Manage Bulleted and Numbered Lists in Presentations Using Python via Java
Overview
Aspose.Slides for Python via Java lets you create and format bulleted and numbered lists in PowerPoint and OpenDocument presentations. A list item is a paragraph whose bullet settings are controlled through its paragraph format.
Use the Paragraph.getParagraphFormat method to access paragraph-level list settings. The main entry point is ParagraphFormat.getBullet, which returns a BulletFormat object. With this object, you can set the bullet type, symbol, picture, color, size, numbering style, and starting number.
This article shows how to:
- create a bulleted list with a custom symbol
- create a picture bullet
- create a multilevel list by setting paragraph depth
- create a numbered list
- inspect and change list formatting in an existing presentation
Create a Bulleted List
To create a bulleted list, add Paragraph objects to a TextFrame and set BulletFormat.setType to BulletType.Symbol. You can then use BulletFormat.setChar, BulletFormat.getColor, and BulletFormat.setHeight to control the bullet appearance.
The following Python code demonstrates how to create a bulleted list on a slide:
import jpype
import asposeslides
if not jpype.isJVMStarted():
jpype.startJVM()
from asposeslides.api import BulletType, NullableBool, Paragraph, Presentation, SaveFormat, ShapeType
from java.awt import Color
presentation = Presentation()
try:
slide = presentation.getSlides().get_Item(0)
auto_shape = slide.getShapes().addAutoShape(ShapeType.Rectangle, 20, 20, 200, 50)
text_frame = auto_shape.getTextFrame()
text_frame.getParagraphs().clear()
bullet_color = Color(205, 92, 92)
first_paragraph = Paragraph()
first_paragraph.getParagraphFormat().getBullet().setType(BulletType.Symbol)
first_paragraph.getParagraphFormat().getBullet().setChar('*')
first_paragraph.getParagraphFormat().setIndent(15)
first_paragraph.getParagraphFormat().getBullet().setBulletHardColor(NullableBool.True_)
first_paragraph.getParagraphFormat().getBullet().getColor().setColor(bullet_color)
first_paragraph.getParagraphFormat().getBullet().setHeight(100)
first_paragraph.setText("The first paragraph")
text_frame.getParagraphs().add(first_paragraph)
second_paragraph = Paragraph()
second_paragraph.getParagraphFormat().getBullet().setType(BulletType.Symbol)
second_paragraph.getParagraphFormat().getBullet().setChar('*')
second_paragraph.getParagraphFormat().setIndent(15)
second_paragraph.getParagraphFormat().getBullet().setBulletHardColor(NullableBool.True_)
second_paragraph.getParagraphFormat().getBullet().getColor().setColor(bullet_color)
second_paragraph.getParagraphFormat().getBullet().setHeight(100)
second_paragraph.setText("The second paragraph")
text_frame.getParagraphs().add(second_paragraph)
presentation.save("symbol_bullets.pptx", SaveFormat.Pptx)
finally:
presentation.dispose()
The result:
Create a Numbered List
Use numbered lists when the order of items matters. Set BulletFormat.setType to BulletType.Numbered. You can also choose a numbering format with BulletFormat.setNumberedBulletStyle or use BulletFormat.setNumberedBulletStartWith when the list should start at a value other than 1.
The following Python code shows how to create a numbered list on a slide:
import jpype
import asposeslides
if not jpype.isJVMStarted():
jpype.startJVM()
from asposeslides.api import BulletType, Paragraph, Presentation, SaveFormat, ShapeType
presentation = Presentation()
try:
slide = presentation.getSlides().get_Item(0)
auto_shape = slide.getShapes().addAutoShape(ShapeType.Rectangle, 20, 20, 90, 80)
text_frame = auto_shape.getTextFrame()
text_frame.getParagraphs().clear()
first_paragraph = Paragraph()
first_paragraph.getParagraphFormat().getBullet().setType(BulletType.Numbered)
first_paragraph.setText("Apple")
text_frame.getParagraphs().add(first_paragraph)
second_paragraph = Paragraph()
second_paragraph.getParagraphFormat().getBullet().setType(BulletType.Numbered)
second_paragraph.setText("Orange")
text_frame.getParagraphs().add(second_paragraph)
third_paragraph = Paragraph()
third_paragraph.getParagraphFormat().getBullet().setType(BulletType.Numbered)
third_paragraph.setText("Banana")
text_frame.getParagraphs().add(third_paragraph)
presentation.save("numbered_bullets.pptx", SaveFormat.Pptx)
finally:
presentation.dispose()
The result:
Create a Picture Bullet
Aspose.Slides allows you to replace a regular bullet symbol with an image. Picture bullets work best with simple images that remain readable at a small size, such as icons or small transparent PNG files.
Note
If you plan to replace a regular bullet symbol with an image, choose a simple graphic with a transparent background. Such images work well as custom bullet symbols.
Keep in mind that the image will be scaled down to a very small size. For that reason, we strongly recommend selecting an image that remains clear and visually effective when used as a bullet in a list.
To create a picture bullet, add an image to Presentation.getImages and assign the returned image object to BulletFormat.getPicture. Set BulletFormat.setType to BulletType.Picture before assigning the image.
Suppose we have an image named “image.png”:
The following Python code shows how to create picture bullets on a slide:
import jpype
import asposeslides
if not jpype.isJVMStarted():
jpype.startJVM()
from asposeslides.api import BulletType, Images, Paragraph, Presentation, SaveFormat, ShapeType
presentation = Presentation()
try:
slide = presentation.getSlides().get_Item(0)
auto_shape = slide.getShapes().addAutoShape(ShapeType.Rectangle, 20, 20, 200, 50)
text_frame = auto_shape.getTextFrame()
text_frame.getParagraphs().clear()
image = Images.fromFile("image.png")
try:
bullet_image = presentation.getImages().addImage(image)
finally:
image.dispose()
first_paragraph = Paragraph()
first_paragraph.getParagraphFormat().getBullet().setType(BulletType.Picture)
first_paragraph.getParagraphFormat().getBullet().getPicture().setImage(bullet_image)
first_paragraph.getParagraphFormat().setIndent(15)
first_paragraph.getParagraphFormat().getBullet().setHeight(100)
first_paragraph.setText("The first paragraph")
text_frame.getParagraphs().add(first_paragraph)
second_paragraph = Paragraph()
second_paragraph.getParagraphFormat().getBullet().setType(BulletType.Picture)
second_paragraph.getParagraphFormat().getBullet().getPicture().setImage(bullet_image)
second_paragraph.getParagraphFormat().setIndent(15)
second_paragraph.getParagraphFormat().getBullet().setHeight(100)
second_paragraph.setText("The second paragraph")
text_frame.getParagraphs().add(second_paragraph)
presentation.save("picture_bullets.pptx", SaveFormat.Pptx)
finally:
presentation.dispose()
The result:
Create a Multilevel List
Use ParagraphFormat.setDepth to place list items at different levels. Level 0 is the top level, level 1 is nested below it, and so on.
The following Python code shows how to create a multilevel bulleted list:
import jpype
import asposeslides
if not jpype.isJVMStarted():
jpype.startJVM()
from asposeslides.api import Paragraph, Presentation, SaveFormat, ShapeType
presentation = Presentation()
try:
slide = presentation.getSlides().get_Item(0)
auto_shape = slide.getShapes().addAutoShape(ShapeType.Rectangle, 20, 20, 260, 110)
text_frame = auto_shape.getTextFrame()
text_frame.getParagraphs().clear()
first_paragraph = Paragraph()
first_paragraph.getParagraphFormat().setDepth(0)
first_paragraph.setText("My text - Depth 0")
text_frame.getParagraphs().add(first_paragraph)
second_paragraph = Paragraph()
second_paragraph.getParagraphFormat().setDepth(1)
second_paragraph.setText("My text - Depth 1")
text_frame.getParagraphs().add(second_paragraph)
third_paragraph = Paragraph()
third_paragraph.getParagraphFormat().setDepth(2)
third_paragraph.setText("My text - Depth 2")
text_frame.getParagraphs().add(third_paragraph)
fourth_paragraph = Paragraph()
fourth_paragraph.getParagraphFormat().setDepth(3)
fourth_paragraph.setText("My text - Depth 3")
text_frame.getParagraphs().add(fourth_paragraph)
presentation.save("multilevel_bullets.pptx", SaveFormat.Pptx)
finally:
presentation.dispose()
The result:
Change an Existing List
To change list formatting in an existing presentation, access the target paragraph and update its ParagraphFormat.getBullet settings. The same properties used to create lists can be used to inspect or modify lists loaded from a PPT, PPTX, or ODP file.
The following Python code changes the first paragraph in a text frame to use a numbered list style:
import jpype
import asposeslides
if not jpype.isJVMStarted():
jpype.startJVM()
from asposeslides.api import BulletType, NumberedBulletStyle, Presentation, SaveFormat
presentation = Presentation("input.pptx")
try:
slide = presentation.getSlides().get_Item(0)
auto_shape = slide.getShapes().get_Item(0)
paragraph = auto_shape.getTextFrame().getParagraphs().get_Item(0)
paragraph.getParagraphFormat().getBullet().setType(BulletType.Numbered)
paragraph.getParagraphFormat().getBullet().setNumberedBulletStyle(NumberedBulletStyle.BulletRomanUCPeriod)
paragraph.getParagraphFormat().getBullet().setNumberedBulletStartWith(1)
paragraph.getParagraphFormat().setMarginLeft(30)
paragraph.getParagraphFormat().setIndent(-20)
presentation.save("updated_list.pptx", SaveFormat.Pptx)
finally:
presentation.dispose()
FAQ
Can bulleted and numbered lists be exported to PDF or images?
Yes. Aspose.Slides preserves list formatting when the target format supports the corresponding text layout and bullet features.
Can I edit lists in existing presentations?
Yes. Load the presentation, access the target paragraph, inspect or update its ParagraphFormat.getBullet settings, and save the presentation.
Can lists contain non-Latin text?
Yes. List item text can contain Unicode characters, so you can create lists in multilingual presentations. Make sure the fonts used in the presentation support the characters you need.