Add shapes and text to a slide

This guide explains how to use the Google Slides API to add shapes to slides and insert text into shapes.

Each slide in a presentation can contain a number of page elements, each of which is one of the following elements:

Shapes

A Shape is a page element such as a rectangle, arc, arrow, text box, or other defined type of shape. When you create a shape, you specify:

What type of shape it is, using one of the predefined shape types.
PageElementProperties such as size, transform, and the containing "parent" slide ID.
An optional unique object ID.

The transform page property defines how the shape is rendered on the page, including its location and scaling. For more information about transforms, see Size and position page elements.

Text and shapes

Text can appear on a slide in one of two ways:

Within a shape
Within a cell in a table

You insert text into a shape or table cell using an InsertTextRequest.

Any text Autofit settings on the shape are automatically deactivated by requests that can impact how text fits in the shape.

Example

The following example adds a square text box to an existing slide and inserts some text into it:

Apps Script

slides/api/Snippets.gs

View on GitHub

/**
 * Create a new square textbox, using the supplied element ID.
 * @param {string} presentationId
 * @param {string} pageId
 * @returns {*}
 */
function createTextboxWithText(presentationId, pageId) {
  const elementId = 'MyTextBox_01';
  const pt350 = {
    magnitude: 350,
    unit: 'PT'
  };
  const requests = [
    {
      createShape: {
        objectId: elementId,
        shapeType: 'TEXT_BOX',
        elementProperties: {
          pageObjectId: pageId,
          size: {
            height: pt350,
            width: pt350
          },
          transform: {
            scaleX: 1,
            scaleY: 1,
            translateX: 350,
            translateY: 100,
            unit: 'PT'
          }
        }
      }
    },
    // Insert text into the box, using the supplied element ID.
    {
      insertText: {
        objectId: elementId,
        insertionIndex: 0,
        text: 'New Box Text Inserted!'
      }
    }
  ];

  // Execute the request.
  try {
    const createTextboxWithTextResponse = Slides.Presentations.batchUpdate({
      requests: requests
    }, presentationId);
    const createShapeResponse = createTextboxWithTextResponse.replies[0].createShape;
    console.log('Created textbox with ID: %s', createShapeResponse.objectId);

    return createTextboxWithTextResponse;
  } catch (err) {
    // TODO (Developer) - Handle exception
    console.log('Failed with error: %s', err.error);
  }
};

Go

slides/snippets/presentations.go

View on GitHub

// Create a new square text box, using a supplied object ID.
textBoxId := "MyTextBox_01"
pt350 := slides.Dimension{
	Magnitude: 350,
	Unit:      "PT",
}
requests := []*slides.Request{{
	// Create a new square text box, using a supplied object ID.
	CreateShape: &slides.CreateShapeRequest{
		ObjectId:  textBoxId,
		ShapeType: "TEXT_BOX",
		ElementProperties: &slides.PageElementProperties{
			PageObjectId: slideId,
			Size: &slides.Size{
				Height: &pt350,
				Width:  &pt350,
			},
			Transform: &slides.AffineTransform{
				ScaleX:     1.0,
				ScaleY:     1.0,
				TranslateX: 350.0,
				TranslateY: 100.0,
				Unit:       "PT",
			},
		},
	},
}, {
	// Insert text into the box, using the object ID given to it.
	InsertText: &slides.InsertTextRequest{
		ObjectId:       textBoxId,
		InsertionIndex: 0,
		Text:           "New Box Text Inserted",
	},
}}

// Execute the requests.
body := &slides.BatchUpdatePresentationRequest{
	Requests: requests,
}
response, err := slidesService.Presentations.BatchUpdate(presentationId, body).Do()
if err != nil {
	log.Printf("Unable to create text box. %v", err)
}
fmt.Printf("Created text box with ID: %s", response.Replies[0].CreateShape.ObjectId)

Java

slides/snippets/src/main/java/CreateTextboxWithText.java

View on GitHub

import com.google.api.client.googleapis.json.GoogleJsonError;
import com.google.api.client.googleapis.json.GoogleJsonResponseException;
import com.google.api.client.http.HttpRequestInitializer;
import com.google.api.client.http.javanet.NetHttpTransport;
import com.google.api.client.json.gson.GsonFactory;
import com.google.api.services.slides.v1.Slides;
import com.google.api.services.slides.v1.SlidesScopes;
import com.google.api.services.slides.v1.model.AffineTransform;
import com.google.api.services.slides.v1.model.BatchUpdatePresentationRequest;
import com.google.api.services.slides.v1.model.BatchUpdatePresentationResponse;
import com.google.api.services.slides.v1.model.CreateShapeRequest;
import com.google.api.services.slides.v1.model.CreateShapeResponse;
import com.google.api.services.slides.v1.model.Dimension;
import com.google.api.services.slides.v1.model.InsertTextRequest;
import com.google.api.services.slides.v1.model.PageElementProperties;
import com.google.api.services.slides.v1.model.Request;
import com.google.api.services.slides.v1.model.Size;
import com.google.auth.http.HttpCredentialsAdapter;
import com.google.auth.oauth2.GoogleCredentials;

import java.io.IOException;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Collections;
import java.util.List;

/* Class to demonstrate the use of Slides Create Textbox API */
public class CreateTextboxWithText {
  /**
   * Create a new square textbox, using the specified id.
   *
   * @param presentationId - id of the presentation.
   * @param slideId        - id of the slide.
   * @param textBoxId      - id for the textbox.
   * @return textbox id
   * @throws IOException - if credentials file not found.
   */
  public static BatchUpdatePresentationResponse createTextBoxWithText(
      String presentationId, String slideId, String textBoxId) throws IOException {
        /* Load pre-authorized user credentials from the environment.
           TODO(developer) - See https://developers.google.com/identity for
            guides on implementing OAuth2 for your application. */
    GoogleCredentials credentials = GoogleCredentials.getApplicationDefault()
        .createScoped(Collections.singleton(SlidesScopes.PRESENTATIONS));
    HttpRequestInitializer requestInitializer = new HttpCredentialsAdapter(
        credentials);

    // Create the slides API client
    Slides service = new Slides.Builder(new NetHttpTransport(),
        GsonFactory.getDefaultInstance(),
        requestInitializer)
        .setApplicationName("Slides samples")
        .build();

    // Create a new square text box, using a supplied object ID.
    List<Request> requests = new ArrayList<>();
    Dimension pt350 = new Dimension().setMagnitude(350.0).setUnit("PT");
    requests.add(new Request()
        .setCreateShape(new CreateShapeRequest()
            .setObjectId(textBoxId)
            .setShapeType("TEXT_BOX")
            .setElementProperties(new PageElementProperties()
                .setPageObjectId(slideId)
                .setSize(new Size()
                    .setHeight(pt350)
                    .setWidth(pt350))
                .setTransform(new AffineTransform()
                    .setScaleX(1.0)
                    .setScaleY(1.0)
                    .setTranslateX(350.0)
                    .setTranslateY(100.0)
                    .setUnit("PT")))));

    // Insert text into the box, using the object ID given to it.
    requests.add(new Request()
        .setInsertText(new InsertTextRequest()
            .setObjectId(textBoxId)
            .setInsertionIndex(0)
            .setText("New Box Text Inserted")));
    BatchUpdatePresentationResponse response = null;

    try {
      // Execute the requests.
      BatchUpdatePresentationRequest body =
          new BatchUpdatePresentationRequest().setRequests(requests);
      response = service.presentations().batchUpdate(presentationId, body).execute();
      CreateShapeResponse createShapeResponse = response.getReplies().get(0).getCreateShape();
      System.out.println("Created textbox with ID: " + createShapeResponse.getObjectId());
    } catch (GoogleJsonResponseException e) {
      // TODO(developer) - handle error appropriately
      GoogleJsonError error = e.getDetails();
      if (error.getCode() == 404) {
        System.out.printf("Presentation not found with id '%s'.\n", presentationId);
      } else {
        throw e;
      }
    }
    return response;
  }
}

JavaScript

slides/snippets/slides_create_textbox_with_text.js

View on GitHub

function createTextboxWithText(presentationId, pageId, callback) {
  // Create a new square textbox, using the supplied element ID.
  const elementId = 'MyTextBox_01';
  const pt350 = {
    magnitude: 350,
    unit: 'PT',
  };
  const requests = [{
    createShape: {
      objectId: elementId,
      shapeType: 'TEXT_BOX',
      elementProperties: {
        pageObjectId: pageId,
        size: {
          height: pt350,
          width: pt350,
        },
        transform: {
          scaleX: 1,
          scaleY: 1,
          translateX: 350,
          translateY: 100,
          unit: 'PT',
        },
      },
    },
  },

  // Insert text into the box, using the supplied element ID.
  {
    insertText: {
      objectId: elementId,
      insertionIndex: 0,
      text: 'New Box Text Inserted!',
    },
  }];
  // Execute the request.
  try {
    gapi.client.slides.presentations.batchUpdate({
      presentationId: presentationId,
      requests: requests,
    }).then((createTextboxWithTextResponse) => {
      const createShapeResponse = createTextboxWithTextResponse.result.replies[0].createShape;
      console.log(`Created textbox with ID: ${createShapeResponse.objectId}`);
      if (callback) callback(createTextboxWithTextResponse.result);
    });
  } catch (err) {
    document.getElementById('content').innerText = err.message;
    return;
  }
}

Node.js

slides/snippets/slides_create_textbox_with_text.js

View on GitHub

/**
 * Adds a textbox with text to a slide.
 * @param {string} presentationId The presentation ID.
 * @param {string} pageId The page to add the textbox to.
 */
async function createTextboxWithText(presentationId, pageId) {
  const {GoogleAuth} = require('google-auth-library');
  const {google} = require('googleapis');

  const auth = new GoogleAuth({
    scopes: 'https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations',
  });

  const service = google.slides({version: 'v1', auth});
  const elementId = 'MyTextBox_01';
  const pt350 = {
    magnitude: 350,
    unit: 'PT',
  };
  const requests = [
    {
      createShape: {
        objectId: elementId,
        shapeType: 'TEXT_BOX',
        elementProperties: {
          pageObjectId: pageId,
          size: {
            height: pt350,
            width: pt350,
          },
          transform: {
            scaleX: 1,
            scaleY: 1,
            translateX: 350,
            translateY: 100,
            unit: 'PT',
          },
        },
      },
    },
    // Insert text into the box, using the supplied element ID.
    {
      insertText: {
        objectId: elementId,
        insertionIndex: 0,
        text: 'New Box Text Inserted!',
      },
    },
  ];
  // Execute the request.
  try {
    const createTextboxWithTextResponse =
      await service.presentations.batchUpdate({
        presentationId,
        resource: {requests},
      });
    const createShapeResponse =
      createTextboxWithTextResponse.data.replies[0].createShape;
    console.log(`Created textbox with ID: ${createShapeResponse.objectId}`);
    return createTextboxWithTextResponse.data;
  } catch (err) {
    // TODO (developer) - Handle exception
    throw err;
  }
}

PHP

slides/snippets/src/SlidesCreateTextboxWithText.php

View on GitHub

use Google\Client;
use Google\Service\Slides\BatchUpdatePresentationRequest;
use Google\Service\Slides;
use Google\Service\DriveFile;
use Google\Service\Slides\Request;

function createTextboxWithText($presentationId, $pageId)
{

    /* Load pre-authorized user credentials from the environment.
       TODO(developer) - See https://developers.google.com/identity for
        guides on implementing OAuth2 for your application. */
    $client = new Google\Client();
    $client->useApplicationDefaultCredentials();
    $client->addScope(Google\Service\Drive::DRIVE);
    $slidesService = new Google_Service_Slides($client);
    try {

        // Create a new square textbox, using the supplied element ID.
        $elementId = "MyTextBoxxxx_01";
        $pt350 = array('magnitude' => 350, 'unit' => 'PT');
        $requests = array();
        $requests[] = new Google_Service_Slides_Request(array(
            'createShape' => array(
                'objectId' => $elementId,
                'shapeType' => 'TEXT_BOX',
                'elementProperties' => array(
                    'pageObjectId' => $pageId,
                    'size' => array(
                        'height' => $pt350,
                        'width' => $pt350
                    ),
                    'transform' => array(
                        'scaleX' => 1,
                        'scaleY' => 1,
                        'translateX' => 350,
                        'translateY' => 100,
                        'unit' => 'PT'
                    )
                )
            )
        ));

        // Insert text into the box, using the supplied element ID.
        $requests[] = new Google_Service_Slides_Request(array(
            'insertText' => array(
                'objectId' => $elementId,
                'insertionIndex' => 0,
                'text' => 'New Box Text Inserted!'
            )
        ));

        // Execute the requests.
        $batchUpdateRequest = new Google_Service_Slides_BatchUpdatePresentationRequest(array(
            'requests' => $requests
        ));
        $response = $slidesService->presentations->batchUpdate($presentationId, $batchUpdateRequest);
        $createShapeResponse = $response->getReplies()[0]->getCreateShape();
        printf("Created textbox with ID: %s\n", $createShapeResponse->getObjectId());
        return $response;
    } catch (Exception $e) {
        echo 'Message: ' . $e->getMessage();
    }
}

Python

slides/snippets/slides_create_textbox_with_text.py

View on GitHub

import google.auth
from googleapiclient.discovery import build
from googleapiclient.errors import HttpError


def create_textbox_with_text(presentation_id, page_id):
  """
  Creates the textbox with text, the user has access to.
  Load pre-authorized user credentials from the environment.
  TODO(developer) - See https://developers.google.com/identity
  for guides on implementing OAuth2 for the application.
  """
  creds, _ = google.auth.default()
  # pylint: disable=maybe-no-member
  try:
    service = build("slides", "v1", credentials=creds)
    # Create a new square textbox, using the supplied element ID.
    element_id = "MyTextBox_10"
    pt350 = {"magnitude": 350, "unit": "PT"}
    requests = [
        {
            "createShape": {
                "objectId": element_id,
                "shapeType": "TEXT_BOX",
                "elementProperties": {
                    "pageObjectId": page_id,
                    "size": {"height": pt350, "width": pt350},
                    "transform": {
                        "scaleX": 1,
                        "scaleY": 1,
                        "translateX": 350,
                        "translateY": 100,
                        "unit": "PT",
                    },
                },
            }
        },
        # Insert text into the box, using the supplied element ID.
        {
            "insertText": {
                "objectId": element_id,
                "insertionIndex": 0,
                "text": "New Box Text Inserted!",
            }
        },
    ]

    # Execute the request.
    body = {"requests": requests}
    response = (
        service.presentations()
        .batchUpdate(presentationId=presentation_id, body=body)
        .execute()
    )
    create_shape_response = response.get("replies")[0].get("createShape")
    print(f"Created textbox with ID:{(create_shape_response.get('objectId'))}")
  except HttpError as error:
    print(f"An error occurred: {error}")

    return error

  return response


if __name__ == "__main__":
  # Put the presentation_id, Page_id of slides whose list needs
  # to be submitted.
  create_textbox_with_text(
      "12SQU9Ik-ShXecJoMtT-LlNwEPiFR7AadnxV2KiBXCnE", "Myfirstpage"
  )

Ruby

slides/snippets/lib/file_snippets.rb

View on GitHub

# Create a new square textbox, using the supplied element ID.
element_id = 'MyTextBox_01'
pt350 = {
  magnitude: '350',
  unit:      'PT'
}
requests = [
  {
    create_shape: {
      object_id_prop:     element_id,
      shape_type:         'TEXT_BOX',
      element_properties: {
        page_object_id: page_id,
        size:           {
          height: pt350,
          width:  pt350
        },
        transform:      {
          scale_x:     '1',
          scale_y:     '1',
          translate_x: '350',
          translate_y: '100',
          unit:        'PT'
        }
      }
    }
  },
  # Insert text into the box, using the supplied element ID.
  {
    insert_text: {
      object_id_prop:  element_id,
      insertion_index: 0,
      text:            'New Box Text Inserted!'
    }
  }
]

# Execute the request.
req = Google::Apis::SlidesV1::BatchUpdatePresentationRequest.new(requests: requests)
response = slides_service.batch_update_presentation(
  presentation_id,
  req
)
create_shape_response = response.replies[0].create_shape
puts "Created textbox with ID: #{create_shape_response.object_id}"

For more information about controlling the size and position of shapes, see Size and position page elements.

Add shapes and text to a slide Stay organized with collections Save and categorize content based on your preferences.

Shapes

Text and shapes

Example

Apps Script

Go

Java

JavaScript

Node.js

PHP

Python

Ruby

Add shapes and text to a slide