Add Math Equations to PowerPoint Presentations in Java

Overview

PowerPoint stores equations as Office Math Markup Language (OMML). With Aspose.Slides for Java, you can create the same kind of math content programmatically: fractions, radicals, functions, limits, N-ary operators, matrices, arrays, and formatted math blocks.

In PowerPoint, users normally add equations from Insert > Equation:

PowerPoint Insert tab with the Equation command selected

The result is editable math text on the slide:

A PowerPoint slide containing an editable math equation

Aspose.Slides builds that math text through three main objects:

Most examples below use MathematicalText and the fluent methods from IMathElement to keep the code short and readable.

For MathML export scenarios, see Export Math Equations from Presentations in Java.

Create an Equation

This example uses addMathShape to create a math shape and adds the Pythagorean theorem:

The equation c squared equals a squared plus b squared

import com.aspose.slides.*;

Presentation presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    ISlide slide = presentation.getSlides().get_Item(0);

    IAutoShape mathShape = slide.getShapes().addMathShape(20, 20, 700, 120);
    IMathParagraph mathParagraph = ((MathPortion) mathShape.getTextFrame().getParagraphs()
            .get_Item(0).getPortions().get_Item(0)).getMathParagraph();

    IMathBlock equation = new MathematicalText("c")
            .setSuperscript("2")
            .join("=")
            .join(new MathematicalText("a").setSuperscript("2"))
            .join("+")
            .join(new MathematicalText("b").setSuperscript("2"));

    mathParagraph.add(equation);

    presentation.save("pythagorean-theorem.pptx", SaveFormat.Pptx);
} finally {
    presentation.dispose();
}

Add Fractions

Use divide to create a fraction. You can choose a fraction style with MathFractionTypes.

A skewed math fraction showing one divided by x

import com.aspose.slides.*;

Presentation presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    ISlide slide = presentation.getSlides().get_Item(0);

    IAutoShape mathShape = slide.getShapes().addMathShape(20, 20, 700, 100);
    IMathParagraph mathParagraph = ((MathPortion) mathShape.getTextFrame().getParagraphs()
            .get_Item(0).getPortions().get_Item(0)).getMathParagraph();

    IMathFraction fraction = new MathematicalText("1")
            .divide("x", MathFractionTypes.Skewed);

    mathParagraph.add(new MathBlock(fraction));

    presentation.save("fraction.pptx", SaveFormat.Pptx);
} finally {
    presentation.dispose();
}

For a stacked fraction, use MathFractionTypes.Bar:

import com.aspose.slides.*;

IMathFraction stackedFraction = new MathematicalText("x + 1").divide("y - 1", MathFractionTypes.Bar);

Add Radicals

Use radical to create a square root, cube root, or other root. The current element becomes the base, and the argument becomes the degree.

An n-th root radical expression with x under the radical sign

import com.aspose.slides.*;

Presentation presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    ISlide slide = presentation.getSlides().get_Item(0);

    IAutoShape mathShape = slide.getShapes().addMathShape(20, 20, 700, 100);
    IMathParagraph mathParagraph = ((MathPortion) mathShape.getTextFrame().getParagraphs()
            .get_Item(0).getPortions().get_Item(0)).getMathParagraph();

    IMathRadical radical = new MathematicalText("x")
            .radical("n");

    mathParagraph.add(new MathBlock(radical));

    presentation.save("radical.pptx", SaveFormat.Pptx);
} finally {
    presentation.dispose();
}

Add Functions and Limits

Use asArgumentOfFunction or function for functions such as sin(x), log(x), or custom function names. For limits, put lim in a MathLimit or use setLowerLimit.

The limit of x as x approaches infinity

import com.aspose.slides.*;

Presentation presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    ISlide slide = presentation.getSlides().get_Item(0);

    IAutoShape mathShape = slide.getShapes().addMathShape(20, 20, 700, 100);
    IMathParagraph mathParagraph = ((MathPortion) mathShape.getTextFrame().getParagraphs()
            .get_Item(0).getPortions().get_Item(0)).getMathParagraph();

    IMathFunction limit = new MathematicalText("lim")
            .setLowerLimit("x\u2192\u221E")
            .function("x");

    mathParagraph.add(new MathBlock(limit));

    presentation.save("functions-and-limits.pptx", SaveFormat.Pptx);
} finally {
    presentation.dispose();
}

For a custom function name, make the function name the current element and call function with its argument:

import com.aspose.slides.*;

IMathFunction customFunction = new MathematicalText("f").function("x + 1");

Add N-ary Operators and Integrals

Use nary for summations, unions, intersections, and other large operators. Use integral for integrals. Both methods let you set lower and upper limits.

A summation with lower and upper limits

import com.aspose.slides.*;

Presentation presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    ISlide slide = presentation.getSlides().get_Item(0);

    IAutoShape mathShape = slide.getShapes().addMathShape(20, 20, 700, 120);
    IMathParagraph mathParagraph = ((MathPortion) mathShape.getTextFrame().getParagraphs()
            .get_Item(0).getPortions().get_Item(0)).getMathParagraph();

    IMathBlock summationBase = new MathematicalText("x")
            .setSuperscript("k")
            .join(new MathematicalText("a").setSuperscript("n-k"));

    IMathNaryOperator summation = summationBase.nary(MathNaryOperatorTypes.Summation, "k=0", "n");

    mathParagraph.add(new MathBlock(summation));

    presentation.save("nary-operators.pptx", SaveFormat.Pptx);
} finally {
    presentation.dispose();
}

N-ary operators are for large operators with optional limits. Simple operators such as +, -, and = are usually added as MathematicalText and joined into the expression.

For an integral, use integral:

import com.aspose.slides.*;

IMathBlock integralBase = new MathematicalText("x").join(new MathematicalText("dx").toBox());
IMathNaryOperator integral = integralBase.integral(MathIntegralTypes.Simple, "0", "1");

Add Matrices

Use MathMatrix for rows and columns. Matrices do not include brackets by default, so enclose the matrix when you need parentheses, brackets, or braces.

A two-row math matrix with one empty cell

import com.aspose.slides.*;

Presentation presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    ISlide slide = presentation.getSlides().get_Item(0);

    IAutoShape mathShape = slide.getShapes().addMathShape(20, 20, 700, 120);
    IMathParagraph mathParagraph = ((MathPortion) mathShape.getTextFrame().getParagraphs()
            .get_Item(0).getPortions().get_Item(0)).getMathParagraph();

    MathMatrix matrix = new MathMatrix(2, 3);
    matrix.set_Item(0, 0, new MathematicalText("1"));
    matrix.set_Item(0, 1, new MathematicalText("x"));
    matrix.set_Item(1, 0, new MathematicalText("x"));
    matrix.set_Item(1, 1, new MathematicalText("2"));
    matrix.set_Item(1, 2, new MathematicalText("y"));

    mathParagraph.add(new MathBlock(matrix));

    presentation.save("matrix.pptx", SaveFormat.Pptx);
} finally {
    presentation.dispose();
}

Add Equation Arrays

Use toMathArray when you need aligned equations or a vertical stack of expressions.

A vertical math array with x above y

import com.aspose.slides.*;

Presentation presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    ISlide slide = presentation.getSlides().get_Item(0);

    IAutoShape mathShape = slide.getShapes().addMathShape(20, 20, 700, 140);
    IMathParagraph mathParagraph = ((MathPortion) mathShape.getTextFrame().getParagraphs()
            .get_Item(0).getPortions().get_Item(0)).getMathParagraph();

    IMathArray equationArray = new MathematicalText("x")
            .join("y")
            .toMathArray();

    mathParagraph.add(new MathBlock(equationArray));

    presentation.save("equation-array.pptx", SaveFormat.Pptx);
} finally {
    presentation.dispose();
}

Align an Array with Surrounding Elements

setBaseJustification controls the vertical alignment of an array relative to the mathematical elements beside it. The example below compares alignment with the first row, the center of the array, and the last row.

The following example creates three identical arrays, each with three rows and the neighboring elements A= and =B. All mathematical text uses Cambria Math at 24 points. Only the array alignment changes.

import com.aspose.slides.*;
import java.awt.Color;

class MathTextFactory {
    MathematicalText createText(String value) {
        MathematicalText text = new MathematicalText(value);
        text.getFormat().setFontHeight(24);
        text.getFormat().setLatinFont(new FontData("Cambria Math"));
        return text;
    }
}

MathTextFactory factory = new MathTextFactory();
Presentation presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    presentation.getSlideSize().setSize(780, 200, SlideSizeScaleType.DoNotScale);
    ISlide slide = presentation.getSlides().get_Item(0);
    
    int[] alignments = { MathVerticalAlignment.Top, MathVerticalAlignment.Center, MathVerticalAlignment.Bottom };
    String[] alignmentNames = { "Top", "Center", "Bottom" };

    for (int i = 0; i < alignments.length; i++) {
        IAutoShape label = slide.getShapes().addAutoShape(ShapeType.Rectangle, 20 + i * 260, 10, 240, 30);
        label.getFillFormat().setFillType(FillType.NoFill);
        label.getLineFormat().getFillFormat().setFillType(FillType.NoFill);
        label.getTextFrame().setText(alignmentNames[i]);
        IPortionFormat labelFormat = label.getTextFrame().getParagraphs().get_Item(0).getPortions().get_Item(0).getPortionFormat();
        labelFormat.setFontHeight(16);
        labelFormat.getFillFormat().setFillType(FillType.Solid);
        labelFormat.getFillFormat().getSolidFillColor().setColor(Color.BLACK);

        IAutoShape mathShape = slide.getShapes().addMathShape(20 + i * 260, 60, 240, 130);
        mathShape.getTextFrame().getTextFrameFormat().setAnchoringType(TextAnchorType.Top);
        IMathParagraph mathParagraph = ((IMathPortion) mathShape.getTextFrame().getParagraphs().get_Item(0).getPortions().get_Item(0)).getMathParagraph();
        mathParagraph.setJustification(MathJustification.LeftJustified);

        IMathElement[] rows = { factory.createText("x+y=3"), factory.createText("x-y=1"), factory.createText("x=2") };
        MathArray equationArray = new MathArray(rows[0]);
        equationArray.getArguments().add(rows[1]);
        equationArray.getArguments().add(rows[2]);
        equationArray.setBaseJustification(alignments[i]);
        MathematicalText leftText = factory.createText("A=");
        MathematicalText rightText = factory.createText("=B");
        IMathBlock equation = new MathBlock(leftText).join(equationArray).join(rightText);
        mathParagraph.add(equation);
    }

    presentation.save("equation-array-alignment.pptx", SaveFormat.Pptx);
} finally {
    presentation.dispose();
}

The following comparison shows the saved presentation in PowerPoint. Notice the position of A= and =B beside each array.

Equation arrays in PowerPoint with Top, Center, and Bottom alignment and identical neighboring elements

Configure Row Spacing

setRowSpacingRule selects the spacing rule for rows within the array. setRowSpacing supplies a numeric value for an explicit spacing rule and is ignored by the preset rules.

For exact spacing, the value is measured in points. For proportional spacing, it is measured in half-lines: the value 3 in the example specifies 1.5 lines. Set both properties when specifying an explicit value; changing the numeric value alone does not select a spacing rule.

The example below saves five presentations with the same equations, alignment, and font settings. The first three use presets; the last two show explicit values.

import com.aspose.slides.*;

class MathTextFactory {
    MathematicalText createText(String value) {
        MathematicalText text = new MathematicalText(value);
        text.getFormat().setFontHeight(24);
        text.getFormat().setLatinFont(new FontData("Cambria Math"));
        return text;
    }
}

MathTextFactory factory = new MathTextFactory();
int[] rules = { MathRowSpacingRule.SingleLineGap, MathRowSpacingRule.OneAndAHalfLineGap, MathRowSpacingRule.TwoLineGap, MathRowSpacingRule.Exactly, MathRowSpacingRule.Multiple };
int[] spacingValues = { 0, 0, 0, 20, 3 };
String[] ruleNames = { "SingleLineGap", "OneAndAHalfLineGap", "TwoLineGap", "Exactly", "Multiple" };

for (int i = 0; i < rules.length; i++) {
    String fileName = "equation-array-" + ruleNames[i] + ".pptx";
    Presentation presentation = new Presentation();
    try {
        IAutoShape mathShape = presentation.getSlides().get_Item(0).getShapes().addMathShape(20, 20, 600, 300);
        IParagraph paragraph = mathShape.getTextFrame().getParagraphs().get_Item(0);
        paragraph.getParagraphFormat().setSpaceBefore(0);
        paragraph.getParagraphFormat().setSpaceAfter(0);
        IMathParagraph mathParagraph = ((IMathPortion) paragraph.getPortions().get_Item(0)).getMathParagraph();
        mathParagraph.setJustification(MathJustification.LeftJustified);

        IMathElement[] rows = { factory.createText("x+y=3"), factory.createText("x-y=1"), factory.createText("x=2") };
        MathArray equationArray = new MathArray(rows[0]);
        equationArray.getArguments().add(rows[1]);
        equationArray.getArguments().add(rows[2]);
        equationArray.setBaseJustification(MathVerticalAlignment.Center);
        equationArray.setRowSpacingRule(rules[i]);
        equationArray.setRowSpacing(spacingValues[i]);
        MathematicalText leftText = factory.createText("A=");
        MathematicalText rightText = factory.createText("=B");
        IMathBlock equation = new MathBlock(leftText).join(equationArray).join(rightText);
        mathParagraph.add(equation);

        presentation.save(fileName, SaveFormat.Pptx);
    } finally {
        presentation.dispose();
    }
}

Array row spacing is separate from paragraph spacing. setSpaceBefore and setSpaceAfter add space around the containing paragraph, not between array rows. Likewise, IMathParagraph.setJustification positions the whole math paragraph horizontally; it does not replace the array’s vertical alignment setting.

Add Trigonometric Functions

Use asArgumentOfFunction when the argument is the current element and the function name is known.

The trigonometric function cos applied to 2x

import com.aspose.slides.*;

Presentation presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    ISlide slide = presentation.getSlides().get_Item(0);

    IAutoShape mathShape = slide.getShapes().addMathShape(20, 20, 700, 100);
    IMathParagraph mathParagraph = ((MathPortion) mathShape.getTextFrame().getParagraphs()
            .get_Item(0).getPortions().get_Item(0)).getMathParagraph();

    IMathFunction cosine = new MathematicalText("2x")
            .asArgumentOfFunction(MathFunctionsOfOneArgument.Cos);

    mathParagraph.add(new MathBlock(cosine));

    presentation.save("trigonometric-function.pptx", SaveFormat.Pptx);
} finally {
    presentation.dispose();
}

Add Subscripts and Superscripts

Use the subscript and superscript helpers for indexes and powers. When the indexes must appear on the left side of the base, use setSubSuperscriptOnTheLeft.

A capital Y with left-side subscript 1 and superscript n

import com.aspose.slides.*;

Presentation presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    ISlide slide = presentation.getSlides().get_Item(0);

    IAutoShape mathShape = slide.getShapes().addMathShape(20, 20, 700, 100);
    IMathParagraph mathParagraph = ((MathPortion) mathShape.getTextFrame().getParagraphs()
            .get_Item(0).getPortions().get_Item(0)).getMathParagraph();

    IMathLeftSubSuperscriptElement scripts = new MathematicalText("Y")
            .setSubSuperscriptOnTheLeft("1", "n");

    mathParagraph.add(new MathBlock(scripts));

    presentation.save("subscript-superscript.pptx", SaveFormat.Pptx);
} finally {
    presentation.dispose();
}

Add Delimiters

Use enclose to put an expression inside delimiters. You can also set a separator character for delimiter expressions that contain several elements.

A delimiter expression containing x, y, and z separated by vertical bars

import com.aspose.slides.*;

Presentation presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    ISlide slide = presentation.getSlides().get_Item(0);

    IAutoShape mathShape = slide.getShapes().addMathShape(20, 20, 700, 100);
    IMathParagraph mathParagraph = ((MathPortion) mathShape.getTextFrame().getParagraphs()
            .get_Item(0).getPortions().get_Item(0)).getMathParagraph();

    IMathDelimiter delimiter = new MathematicalText("x")
            .join("y")
            .join("z")
            .enclose('<', '>');
    delimiter.setSeparatorCharacter('|');

    mathParagraph.add(new MathBlock(delimiter));

    presentation.save("delimiters.pptx", SaveFormat.Pptx);
} finally {
    presentation.dispose();
}

Size and Align Delimiters

Pass true to setGrowToMatchOperandHeight to let the parentheses grow around a tall operand, or pass false to keep them at their normal size. Use setDelimiterShape with one of two MathDelimiterShape values. Centered centers the parentheses on the math axis, which runs through the middle of the equals sign. Match aligns them with the enclosed content. Both settings affect only the delimiters. The expression inside stays the same.

The example places a fraction in the exponent of x so the expression extends farther above the baseline than below it. All four equations use the same parentheses and font settings.

import com.aspose.slides.*;

Presentation presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    ISlide slide = presentation.getSlides().get_Item(0);
    for (int row = 0; row < 2; row++) {
        for (int column = 0; column < 2; column++) {
            IMathFraction fraction = new MathematicalText("a + b").divide("c + d");
            IMathSuperscriptElement power = new MathematicalText("x").setSuperscript(fraction);
            IMathDelimiter delimiter = power.enclose('(', ')');
            delimiter.setGrowToMatchOperandHeight(row == 0);
            delimiter.setDelimiterShape(column == 0 ? MathDelimiterShape.Centered : MathDelimiterShape.Match);

            IAutoShape mathShape = slide.getShapes().addMathShape(20 + 330 * column, 20 + 120 * row, 300, 100);
            MathPortion portion = (MathPortion) mathShape.getTextFrame().getParagraphs().get_Item(0).getPortions().get_Item(0);
            portion.getPortionFormat().setFontHeight(32);
            IMathBlock equation = new MathematicalText("y = ").join(delimiter);
            portion.getMathParagraph().add(equation);
        }
    }
    presentation.save("delimiter-sizing.pptx", SaveFormat.Pptx);
} finally {
    presentation.dispose();
}

In PowerPoint, compare the rows to see the effect of growth. In the top row, the parentheses grow to enclose the exponent and look alike for both shapes. In the bottom row, growth is off. The smaller parentheses on the left (Centered) align with the equals sign, while those on the right (Match) sit higher around the expression.

Four equations in PowerPoint with delimiter growth enabled above and disabled below, and Centered on the left and Match on the right

Add a Border Box

Call toBorderBox on a fraction to frame the entire expression. The returned IMathBorderBox shows all four sides by default. Use setHideTop, setHideBottom, setHideLeft, and setHideRight to remove individual sides.

The example places six copies of the same fraction on one slide. To show cancellation, hide all four sides and pass true to setStrikethroughBottomLeftToTopRight for a rising diagonal (↗) or setStrikethroughTopLeftToBottomRight for a falling diagonal (↘). You can also use setStrikethroughHorizontal or setStrikethroughVertical with any combination of visible sides.

import com.aspose.slides.*;

Presentation presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    presentation.getSlideSize().setSize(540, 220, SlideSizeScaleType.DoNotScale);
    ISlide slide = presentation.getSlides().get_Item(0);

    class FractionBuilder {
        IMathBorderBox addFraction(float x, float y, boolean hideBorder) {
            IMathFraction fraction = new MathematicalText("x+1").divide("y+2");
            IMathBorderBox box = fraction.toBorderBox();
            box.setHideTop(hideBorder);
            box.setHideBottom(hideBorder);
            box.setHideLeft(hideBorder);
            box.setHideRight(hideBorder);

            IAutoShape shape = slide.getShapes().addMathShape(x, y, 160, 90);
            MathPortion portion = (MathPortion) shape.getTextFrame().getParagraphs().get_Item(0).getPortions().get_Item(0);
            portion.getPortionFormat().setFontHeight(28);
            portion.getMathParagraph().add(new MathBlock(box));
            return box;
        }
    }

    FractionBuilder builder = new FractionBuilder();
    builder.addFraction(10, 10, false);

    IMathBorderBox partial = builder.addFraction(190, 10, false);
    partial.setHideTop(true);
    partial.setHideRight(true);

    builder.addFraction(370, 10, true).setStrikethroughBottomLeftToTopRight(true);
    builder.addFraction(10, 120, true).setStrikethroughTopLeftToBottomRight(true);
    builder.addFraction(190, 120, true).setStrikethroughHorizontal(true);
    builder.addFraction(370, 120, false).setStrikethroughVertical(true);

    presentation.save("border-box.pptx", SaveFormat.Pptx);
} finally {
    presentation.dispose();
}

Six editable fractions in PowerPoint. Top row: full border, bottom and left sides, rising diagonal. Bottom row: falling diagonal, horizontal strike, vertical strike with a full border.

On this fraction, the horizontal strike overlaps the fraction bar. The vertical strike crosses both the numerator and the denominator while the surrounding border stays visible. These lines decorate the whole expression. Ordinary text strikethrough applies to characters in a text run. After reopening the presentation in PowerPoint, you can still edit the numerator and denominator independently.

Control Visibility and Layout with Phantom Elements

Wrap an expression in MathPhantom to control its visibility and the space it contributes to an equation independently. The IMathPhantom methods control the following:

Method Effect
setShow Pass false to hide the expression. Its dimensions still contribute to layout unless the corresponding methods below receive true.
setZeroWidth Treat the expression’s horizontal width as zero, allowing neighboring elements to move closer together.
setZeroAsc Treat its ascent, the height above the baseline, as zero. This can reduce the space reserved above neighboring elements.
setZeroDesc Treat its descent, the depth below the baseline, as zero. This can move a fraction bar or other content below the expression closer to its neighbors.

The baseline is the reference line on which ordinary mathematical letters sit. Hiding content does not remove its dimensions, and treating a dimension as zero does not delete the expression. The underlying expression remains available through getBase. Pass true to setShow to display it again; the dimension settings remain unchanged.

The example below creates five side-by-side variants: a visible fraction, a hidden fraction that reserves space, and three hidden fractions with one dimension treated as zero. Each variant uses the same surrounding expression and Cambria Math at 24 points. All equation shapes have the same top position, marked by the gray guide. Placing the phantom in the numerator of an outer fraction makes the vertical layout changes easier to see.

import com.aspose.slides.*;
import java.awt.Color;

class MathTextFactory {
    MathematicalText createText(String value) {
        MathematicalText text = new MathematicalText(value);
        text.getFormat().setFontHeight(24);
        text.getFormat().setLatinFont(new FontData("Cambria Math"));
        return text;
    }
}

MathTextFactory factory = new MathTextFactory();
Presentation presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    presentation.getSlideSize().setSize(1000, 180, SlideSizeScaleType.DoNotScale);
    ISlide slide = presentation.getSlides().get_Item(0);

    String[] labels = { "Visible", "Hidden: reserves space", "Hidden: ZeroWidth", "Hidden: ZeroAsc", "Hidden: ZeroDesc" };

    IAutoShape guide = slide.getShapes().addAutoShape(ShapeType.Line, 10, 60, 980, 0);
    guide.getLineFormat().getFillFormat().setFillType(FillType.Solid);
    guide.getLineFormat().getFillFormat().getSolidFillColor().setColor(Color.LIGHT_GRAY);

    for (int i = 0; i < labels.length; i++) {
        int left = 10 + i * 200;

        IAutoShape label = slide.getShapes().addAutoShape(ShapeType.Rectangle, left, 10, 190, 30);
        label.getFillFormat().setFillType(FillType.NoFill);
        label.getLineFormat().getFillFormat().setFillType(FillType.NoFill);
        label.getTextFrame().setText(labels[i]);

        IPortionFormat labelFormat = label.getTextFrame().getParagraphs().get_Item(0).getPortions().get_Item(0).getPortionFormat();
        labelFormat.setFontHeight(14);
        labelFormat.getFillFormat().setFillType(FillType.Solid);
        labelFormat.getFillFormat().getSolidFillColor().setColor(Color.BLACK);

        MathematicalText fractionNumerator = factory.createText("a+b");
        MathematicalText fractionDenominator = factory.createText("c+d");
        MathFraction fraction = new MathFraction(fractionNumerator, fractionDenominator);
        MathPhantom phantom = new MathPhantom(fraction);
        phantom.setShow(i == 0);
        phantom.setZeroWidth(i == 2);
        phantom.setZeroAsc(i == 3);
        phantom.setZeroDesc(i == 4);

        MathematicalText leftText = factory.createText("x+");
        MathematicalText rightText = factory.createText("+y");
        IMathBlock numerator = new MathBlock(leftText).join(phantom).join(rightText);
        MathematicalText denominator = factory.createText("z");
        MathFraction equation = new MathFraction(numerator, denominator);

        IAutoShape shape = slide.getShapes().addMathShape(left, 60, 190, 100);
        shape.getTextFrame().getTextFrameFormat().setAnchoringType(TextAnchorType.Top);

        IMathPortion mathPortion = (IMathPortion) shape.getTextFrame().getParagraphs().get_Item(0).getPortions().get_Item(0);
        IMathParagraph mathParagraph = mathPortion.getMathParagraph();
        mathParagraph.add(new MathBlock(equation));
    }

    presentation.save("math-phantom.pptx", SaveFormat.Pptx);
} finally {
    presentation.dispose();
}

Five equations in PowerPoint comparing a visible fraction, a hidden fraction that reserves space, and hidden fractions with ZeroWidth, ZeroAsc, or ZeroDesc enabled

Group Terms

Use group to place a grouping character above or below an expression. Add a limit to label the grouped terms.

The expression x plus y grouped with the label any text below it

import com.aspose.slides.*;

Presentation presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    ISlide slide = presentation.getSlides().get_Item(0);

    IAutoShape mathShape = slide.getShapes().addMathShape(20, 20, 700, 120);
    IMathParagraph mathParagraph = ((MathPortion) mathShape.getTextFrame().getParagraphs()
            .get_Item(0).getPortions().get_Item(0)).getMathParagraph();

    IMathLimit grouped = new MathematicalText("x + y")
            .group('\u23DF', MathTopBotPositions.Bottom, MathTopBotPositions.Top)
            .setLowerLimit("any text");

    mathParagraph.add(new MathBlock(grouped));

    presentation.save("grouped-terms.pptx", SaveFormat.Pptx);
} finally {
    presentation.dispose();
}

Format Math Elements

Use formatting helpers only where they clarify the formula. For example, overbar places a bar above a math element.

A math expression ABC with an overbar

import com.aspose.slides.*;

Presentation presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    ISlide slide = presentation.getSlides().get_Item(0);

    IAutoShape mathShape = slide.getShapes().addMathShape(20, 20, 700, 100);
    IMathParagraph mathParagraph = ((MathPortion) mathShape.getTextFrame().getParagraphs()
            .get_Item(0).getPortions().get_Item(0)).getMathParagraph();

    IMathBar overbar = new MathematicalText("ABC").overbar();

    mathParagraph.add(new MathBlock(overbar));

    presentation.save("overbar.pptx", SaveFormat.Pptx);
} finally {
    presentation.dispose();
}

Format Text in an Existing Equation

To format text throughout an existing equation, traverse each math block’s element tree. IMathElement.getChildren returns only the immediate children, so call it recursively to reach text inside fractions, scripts, radicals, and other nested structures. Check the current element as well as its children to include the starting element when it is MathematicalText.

This example assumes that input.pptx contains an equation such as z = xᵢ / ∛y, with a fraction containing a subscript in its numerator and a radical in its denominator. Processing only the block’s top-level elements would miss the text inside the fraction. The example finds mathematical portions in slide text frames, accesses their blocks through IMathPortion.getMathParagraph, and uses setFontHeight to set the font size to 28 points through each text element’s getFormat method.

import com.aspose.slides.*;

class MathTextFormatter {
    void formatMathText(IMathElement element) {
        if (element instanceof MathematicalText) {
            MathematicalText text = (MathematicalText) element;
            text.getFormat().setFontHeight(28);
        }

        for (IMathElement child : element.getChildren()) {
            formatMathText(child);
        }
    }
}

MathTextFormatter formatter = new MathTextFormatter();
Presentation presentation = new Presentation("input.pptx");
try {
    for (ISlide slide : presentation.getSlides()) {
        for (IShape shape : slide.getShapes()) {
            if (!(shape instanceof IAutoShape)) {
                continue;
            }

            IAutoShape autoShape = (IAutoShape) shape;
            if (autoShape.getTextFrame() == null) {
                continue;
            }

            for (IParagraph paragraph : autoShape.getTextFrame().getParagraphs()) {
                for (IPortion portion : paragraph.getPortions()) {
                    if (portion instanceof IMathPortion) {
                        IMathPortion mathPortion = (IMathPortion) portion;
                        for (IMathBlock block : mathPortion.getMathParagraph()) {
                            formatter.formatMathText(block);
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    }

    presentation.save("formatted-equations.pptx", SaveFormat.Pptx);
} finally {
    presentation.dispose();
}

The saved presentation contains the updated text formatting at every level of each processed equation, while preserving its text content and mathematical structure.

Quick Reference

Task Main API
Create math text MathematicalText
Combine elements IMathElement.join
Create fractions IMathElement.divide
Add superscript or subscript setSuperscript, setSubscript
Add functions function, asArgumentOfFunction
Add radicals IMathElement.radical
Add limits setLowerLimit, setUpperLimit
Add left-side scripts setSubSuperscriptOnTheLeft
Add summations and integrals nary, integral
Add matrices MathMatrix
Add equation arrays toMathArray
Add delimiters enclose
Add bars and borders overbar, toBorderBox
Group terms group

FAQ

Can I edit an existing PowerPoint equation?

Yes. Open the presentation, find the shape that contains a MathPortion, call getMathParagraph, and update the math blocks in that paragraph.

Are equations saved as editable PowerPoint math?

Yes. When you save to PPTX, Aspose.Slides writes the equation as editable Office math content.

Can I export equations to LaTeX?

Yes. Get the equation’s IMathParagraph from its IMathPortion, and call IMathParagraph.toLatex to export it directly. For a complete example, see Export Math Equations from Presentations in Java.

Create and Customize PowerPoint Charts in Java Manage PowerPoint Shapes in Java