PPT: How to Use the AddLine Method

• Microsoft PowerPoint 98 Macintosh Edition
• Microsoft PowerPoint 97 for Windows

SUMMARY

This article explains how to use the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications AddLine method to create new lines on your slides.

MORE INFORMATION

The AddLine method uses the following syntax:

      .AddLine(BeginX, BeginY, EndX, EndY)

AddLine Parameters

The AddLine method has four parameters:

   BeginX    The X coordinate (in points) for the starting point of the
             line. The coordinate is relative to the top left corner of the
             slide.

   BeginY    The Y coordinate (in points) for the starting point of the
             line. The coordinate is relative to the top left corner of
             the slide.

   EndX      The X coordinate (in points) for the ending point of the
             line. The position is relative to the bottom left corner of
             the slide.

   EndY      The Y coordinate (in points) for the ending point of the
             line. The position is relative to the bottom left corner of
             the slide.

Creating Lines

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   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/default.asp

   Sub DrawHorizontalLine()

      Dim longHeight As Long
      Dim longWidth As Long

      ' Get the slide height and width.
      longHeight = ActivePresentation.PageSetup.SlideHeight
      longWidth = ActivePresentation.PageSetup.SlideWidth

      With ActivePresentation.Slides(1).Shapes

         ' Create the line.
         .AddLine 0, (longHeight \ 2), longWidth, (longHeight \ 2)

      End With

   End Sub

   Sub DrawVerticalLine()

      Dim longHeight As Long
      Dim longWidth As Long

      ' Get the slide height and width.
      longHeight = ActivePresentation.PageSetup.SlideHeight
      longWidth = ActivePresentation.PageSetup.SlideWidth

      With ActivePresentation.Slides(1).Shapes

         ' Create the line.
         .AddLine (longWidth \ 2), 0, (longWidth \ 2), longHeight

      End With

   End Sub

    Sub DrawDiagonalLines()

      Dim longHeight As Long
      Dim longWidth As Long

      ' Get the slide height and width.
      longHeight = ActivePresentation.PageSetup.SlideHeight
      longWidth = ActivePresentation.PageSetup.SlideWidth

      With ActivePresentation.Slides(1).Shapes

         ' Create line from top left to bottom right.
         .AddLine 0, 0, longWidth, longHeight

         ' Create line from top right to bottom left.
         .AddLine longWidth, 0, 0, longHeight

      End With

   End Sub

Using the Return Value

The AddLine method returns a reference to a shape that you created. You can use the reference to modify the properties of the line.

The following sample Visual Basic procedure uses the return value to change the line color and weight.

   Sub ChangeLineColor()

      Dim longHeight As Long
      Dim longWidth As Long

      Dim MyLine As Shape

      ' Get the slide height and width.
      longHeight = ActivePresentation.PageSetup.SlideHeight
      longWidth = ActivePresentation.PageSetup.SlideWidth

      With ActivePresentation.Slides(1).Shapes

         ' Get the return value and create the line.
         Set MyLine = .AddLine(100, 100, 300, 100)

         ' Change line weight to 50 point.
         MyLine.Line.Weight = 50

         ' Change line color to red.
         MyLine.Line.ForeColor.RGB = RGB(255, 0, 0)

      End With

   End Sub

REFERENCES

For more information about creating Visual Basic for Applications macros, click the Office Assistant in Microsoft PowerPoint, type "how to create a macro," click Search, and then click to view "Create a macro in Visual Basic Editor."

For more information about running Visual Basic for Applications macros, click the Office Assistant in Microsoft PowerPoint, type "how to run a macro," click Search, and then click to view "Run a macro."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If the Assistant is not able to answer your query, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q176476
   TITLE     : OFF: Office Assistant Not Answering Visual Basic Questions

   ARTICLE-ID: Q163435
   TITLE     : VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for
               Applications