Aspose.Slides FOSS
C++
Developer Guide
Features and Capabilities

Features and Capabilities

Features and Capabilities

Aspose.Slides FOSS for C++ provides a broad set of capabilities for working with PowerPoint .pptx files programmatically. This page lists all supported feature areas with representative code examples.

Presentation I/O

Open an existing .pptx file or create a new one, then save back to PPTX format.

#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/presentation.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/export/save_format.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/slide.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/slide_collection.h>

#include <iostream>

using namespace Aspose::Slides::Foss;

int main() {
    // Open an existing presentation
    {
        Presentation pres("input.pptx");
        std::cout << "Slide count: " << pres.slides().size() << std::endl;
        pres.save("output.pptx", SaveFormat::PPTX);
    }

    // Create a new presentation (starts with one blank slide)
    {
        Presentation pres;
        pres.save("new.pptx", SaveFormat::PPTX);
    }

    return 0;
}

Note: PPTX is the only supported save format in this FOSS edition. The save call serializes the full presentation object graph to the OOXML container.

Unknown XML parts in the source file are preserved verbatim on save, so opening and re-saving a .pptx will never strip content the library does not yet understand.

Slides Management

Use pres.slides() to add slides with add_empty_slide(), remove existing ones, or check the total slide count:

#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/presentation.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/export/save_format.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/layout_slide.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/slide.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/slide_collection.h>

#include <iostream>

using namespace Aspose::Slides::Foss;

int main() {
    Presentation pres;

    // Access the first slide
    auto& slide = pres.slides()[0];

    // Add an additional blank slide at the end
    auto* layout = dynamic_cast<ILayoutSlide*>(&pres.layout_slides()[0]);
    pres.slides().add_empty_slide(layout);

    std::cout << "Total slides: " << pres.slides().size() << std::endl;
    pres.save("multi-slide.pptx", SaveFormat::PPTX);
    return 0;
}

Shapes

Add AutoShapes, PictureFrames, Tables, and Connectors to a slide.

AutoShapes

Call slide.shapes().add_auto_shape() with a ShapeType, position, and size, then call text_frame()->set_text() to set the text content:

#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/auto_shape.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/export/save_format.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/presentation.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/shape_collection.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/shape_type.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/slide.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/slide_collection.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/text_frame.h>

using namespace Aspose::Slides::Foss;

int main() {
    Presentation pres;
    auto& slide = pres.slides()[0];
    // Add a rectangle at (x=50, y=50) with width=300, height=100
    auto& shape = slide.shapes().add_auto_shape(ShapeType::RECTANGLE, 50, 50, 300, 100);
    shape.text_frame()->set_text("Aspose.Slides FOSS");
    pres.save("shapes.pptx", SaveFormat::PPTX);
    return 0;
}

Tables

Use slide.shapes().add_table() with column widths and row heights, then access cells via table.rows()[row][col]:

#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/cell.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/export/save_format.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/presentation.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/row.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/row_collection.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/shape_collection.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/slide.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/slide_collection.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/table.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/text_frame.h>

#include <vector>

using namespace Aspose::Slides::Foss;

int main() {
    Presentation pres;
    auto& slide = pres.slides()[0];
    // Column widths and row heights in points
    std::vector<double> col_widths = {120.0, 120.0, 120.0};
    std::vector<double> row_heights = {40.0, 40.0, 40.0};
    auto& table = slide.shapes().add_table(50, 50, col_widths, row_heights);
    table.rows()[0][0].text_frame()->set_text("Product");
    table.rows()[0][1].text_frame()->set_text("Quantity");
    table.rows()[0][2].text_frame()->set_text("Price");
    pres.save("table.pptx", SaveFormat::PPTX);
    return 0;
}

Connectors

Call slide.shapes().add_connector() and set set_start_shape_connected_to() and set_end_shape_connected_to() to link two shapes with a connector:

#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/auto_shape.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/connector.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/export/save_format.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/presentation.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/shape_collection.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/shape_type.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/slide.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/slide_collection.h>

using namespace Aspose::Slides::Foss;

int main() {
    Presentation pres;
    auto& slide = pres.slides()[0];
    auto& box1 = slide.shapes().add_auto_shape(ShapeType::RECTANGLE, 50, 100, 150, 60);
    auto& box2 = slide.shapes().add_auto_shape(ShapeType::RECTANGLE, 350, 100, 150, 60);
    auto& conn = slide.shapes().add_connector(ShapeType::BENT_CONNECTOR3, 0, 0, 10, 10);
    conn.set_start_shape_connected_to(&box1);
    conn.set_start_shape_connection_site_index(3);  // right side
    conn.set_end_shape_connected_to(&box2);
    conn.set_end_shape_connection_site_index(1);    // left side
    pres.save("connector.pptx", SaveFormat::PPTX);
    return 0;
}

Text Formatting

Access portion_format() on each Portion to set font height, bold, italic, and fill color at the character level:

#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/auto_shape.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/drawing/color.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/export/save_format.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/fill_format.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/fill_type.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/nullable_bool.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/paragraph.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/paragraph_collection.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/portion.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/portion_collection.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/portion_format.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/presentation.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/shape_collection.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/shape_type.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/slide.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/slide_collection.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/text_frame.h>

using namespace Aspose::Slides::Foss;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::Foss::Drawing;

int main() {
    Presentation pres;
    auto& slide = pres.slides()[0];
    auto& shape = slide.shapes().add_auto_shape(ShapeType::RECTANGLE, 50, 50, 500, 150);
    shape.text_frame()->set_text("Bold blue heading");

    auto& fmt = shape.text_frame()->paragraphs()[0].portions()[0].portion_format();
    fmt.set_font_height(28);
    fmt.set_font_bold(NullableBool::TRUE);
    fmt.fill_format().set_fill_type(FillType::SOLID);
    fmt.fill_format().solid_fill_color().set_color(Color::from_argb(255, 0, 70, 127));

    pres.save("text.pptx", SaveFormat::PPTX);
    return 0;
}

NullableBool::TRUE sets the property explicitly; NullableBool::NOT_DEFINED inherits from the slide master.

Fill Types

Set shape.fill_format().set_fill_type() to FillType::SOLID and configure the fill color via solid_fill_color().set_color() using ARGB values:

#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/auto_shape.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/drawing/color.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/export/save_format.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/fill_format.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/fill_type.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/presentation.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/shape_collection.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/shape_type.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/slide.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/slide_collection.h>

using namespace Aspose::Slides::Foss;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::Foss::Drawing;

int main() {
    Presentation pres;
    auto& slide = pres.slides()[0];
    auto& shape = slide.shapes().add_auto_shape(ShapeType::RECTANGLE, 50, 50, 300, 150);

    // Solid fill
    shape.fill_format().set_fill_type(FillType::SOLID);
    shape.fill_format().solid_fill_color().set_color(Color::from_argb(255, 30, 120, 200));

    pres.save("fill.pptx", SaveFormat::PPTX);
    return 0;
}

Visual Effects

Apply outer shadow, glow, soft edge, blur, reflection, and inner shadow to shapes.

The effect properties are accessible through shape.effect_format(). The sub-objects returned by outer_shadow_effect(), glow_effect(), and similar methods are pointers — call them with ->.

#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/auto_shape.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/drawing/color.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/effect_format.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/export/save_format.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/fill_format.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/fill_type.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/presentation.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/shape_collection.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/shape_type.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/slide.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/slide_collection.h>

using namespace Aspose::Slides::Foss;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::Foss::Drawing;

int main() {
    Presentation pres;
    auto& slide = pres.slides()[0];
    auto& shape = slide.shapes().add_auto_shape(ShapeType::RECTANGLE, 100, 100, 200, 100);

    auto& ef = shape.effect_format();

    // Outer drop shadow
    ef.enable_outer_shadow_effect();
    auto* shadow = ef.outer_shadow_effect();
    shadow->set_blur_radius(10);
    shadow->set_direction(315);
    shadow->set_distance(8);
    shadow->shadow_color().set_color(Color::from_argb(128, 0, 0, 0));

    // Glow effect
    ef.enable_glow_effect();
    auto* glow = ef.glow_effect();
    glow->set_radius(15);
    glow->color().set_color(Color::from_argb(200, 255, 200, 0));

    pres.save("effects.pptx", SaveFormat::PPTX);
    return 0;
}

3D Formatting

Apply 3D bevel, camera, light rig, material, and extrusion depth via shape.three_d_format(). This controls the visual depth and lighting model for shape rendering in PPTX viewers that support 3D effects.

#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/auto_shape.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/bevel_preset_type.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/camera_preset_type.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/export/save_format.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/fill_format.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/fill_type.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/drawing/color.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/light_rig_preset_type.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/lighting_direction.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/material_preset_type.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/presentation.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/shape_collection.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/shape_type.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/slide.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/slide_collection.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/three_d_format.h>

using namespace Aspose::Slides::Foss;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::Foss::Drawing;

int main() {
    Presentation pres;
    auto& slide = pres.slides()[0];
    auto& shape = slide.shapes().add_auto_shape(ShapeType::RECTANGLE, 100, 100, 200, 100);

    shape.fill_format().set_fill_type(FillType::SOLID);
    shape.fill_format().solid_fill_color().set_color(Color::from_argb(255, 20, 70, 160));

    auto& tdf = shape.three_d_format();
    tdf.bevel_top().set_bevel_type(BevelPresetType::CIRCLE);
    tdf.bevel_top().set_width(10);
    tdf.bevel_top().set_height(5);
    tdf.camera().set_camera_type(CameraPresetType::PERSPECTIVE_ABOVE);
    tdf.light_rig().set_light_type(LightRigPresetType::BALANCED);
    tdf.light_rig().set_direction(LightingDirection::TOP);
    tdf.set_depth(20);
    tdf.set_material(MaterialPresetType::METAL);

    pres.save("3d.pptx", SaveFormat::PPTX);
    return 0;
}

Speaker Notes

Access notes_slide_manager() on any slide and call add_notes_slide() to create a notes page, then set the notes text directly:

#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/export/save_format.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/i_notes_slide.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/i_notes_slide_manager.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/presentation.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/slide.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/slide_collection.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/text_frame.h>

using namespace Aspose::Slides::Foss;

int main() {
    Presentation pres;
    auto* notes = pres.slides()[0].notes_slide_manager().add_notes_slide();
    notes->notes_text_frame().set_text("Key talking point: emphasize the ROI benefit.");
    pres.save("notes.pptx", SaveFormat::PPTX);
    return 0;
}

Comments

Create a comment author with pres.comment_authors().add_author(), then call author.comments().add_comment() with the slide and position coordinates:

#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/comment.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/comment_author.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/comment_author_collection.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/comment_collection.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/drawing/point_f.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/export/save_format.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/presentation.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/slide.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/slide_collection.h>

#include <chrono>

using namespace Aspose::Slides::Foss;
using namespace Aspose::Slides::Foss::Drawing;

int main() {
    Presentation pres;
    auto& author = pres.comment_authors().add_author("Jane Smith", "JS");
    auto& slide = pres.slides()[0];
    author.comments().add_comment(
        "Please verify this data before the presentation.",
        slide,
        PointF(2.0f, 2.0f),
        std::chrono::system_clock::now()
    );
    pres.save("comments.pptx", SaveFormat::PPTX);
    return 0;
}

Embedded Images

Embed an image from a file into the presentation and add it to a slide as a PictureFrame.

#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/export/save_format.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/image_collection.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/picture_frame.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/pp_image.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/presentation.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/shape_collection.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/shape_type.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/slide.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/slide_collection.h>

#include <fstream>
#include <iterator>
#include <vector>

using namespace Aspose::Slides::Foss;

int main() {
    Presentation pres;
    // Read image bytes from file
    std::ifstream f("logo.png", std::ios::binary);
    std::vector<std::uint8_t> data(
        (std::istreambuf_iterator<char>(f)),
        std::istreambuf_iterator<char>());

    auto& img = pres.images().add_image(data);
    pres.slides()[0].shapes().add_picture_frame(
        ShapeType::RECTANGLE, 50, 50, 200, 150, img);
    pres.save("with-image.pptx", SaveFormat::PPTX);
    return 0;
}

Document Properties

Access pres.document_properties() to read or write standard properties such as title, author, and subject, plus custom key-value pairs:

#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/document_properties.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/export/save_format.h>
#include <Aspose/Slides/Foss/presentation.h>

#include <any>
#include <string>

using namespace Aspose::Slides::Foss;

int main() {
    Presentation pres;
    auto& props = pres.document_properties();

    // Core properties
    props.set_title("Q1 Results");
    props.set_author("Finance Team");
    props.set_subject("Quarterly Review");
    props.set_keywords("Q1, finance, results");

    // Custom property
    props.set_custom_property_value("ReviewedBy", std::any(std::string("Legal Team")));

    pres.save("deck.pptx", SaveFormat::PPTX);
    return 0;
}

Known Limitations

The following areas are not available in this edition:

AreaStatus
ChartsNot implemented
SmartArtNot implemented
Animations and transitionsNot implemented
PDF / HTML / SVG / image exportNot implemented (PPTX only)
VBA macrosNot implemented
Digital signaturesNot implemented
Hyperlinks and action settingsNot implemented
OLE objectsNot implemented
Mathematical textNot implemented

See Also

 English