens because Excel tries to maintain the original window size when activated, while the OLE object frame in PowerPoint has its own dimensions. PowerPoint and Excel negotiate the size to maintain aspect ratio, which can cause the resizing.

### Is it possible to prevent this resizing issue entirely?

Yes. By scaling the OLE frame to fit the Excel cell range size or scaling the cell range to fit the desired OLE frame size, you can prevent unwanted resizing.

### Which scaling method should I use, OLE frame scaling or cell range scaling?

Select **OLE frame scaling** if you want to maintain the original Excel row and column sizes. Select **cell range scaling** if you want a fixed size for the OLE frame in your presentation.

### Will these solutions work if my presentation is based on a template?

Yes. Both solutions work for presentations created from templates and from scratch.

### Is there a limit to the size of the OLE frame when using these methods?

No. You can make the OLE object frame any size as long as you set the scale appropriately.

### Is there a way to avoid the "EMBEDDED OLE OBJECT" placeholder text in PowerPoint?

Yes. By taking a snapshot of the target Excel cell range and setting it as the OLE frame's placeholder image, you can display a custom preview image in place of the default placeholder.

## **Related Articles**

[Creating an Excel Chart and Embedding It in a Presentation as an OLE Object](/slides/cpp/creating-excel-chart-and-embedding-it-in-presentation-as-ole-object/)