PPT: Sample VB Code to Create Shape Using FreeForm Tool

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

SUMMARY

This article provides a sample Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications macro (Sub procedure) that uses the FreeForm tool to draw a shape that resembles a sine wave.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

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

Sample Visual Basic Procedure

Sub DrawWave()

   On Error Resume Next

   ' Dimension the variables that hold the height and width of
   ' the presentation.
   Dim lh As Long, lw As Long

   ' Get the slide height and width.
   lh = ActivePresentation.PageSetup.SlideHeight
   lw = ActivePresentation.PageSetup.SlideWidth

   ' Clear the error object and get the current slide number.
   Dim lSlideNum As Long
   Err.Clear
   lSlideNum = ActiveWindow.Selection.SlideRange.SlideNumber
   If Err.Number <> 0 Then

      ' Display error message.
      MsgBox Err.Description, vbExclamation

      ' Stop the macro.
      End
   End If

   ' Draw a line down the middle of the screen.
   With ActivePresentation.Slides(lSlideNum).Shapes
      .AddLine 0, lh \ 2, lw, lh \ 2
   End With

   ' Create the first point of the free form shape.
   Dim oShape As FreeformBuilder
   With ActivePresentation.Slides(lSlideNum).Shapes
      ' Places the free form tool at its initial point.
      Set oShape = .BuildFreeform(msoEditingAuto, 0, lh \ 2)
   End With

   ' Peak point.
   oShape.AddNodes msoSegmentCurve, msoEditingAuto, lw \ 4, 0

   ' Middle point.
   oShape.AddNodes msoSegmentCurve, msoEditingAuto, lw \ 2, lh \ 2

   ' Valley point.
   oShape.AddNodes msoSegmentCurve, msoEditingAuto, 3 * (lw \ 4), lh

   ' Ending point.
   oShape.AddNodes msoSegmentCurve, msoEditingAuto, lw, lh \ 2

   ' Convert all the points created into a shape. If you do not call
   ' ConvertToShape the free form object won't appear on your slide.
   oShape.ConvertToShape

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