Add Math Equations to PowerPoint Presentations in PHP

What this page is about

Insert and edit math equations in PowerPoint PPT and PPTX with Aspose.Slides for PHP via Java, supporting OMML, formatting controls, and clear PHP code samples.

Overview

PowerPoint stores equations as Office Math Markup Language (OMML). With Aspose.Slides for PHP via 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:

A math shape, created with addMathShape, is the shape that contains the equation.
MathPortion stores math content inside the shape text frame.
MathParagraph contains one or more MathBlock objects.

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

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

Create an Equation

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

$The equation c squared equals a squared plus b squared$

$presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    $slide = $presentation->getSlides()->get_Item(0);

    $mathShape = $slide->getShapes()->addMathShape(20, 20, 700, 120);
    $mathParagraph = $mathShape->getTextFrame()->getParagraphs()
        ->get_Item(0)->getPortions()->get_Item(0)->getMathParagraph();

    $equation = (new MathematicalText("c"))
        ->setSuperscript("2")
        ->join("=")
        ->join((new MathematicalText("a"))->setSuperscript("2"))
        ->join("+")
        ->join((new MathematicalText("b"))->setSuperscript("2"));

    $mathParagraph->add($equation);

    $presentation->save("pythagorean-theorem.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
} finally {
    if (!java_is_null($presentation)) {
        $presentation->dispose();
    }
}

Note

addMathShape creates a shape that already contains a math paragraph. Access the first MathPortion, call getMathParagraph, and add math blocks or math elements to it.

Add Fractions

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

$A skewed math fraction showing one divided by x$

$presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    $slide = $presentation->getSlides()->get_Item(0);

    $mathShape = $slide->getShapes()->addMathShape(20, 20, 700, 100);
    $mathParagraph = $mathShape->getTextFrame()->getParagraphs()
        ->get_Item(0)->getPortions()->get_Item(0)->getMathParagraph();

    $fraction = (new MathematicalText("1"))
        ->divide("x", MathFractionTypes::Skewed);

    $mathParagraph->add(new MathBlock($fraction));

    $presentation->save("fraction.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
} finally {
    if (!java_is_null($presentation)) {
        $presentation->dispose();
    }
}

For a stacked fraction, use MathFractionTypes::Bar:

$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.

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

$presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    $slide = $presentation->getSlides()->get_Item(0);

    $mathShape = $slide->getShapes()->addMathShape(20, 20, 700, 100);
    $mathParagraph = $mathShape->getTextFrame()->getParagraphs()
        ->get_Item(0)->getPortions()->get_Item(0)->getMathParagraph();

    $radical = (new MathematicalText("x"))
        ->radical("n");

    $mathParagraph->add(new MathBlock($radical));

    $presentation->save("radical.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
} finally {
    if (!java_is_null($presentation)) {
        $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.

$The limit of x as x approaches infinity$

$presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    $slide = $presentation->getSlides()->get_Item(0);

    $mathShape = $slide->getShapes()->addMathShape(20, 20, 700, 100);
    $mathParagraph = $mathShape->getTextFrame()->getParagraphs()
        ->get_Item(0)->getPortions()->get_Item(0)->getMathParagraph();

    $limit = (new MathematicalText("lim"))
        ->setLowerLimit("x\u{2192}\u{221E}")
        ->function("x");

    $mathParagraph->add(new MathBlock($limit));

    $presentation->save("functions-and-limits.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
} finally {
    if (!java_is_null($presentation)) {
        $presentation->dispose();
    }
}

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

$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.

$A summation with lower and upper limits$

$presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    $slide = $presentation->getSlides()->get_Item(0);

    $mathShape = $slide->getShapes()->addMathShape(20, 20, 700, 120);
    $mathParagraph = $mathShape->getTextFrame()->getParagraphs()
        ->get_Item(0)->getPortions()->get_Item(0)->getMathParagraph();

    $summationBase = (new MathematicalText("x"))
        ->setSuperscript("k")
        ->join((new MathematicalText("a"))->setSuperscript("n-k"));

    $summation = $summationBase->nary(MathNaryOperatorTypes::Summation, "k=0", "n");

    $mathParagraph->add(new MathBlock($summation));

    $presentation->save("nary-operators.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
} finally {
    if (!java_is_null($presentation)) {
        $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:

$integralBase = (new MathematicalText("x"))->join((new MathematicalText("dx"))->toBox());
$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.

$A two-row math matrix with one empty cell$

$presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    $slide = $presentation->getSlides()->get_Item(0);

    $mathShape = $slide->getShapes()->addMathShape(20, 20, 700, 120);
    $mathParagraph = $mathShape->getTextFrame()->getParagraphs()
        ->get_Item(0)->getPortions()->get_Item(0)->getMathParagraph();

    $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));

    $presentation->save("matrix.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
} finally {
    if (!java_is_null($presentation)) {
        $presentation->dispose();
    }
}

Add Equation Arrays

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

$A vertical math array with x above y$

$presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    $slide = $presentation->getSlides()->get_Item(0);

    $mathShape = $slide->getShapes()->addMathShape(20, 20, 700, 140);
    $mathParagraph = $mathShape->getTextFrame()->getParagraphs()
        ->get_Item(0)->getPortions()->get_Item(0)->getMathParagraph();

    $equationArray = (new MathematicalText("x"))
        ->join("y")
        ->toMathArray();

    $mathParagraph->add(new MathBlock($equationArray));

    $presentation->save("equation-array.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
} finally {
    if (!java_is_null($presentation)) {
        $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.

use aspose\slides\FillType;
use aspose\slides\FontData;
use aspose\slides\MathArray;
use aspose\slides\MathBlock;
use aspose\slides\MathJustification;
use aspose\slides\MathVerticalAlignment;
use aspose\slides\MathematicalText;
use aspose\slides\Presentation;
use aspose\slides\SaveFormat;
use aspose\slides\ShapeType;
use aspose\slides\SlideSizeScaleType;
use aspose\slides\TextAnchorType;

$createText = static function (string $value) {
    $text = new MathematicalText($value);
    $text->getFormat()->setFontHeight(24);
    $text->getFormat()->setLatinFont(new FontData("Cambria Math"));
    return $text;
};

$alignments = ["Top" => MathVerticalAlignment::Top, "Center" => MathVerticalAlignment::Center, "Bottom" => MathVerticalAlignment::Bottom];
$presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    $presentation->getSlideSize()->setSize(780, 200, SlideSizeScaleType::DoNotScale);
    $slide = $presentation->getSlides()->get_Item(0);
    $x = 20;
    foreach ($alignments as $name => $alignment) {
        $label = $slide->getShapes()->addAutoShape(ShapeType::Rectangle, $x, 10, 240, 30);
        $label->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::NoFill);
        $label->getLineFormat()->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::NoFill);
        $label->getTextFrame()->setText($name);
        $labelFormat = $label->getTextFrame()->getParagraphs()->get_Item(0)->getPortions()->get_Item(0)->getPortionFormat();
        $labelFormat->setFontHeight(16);
        $labelFormat->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
        $labelFormat->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->setColor(java("java.awt.Color")->BLACK);

        $mathShape = $slide->getShapes()->addMathShape($x, 60, 240, 130);
        $mathShape->getTextFrame()->getTextFrameFormat()->setAnchoringType(TextAnchorType::Top);
        $paragraph = $mathShape->getTextFrame()->getParagraphs()->get_Item(0);
        $mathParagraph = $paragraph->getPortions()->get_Item(0)->getMathParagraph();
        $mathParagraph->setJustification(MathJustification::LeftJustified);

        $firstRow = $createText("x+y=3");
        $equationArray = new MathArray($firstRow);
        foreach (["x-y=1", "x=2"] as $value) {
            $row = $createText($value);
            $equationArray->getArguments()->add($row);
        }
        $equationArray->setBaseJustification($alignment);
        $leftText = $createText("A=");
        $rightText = $createText("=B");
        $equation = (new MathBlock($leftText))->join($equationArray)->join($rightText);
        $mathParagraph->add($equation);
        $x += 260;
    }
    $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.

use aspose\slides\FontData;
use aspose\slides\MathArray;
use aspose\slides\MathBlock;
use aspose\slides\MathJustification;
use aspose\slides\MathRowSpacingRule;
use aspose\slides\MathVerticalAlignment;
use aspose\slides\MathematicalText;
use aspose\slides\Presentation;
use aspose\slides\SaveFormat;

$createText = static function (string $value) {
    $text = new MathematicalText($value);
    $text->getFormat()->setFontHeight(24);
    $text->getFormat()->setLatinFont(new FontData("Cambria Math"));
    return $text;
};

$settings = [
    "SingleLineGap" => [MathRowSpacingRule::SingleLineGap, 0],
    "OneAndAHalfLineGap" => [MathRowSpacingRule::OneAndAHalfLineGap, 0],
    "TwoLineGap" => [MathRowSpacingRule::TwoLineGap, 0],
    "Exactly" => [MathRowSpacingRule::Exactly, 20],
    "Multiple" => [MathRowSpacingRule::Multiple, 3],
];

foreach ($settings as $name => [$rule, $spacing]) {
    $presentation = new Presentation();
    try {
        $mathShape = $presentation->getSlides()->get_Item(0)->getShapes()->addMathShape(20, 20, 600, 300);
        $paragraph = $mathShape->getTextFrame()->getParagraphs()->get_Item(0);
        $paragraph->getParagraphFormat()->setSpaceBefore(0);
        $paragraph->getParagraphFormat()->setSpaceAfter(0);
        $mathParagraph = $paragraph->getPortions()->get_Item(0)->getMathParagraph();
        $mathParagraph->setJustification(MathJustification::LeftJustified);

        $firstRow = $createText("x+y=3");
        $equationArray = new MathArray($firstRow);
        foreach (["x-y=1", "x=2"] as $value) {
            $row = $createText($value);
            $equationArray->getArguments()->add($row);
        }
        $equationArray->setBaseJustification(MathVerticalAlignment::Center);
        $equationArray->setRowSpacingRule($rule);
        $equationArray->setRowSpacing($spacing);
        $leftText = $createText("A=");
        $rightText = $createText("=B");
        $equation = (new MathBlock($leftText))->join($equationArray)->join($rightText);
        $mathParagraph->add($equation);
        $presentation->save("equation-array-$name.pptx", 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, MathParagraph::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.

$The trigonometric function cos applied to 2x$

$presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    $slide = $presentation->getSlides()->get_Item(0);

    $mathShape = $slide->getShapes()->addMathShape(20, 20, 700, 100);
    $mathParagraph = $mathShape->getTextFrame()->getParagraphs()
        ->get_Item(0)->getPortions()->get_Item(0)->getMathParagraph();

    $cosine = (new MathematicalText("2x"))
        ->asArgumentOfFunction(MathFunctionsOfOneArgument::Cos);

    $mathParagraph->add(new MathBlock($cosine));

    $presentation->save("trigonometric-function.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
} finally {
    if (!java_is_null($presentation)) {
        $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.

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

$presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    $slide = $presentation->getSlides()->get_Item(0);

    $mathShape = $slide->getShapes()->addMathShape(20, 20, 700, 100);
    $mathParagraph = $mathShape->getTextFrame()->getParagraphs()
        ->get_Item(0)->getPortions()->get_Item(0)->getMathParagraph();

    $scripts = (new MathematicalText("Y"))
        ->setSubSuperscriptOnTheLeft("1", "n");

    $mathParagraph->add(new MathBlock($scripts));

    $presentation->save("subscript-superscript.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
} finally {
    if (!java_is_null($presentation)) {
        $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.

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

$presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    $slide = $presentation->getSlides()->get_Item(0);

    $mathShape = $slide->getShapes()->addMathShape(20, 20, 700, 100);
    $mathParagraph = $mathShape->getTextFrame()->getParagraphs()
        ->get_Item(0)->getPortions()->get_Item(0)->getMathParagraph();

    $delimiter = (new MathematicalText("x"))
        ->join("y")
        ->join("z")
        ->enclose(new Java("java.lang.Character", "<"), new Java("java.lang.Character", ">"));
    $delimiter->setSeparatorCharacter(new Java("java.lang.Character", "|"));

    $mathParagraph->add(new MathBlock($delimiter));

    $presentation->save("delimiters.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
} finally {
    if (!java_is_null($presentation)) {
        $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.

use aspose\slides\MathDelimiterShape;
use aspose\slides\MathematicalText;
use aspose\slides\Presentation;
use aspose\slides\SaveFormat;

$presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    $slide = $presentation->getSlides()->get_Item(0);
    $opening = new Java("java.lang.Character", "(");
    $closing = new Java("java.lang.Character", ")");
    for ($row = 0; $row < 2; $row++) {
        for ($column = 0; $column < 2; $column++) {
            $fraction = (new MathematicalText("a + b"))->divide("c + d");
            $power = (new MathematicalText("x"))->setSuperscript($fraction);
            $delimiter = $power->enclose($opening, $closing);
            $delimiter->setGrowToMatchOperandHeight($row === 0);
            $delimiter->setDelimiterShape($column === 0 ? MathDelimiterShape::Centered : MathDelimiterShape::Match);

            $mathShape = $slide->getShapes()->addMathShape(20 + 330 * $column, 20 + 120 * $row, 300, 100);
            $portion = $mathShape->getTextFrame()->getParagraphs()->get_Item(0)->getPortions()->get_Item(0);
            $portion->getPortionFormat()->setFontHeight(32);
            $equation = (new MathematicalText("y = "))->join($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 MathBorderBox 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.

use aspose\slides\MathBlock;
use aspose\slides\MathematicalText;
use aspose\slides\Presentation;
use aspose\slides\SaveFormat;
use aspose\slides\SlideSizeScaleType;

$presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    $presentation->getSlideSize()->setSize(540, 220, SlideSizeScaleType::DoNotScale);
    $slide = $presentation->getSlides()->get_Item(0);

    $addFraction = function ($x, $y, $hideBorder) use ($slide) {
        $fraction = (new MathematicalText("x+1"))->divide("y+2");
        $box = $fraction->toBorderBox();
        $box->setHideTop($hideBorder);
        $box->setHideBottom($hideBorder);
        $box->setHideLeft($hideBorder);
        $box->setHideRight($hideBorder);

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

    $addFraction(10, 10, false);

    $partial = $addFraction(190, 10, false);
    $partial->setHideTop(true);
    $partial->setHideRight(true);

    $addFraction(370, 10, true)->setStrikethroughBottomLeftToTopRight(true);
    $addFraction(10, 120, true)->setStrikethroughTopLeftToBottomRight(true);
    $addFraction(190, 120, true)->setStrikethroughHorizontal(true);
    $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 MathPhantom 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.

use aspose\slides\FillType;
use aspose\slides\FontData;
use aspose\slides\MathBlock;
use aspose\slides\MathFraction;
use aspose\slides\MathPhantom;
use aspose\slides\MathematicalText;
use aspose\slides\Presentation;
use aspose\slides\SaveFormat;
use aspose\slides\ShapeType;
use aspose\slides\SlideSizeScaleType;
use aspose\slides\TextAnchorType;

$createText = static function (string $value) {
    $text = new MathematicalText($value);
    $text->getFormat()->setFontHeight(24);
    $text->getFormat()->setLatinFont(new FontData("Cambria Math"));
    return $text;
};

$presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    $presentation->getSlideSize()->setSize(1000, 180, SlideSizeScaleType::DoNotScale);
    $slide = $presentation->getSlides()->get_Item(0);

    $labels = ["Visible", "Hidden: reserves space", "Hidden: ZeroWidth", "Hidden: ZeroAsc", "Hidden: ZeroDesc"];

    $guide = $slide->getShapes()->addAutoShape(ShapeType::Line, 10, 60, 980, 0);
    $guide->getLineFormat()->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
    $guide->getLineFormat()->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->setColor(java("java.awt.Color")->LIGHT_GRAY);

    foreach ($labels as $i => $labelText) {
        $left = 10 + $i * 200;

        $label = $slide->getShapes()->addAutoShape(ShapeType::Rectangle, $left, 10, 190, 30);
        $label->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::NoFill);
        $label->getLineFormat()->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::NoFill);
        $label->getTextFrame()->setText($labelText);

        $labelFormat = $label->getTextFrame()->getParagraphs()->get_Item(0)->getPortions()->get_Item(0)->getPortionFormat();
        $labelFormat->setFontHeight(14);
        $labelFormat->getFillFormat()->setFillType(FillType::Solid);
        $labelFormat->getFillFormat()->getSolidFillColor()->setColor(java("java.awt.Color")->BLACK);

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

        $leftText = $createText("x+");
        $rightText = $createText("+y");
        $numerator = (new MathBlock($leftText))->join($phantom)->join($rightText);
        $denominator = $createText("z");
        $equation = new MathFraction($numerator, $denominator);

        $shape = $slide->getShapes()->addMathShape($left, 60, 190, 100);
        $shape->getTextFrame()->getTextFrameFormat()->setAnchoringType(TextAnchorType::Top);

        $mathPortion = $shape->getTextFrame()->getParagraphs()->get_Item(0)->getPortions()->get_Item(0);
        $mathParagraph = $mathPortion->getMathParagraph();
        $mathBlock = new MathBlock($equation);
        $mathParagraph->add($mathBlock);
    }

    $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.

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

$presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    $slide = $presentation->getSlides()->get_Item(0);

    $mathShape = $slide->getShapes()->addMathShape(20, 20, 700, 120);
    $mathParagraph = $mathShape->getTextFrame()->getParagraphs()
        ->get_Item(0)->getPortions()->get_Item(0)->getMathParagraph();

    $grouped = (new MathematicalText("x + y"))
        ->group(new Java("java.lang.Character", "\u{23DF}"), MathTopBotPositions::Bottom, MathTopBotPositions::Top)
        ->setLowerLimit("any text");

    $mathParagraph->add(new MathBlock($grouped));

    $presentation->save("grouped-terms.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
} finally {
    if (!java_is_null($presentation)) {
        $presentation->dispose();
    }
}

Format Math Elements

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

$A math expression ABC with an overbar$

$presentation = new Presentation();
try {
    $slide = $presentation->getSlides()->get_Item(0);

    $mathShape = $slide->getShapes()->addMathShape(20, 20, 700, 100);
    $mathParagraph = $mathShape->getTextFrame()->getParagraphs()
        ->get_Item(0)->getPortions()->get_Item(0)->getMathParagraph();

    $overbar = (new MathematicalText("ABC"))->overbar();

    $mathParagraph->add(new MathBlock($overbar));

    $presentation->save("overbar.pptx", SaveFormat::Pptx);
} finally {
    if (!java_is_null($presentation)) {
        $presentation->dispose();
    }
}

Format Text in an Existing Equation

To format text throughout an existing equation, traverse each math block’s element tree. MathElementBase::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 MathPortion::getMathParagraph, and uses setFontHeight to set the font size to 28 points through each text element’s getFormat method.

use aspose\slides\Presentation;
use aspose\slides\SaveFormat;

function formatMathText($element, $mathematicalTextClass) {
    if (java_instanceof($element, $mathematicalTextClass)) {
        $element->getFormat()->setFontHeight(28);
    }

    foreach ($element->getChildren() as $child) {
        formatMathText($child, $mathematicalTextClass);
    }
}

$mathematicalTextClass = new JavaClass("com.aspose.slides.MathematicalText");
$autoShapeClass = new JavaClass("com.aspose.slides.IAutoShape");
$mathPortionClass = new JavaClass("com.aspose.slides.IMathPortion");

$presentation = new Presentation("input.pptx");
try {
    for ($slideIndex = 0; $slideIndex < java_values($presentation->getSlides()->size()); $slideIndex++) {
        $slide = $presentation->getSlides()->get_Item($slideIndex);
        for ($shapeIndex = 0; $shapeIndex < java_values($slide->getShapes()->size()); $shapeIndex++) {
            $shape = $slide->getShapes()->get_Item($shapeIndex);
            if (!java_instanceof($shape, $autoShapeClass)) {
                continue;
            }

            $textFrame = $shape->getTextFrame();
            if (java_is_null($textFrame)) {
                continue;
            }

            for ($paragraphIndex = 0; $paragraphIndex < java_values($textFrame->getParagraphs()->getCount()); $paragraphIndex++) {
                $paragraph = $textFrame->getParagraphs()->get_Item($paragraphIndex);
                for ($portionIndex = 0; $portionIndex < java_values($paragraph->getPortions()->getCount()); $portionIndex++) {
                    $portion = $paragraph->getPortions()->get_Item($portionIndex);
                    if (java_instanceof($portion, $mathPortionClass)) {
                        for ($blockIndex = 0; $blockIndex < java_values($portion->getMathParagraph()->getCount()); $blockIndex++) {
                            $block = $portion->getMathParagraph()->get_Item($blockIndex);
                            formatMathText($block, $mathematicalTextClass);
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    }

    $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	join
Create fractions	divide
Add superscript or subscript	setSuperscript, setSubscript
Add functions	function, asArgumentOfFunction
Add radicals	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 MathParagraph from its MathPortion, and call MathParagraph::toLatex to export it directly. For a complete example, see Export Math Equations from Presentations in PHP via Java.

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