How do I add multiple .PNG files to an existing PowerPoint (.pptx) file using a for loop?

Using MATLAB 2015a, I've been attempting to add numerous .png files to an existing PowerPoint 2010 presentation (.pptx) using the following code;

%
% Clear out all workspace variables, close all open figures, and clear the
% command window.
clear all;
close all;
clc;

% List all current folder contents ending with .png. Resulting names will
% appear in the order returned by the operating system.
files = dir('*.png');

% Create Common Object Model (COM) server so MATLAB can export data to
% PowerPoint
g = actxserver('powerpoint.application');

% Open PowerPoint and make it visible
g.Visible = 1;
Presentation = g.Presentation;

% Prompt the user for the PowerPoint file to amend
[fn, pn] = uigetfile('*.pptx', 'Select PowerPoint File To Amend');
filemane = fullfile(pn, fn);
Presentation = invoke(Presentation, 'open', filename);

% Get current number of slides
slide_count = get(Presentation.Slides, 'Count');

% Export all PNGs in the current directory to the PowerPoint file specified
% above. The following slides will be added to the END of the PowerPoint
% file. All slides will have a common title.
for i=1:length(files)

      slide_count = int32(double(slide_count)+1);
      slide = invoke(Presentation.Slides, 'Add', slide_count{i}, 11);
      set(slide.Shapes.Title.Textframe.Textrange, 'Text', 'SomeTitle');
      Image{i} = slide.Shapes.AddPicture(',Current Directory>\files(i).name', 'msoFalse', 'msoTrue', 0, 80, 720, 440);

end

% Save the amended PowerPoint presentation to the current directory
Presentation.SaveAs('<Currrent directory>\DRAFT.pptx');

% Close PowerPoint as a COM automation server
g.Quit;
g.delete;

However, I keep getting the following error:

Invoke Error, Dispatch Exception. Description: The specified file wasn't found.

The line in question is this:

Image{i} = slide.Shapes.AddPicture('C:\Users\onstottb\Documents\MATLAB\files(i).name', 'msoFalse', 'msoTrue', 0, 80, 720, 440);

It appears I am implementing something wrong, but I'm not sure where.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

%removed the clear all, close all, clc, as they are irrelevant here and can only cause problems

project_dir = pwd();        %new

% List all current folder contents ending with .png. Resulting names will
% appear in the order returned by the operating system.
files = dir( fullfile(project_dir, '*.png'));    %changed

% Create Common Object Model (COM) server so MATLAB can export data to
% PowerPoint
g = actxserver('powerpoint.application');

% Open PowerPoint and make it visible
g.Visible = 1;
Presentation = g.Presentation;

% Prompt the user for the PowerPoint file to amend
[fn, pn] = uigetfile('*.pptx', 'Select PowerPoint File To Amend');
filename = fullfile(pn, fn);                                %changed
Presentation = invoke(Presentation, 'open', filename);

% Get current number of slides
slide_count = get(Presentation.Slides, 'Count');

% Export all PNGs in the current directory to the PowerPoint file specified
% above. The following slides will be added to the END of the PowerPoint
% file. All slides will have a common title.
for i=1:length(files)

        slide_count = int32(double(slide_count)+1);
        slide = invoke(Presentation.Slides, 'Add', slide_count{i}, 11);
        set(slide.Shapes.Title.Textframe.Textrange, 'Text', 'SomeTitle');
        slidefile = fullfile(project_dir, files(i).name);      %new
        Image{i} = slide.Shapes.AddPicture(slidefile, 'msoFalse', 'msoTrue', 0, 80, 720, 440);      %changed

end

% Save the amended PowerPoint presentation to the current directory
outfile = fullfile(project_dir, 'DRAFT.pptx');       %new
Presentation.SaveAs(outfile);                        %changed

% Close PowerPoint as a COM automation server
g.Quit;
g.delete;

[Brad]

Walter, thank you for taking a look at this. I flat out forgot about taking the approach you did. After making 2 minor mods, this code runs like a champ. The mods are:

files = dir( fullfile(project_dir, '*.png'));

slide = invoke(Presentation.Slides, 'Add', slide_count, 11);

Thanks again!

[Ashwini More]

I am also doing similar job of adding .png files in existing ppt.

This code helps me but there is some little change in my activity that I want to add .png file in existing ppt slides with information.

This code add .png file to the end of ppt but how can I add .png file to existing slides

suggest me changes in code

Thank you in advance!!

[Walter Roberson]

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/office/vba/api/powerpoint.slides

It appears to me that where I invoke 'Add' that instead you would invoke 'Slides' and a slide number in order to select the slide. After that you would AddPicture or ReplacePicture (guessing at the function name)

Note: I do not have PowerPoint so I have never done any of this myself.

[Ashwini More]

First of all, Thanks for helping me!!

I tried in this way but I coundnt get it.error gives as, 'Invoke Error: Unknown name or named argument'

So can you pl. elaborate the code for it

[Walter Roberson]

slide = invoke(Presentation.Slides, 'Slides', slide_number_to_affect);

as a guess.

I do not have Powerpoint (I have not even booted a windows system for months) so I cannot test this.

[Ashwini More]

Hi,

I got the answer for adding images to existing slide but I cant specify its particular position.

I dont get how position is specified in this following line:

Image{i} = slide.Shapes.AddPicture(slidefile, 'msoFalse', 'msoTrue', 0, 80, 720, 440);

Thank u in advance!!

[Walter Roberson]

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/office/vba/api/powerpoint.shapes.addpicture

[Ashwini More]

Thank u so much!!

[Ashwini More]

Is there any command to open the amended PowerPoint presentation after saving it to specified location?

[Sean de Wolski]

winopen(path_to_file)

Or with the report generator you can control showing it/playing it etc:

https://www.mathworks.com/help/rptgen/ug/mlreportgen.utils.pptpres-class.html

Answer 2

[Sean de Wolski]

I'd strongly encourage you to look at the MATLAB Report Generator for this which has the ability to easily add or replace content in a presentation.

https://www.mathworks.com/help/rptgen/ug/add-presentation-content.html