Python - edit Powerpoint slide contents in a presentation that already exists

Question

I'm using Python 2.7.2 and Office 2010 on Windows 7. I have a Powerpoint file that has links to other documents in a directory. I would like to use Python to loop through the shape captions, find matching names in the directory, and create a hyperlink in the Powerpoint file. As long as I can read those shape captions I can do the rest.

I managed to do this and at least open the Powerpoint file:

import win32com.client

Presentation = Application.Presentations.Open("c:\\path\\to\\stnd4.pptx")

I have found a number of ways to add slides that don't already exist and add shapes or captions, but I can't seem to find any way to edit existing slides. This lets me add a slide:

Base = Presentation.Slides.Add(1, 12)

But anything that tries to open or edit an existing slide just fails:

Base = Presentation.Slides.Open(1)
Base = Presentation.Slides.Edit(1)

I also tried

help(Presentation)

but I just get generic win32com info, nothing on Powerpoint slides. Googling didn't turn up much, either. Any clues?

Answer 1

There's no concept of "opening" or "editing" a slide in the PowerPoint object model. Instead, you get a reference to a slide (which I suspect your "Base = Presentation.Slides.Add(1, 12)" line accomplishes).

PowerPoint has a hierarchical object model: Presentation contains Slides, Slides contain Shapes, Shapes have various properties that you can modify via their properties and methods.

I don't use Python or know how fully it can communicate with PPT, but:

Your BASE object (a slide, remember) probably has a Shapes collection. Iterate through the Shapes collection and for each shape try something like this:

If the shape's .HasTextFrame property is true then
   If the shape's .TextFrame.HasText property is true then
      The shape's .TextFrame.TextRange.Text property will return the text in the shape.