Manage SmartArt in PowerPoint Presentations Using Python
Overview
SmartArt is a PowerPoint diagram made from nodes, node shapes, and a layout. With Aspose.Slides for Python via .NET, you can create SmartArt, read text from its nodes, change its layout, inspect hidden nodes, configure organization chart layouts, and create picture organization charts.
Get Text from a SmartArt Object
A SmartArt node can contain one or more shapes. To read text from the node shapes, iterate through SmartArt.all_nodes, then read the TextFrame returned by SmartArtShape.text_frame.
The example requires a presentation with at least one slide and a SmartArt object as the first shape on that slide. It prints each available text frame to the console.
import aspose.slides as slides
import aspose.slides.smartart as smartart
with slides.Presentation("sample.pptx") as presentation:
slide = presentation.slides[0]
shape = slide.shapes[0]
if isinstance(shape, smartart.SmartArt):
for node in shape.all_nodes:
for node_shape in node.shapes:
if node_shape.text_frame is not None:
print(node_shape.text_frame.text)
Change the Layout Type of a SmartArt Object
The SmartArt layout controls how nodes are arranged and connected. The following example creates a SmartArt object with the SmartArtLayoutType BASIC_BLOCK_LIST value, changes it to the BASIC_PROCESS value, and saves the presentation. The position and size passed to ShapeCollection.add_smart_art are measured in points. Set SmartArt.layout to change the layout.
import aspose.slides as slides
import aspose.slides.smartart as smartart
with slides.Presentation() as presentation:
slide = presentation.slides[0]
smart_art = slide.shapes.add_smart_art(10, 10, 400, 300, smartart.SmartArtLayoutType.BASIC_BLOCK_LIST)
smart_art.layout = smartart.SmartArtLayoutType.BASIC_PROCESS
presentation.save("ChangeSmartArtLayout.pptx", slides.export.SaveFormat.PPTX)
Check Whether a SmartArt Node Is Hidden
SmartArtNode.is_hidden indicates whether the node is hidden in the SmartArt data model. Hidden nodes can exist in the structure even when the selected layout does not display them as visible diagram elements.
The following example adds a node to a SmartArt object that uses the SmartArtLayoutType RADIAL_CYCLE value and checks the added node’s hidden state. It prints a message if the node is hidden and saves the diagram.
import aspose.slides as slides
import aspose.slides.smartart as smartart
with slides.Presentation() as presentation:
slide = presentation.slides[0]
smart_art = slide.shapes.add_smart_art(10, 10, 400, 300, smartart.SmartArtLayoutType.RADIAL_CYCLE)
node = smart_art.all_nodes.add_node()
is_hidden = node.is_hidden
if is_hidden:
print("The node is hidden in the SmartArt data model.")
presentation.save("CheckSmartArtHiddenProperty.pptx", slides.export.SaveFormat.PPTX)
Get or Set the Organization Chart Layout
For SmartArt diagrams that use an organization chart layout, SmartArtNode.organization_chart_layout defines how child nodes are arranged under a parent node. For example, you can set child nodes to hang from the left, right, or both sides, depending on the selected OrganizationChartLayoutType.
The following example creates an organization chart and sets the layout for the first node to the OrganizationChartLayoutType LEFT_HANGING value. The zero-based index 0 selects the first top-level node; its child nodes use the selected arrangement. The modified presentation is then saved.
import aspose.slides as slides
import aspose.slides.smartart as smartart
with slides.Presentation() as presentation:
slide = presentation.slides[0]
smart_art = slide.shapes.add_smart_art(10, 10, 400, 300, smartart.SmartArtLayoutType.ORGANIZATION_CHART)
root_node = smart_art.nodes[0]
root_node.organization_chart_layout = smartart.OrganizationChartLayoutType.LEFT_HANGING
presentation.save("OrganizationChartLayout.pptx", slides.export.SaveFormat.PPTX)
Create a Picture Organization Chart
A picture organization chart is a SmartArt layout designed for hierarchy diagrams that include image placeholders. Use the SmartArtLayoutType PICTURE_ORGANIZATION_CHART value when adding the SmartArt object to a slide. This example saves a diagram with image placeholders; it does not populate the placeholders with images.
import aspose.slides as slides
import aspose.slides.smartart as smartart
with slides.Presentation() as presentation:
slide = presentation.slides[0]
smart_art = slide.shapes.add_smart_art(0, 0, 400, 400, smartart.SmartArtLayoutType.PICTURE_ORGANIZATION_CHART)
presentation.save("PictureOrganizationChart.pptx", slides.export.SaveFormat.PPTX)
Convert Legacy Diagrams to Groups of Shapes
When modernizing an existing presentation, you may need to update an organization chart originally created in PowerPoint 97–2003. Aspose.Slides represents these legacy diagrams as LegacyDiagram objects. Use LegacyDiagram.convert_to_group_shape to convert a diagram into a group of shapes so that you can edit individual visual elements. See the LegacyDiagram API Reference for details.
Conversion adds a new group to the shape collection without removing the original diagram. After successful conversion, remove the original with ShapeCollection.remove to avoid duplicate content. Collect the legacy diagrams into a list before converting them so that adding and removing shapes does not disrupt iteration.
The following example opens a presentation, searches every slide, converts the diagrams to groups of shapes, and saves the updated presentation as PPTX.
import aspose.slides as slides
with slides.Presentation("legacy-diagrams.ppt") as presentation:
for slide in presentation.slides:
legacy_diagrams = [shape for shape in slide.shapes if isinstance(shape, slides.LegacyDiagram)]
for legacy_diagram in legacy_diagrams:
group_shape = legacy_diagram.convert_to_group_shape()
if group_shape is not None:
slide.shapes.remove(legacy_diagram)
presentation.save("modernized.pptx", slides.export.SaveFormat.PPTX)
The saved presentation contains editable groups of shapes in place of the converted legacy diagrams, with no original diagrams left alongside them. Open the PPTX in PowerPoint to edit individual elements within each group, such as their text, fill, or position.
FAQ
Does SmartArt support mirroring or reversing for RTL languages?
Yes. The SmartArt.is_reversed property switches the diagram direction from left-to-right to right-to-left, or back, when the selected SmartArt layout supports reversal.
How can I copy SmartArt to the same slide or to another presentation while preserving formatting?
You can clone the SmartArt shape with ShapeCollection.add_clone or clone the whole slide that contains the SmartArt. Both approaches preserve size, position, and formatting.
How do I render SmartArt to a raster image for preview or web export?
Render the slide or the whole presentation to PNG or JPEG. SmartArt is rendered as part of the slide.
How can I find a specific SmartArt object on a slide if there are several?
Set a distinctive Shape.alternative_text or Shape.name value on the SmartArt shape, search for that value in Slide.shapes, and then check that the matching shape is a SmartArt.