Search code examples
vbapowerpoint

Why does the shape count in PowerPoint Notes page vary even when they all look empty?

In a long presentation, most Notes just say "Click to Add Notes". However, some NotesPages have 0, 1, 2, or 3 shapes. And according to the code below and to the MsoShapeType enum, those shapes are Placeholders. Why is the number of placeholders not consistent?

Sub shapes_in_notes()
    counter = 0
    s = ""
    For Each sli In ActivePresentation.Slides
        counter = counter + 1
        s = counter & ": " & sli.NotesPage.Shapes.Count & " shapes: "
        For Each shi In sli.NotesPage.Shapes
            s = s & shi.Type & ", "
        Next
        Debug.Print s
    Next
End Sub

Typical Output:

1: 2 shapes: 14, 14, 
2: 3 shapes: 14, 14, 14, 
3: 3 shapes: 14, 14, 14, 
4: 3 shapes: 14, 14, 14, 
5: 3 shapes: 14, 14, 14, 
6: 3 shapes: 14, 14, 14, 
7: 3 shapes: 14, 14, 14, 
8: 3 shapes: 14, 14, 14, 
9: 2 shapes: 14, 14, 
10: 3 shapes: 14, 14, 14, 
11: 3 shapes: 14, 14, 14, 
12: 2 shapes: 14, 14, 
13: 3 shapes: 14, 14, 14, 
14: 1 shapes: 14, 
15: 3 shapes: 14, 14, 14, 
16: 2 shapes: 14, 14, 
17: 3 shapes: 14, 14, 14, 
18: 2 shapes: 14, 14, 
19: 0 shapes: 
20: 3 shapes: 14, 14, 14, 
21: 2 shapes: 14, 14, 
...
Solution

  • The answer is in the program interface. Open a Notes Page, then choose Insert>Header and Footer. The preview shows the available placeholders. Besides the default slide and text placeholders, there are optional placeholders for Date and Time, Page number, Header and Footer. So you could have as many as 6. On the one page that has no placeholders, the slide and text placeholders may have been deleted by the user.

    To distinguish them, use shi.PlaceholderFormat.Type.