Make a presentation with actxserver without displaying the presentation

Hello,

I am using the actxserver() method to make PowerPoint presentations from Matlab. Is it possible to create/ open a presentation without displaying the presentation (similar to invisable figures)? I am using the following code (a method within a class):

The Visible property throws an error.

actXserver = actxserver('PowerPoint.Application'); %Create an ActiveX object
%actXserver.Visible = 0; -> Does not work...
obj.actserverPP_1 = actXserver;
actXinterface = actXserver.Presentation.Open( fullfile(obj.templatePath_1, obj.templateName_1) ); %Open an existing presentation by supplying the fullpath to the file
obj.presentationInterface_1 = actXinterface; 

Answer 1

[Cris LaPierre]

It seems the current way to do this in VBA code would use the following syntax

• expression.Open (FileName, ReadOnly, Untitled, WithWindow)

You can set WithWindow to false, which means the file that is opened will not be visible.

The following code worked for me. Note that you must include the full path to the presentation.

h = actxserver('PowerPoint.Application'); %Create an ActiveX object
pres = h.Presentations.Open(fullfile(path,ppt),0,0,0));

Answer 2

[Cris LaPierre]

See this example: https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/1793235-axes-box-incompletely-copied-to-clipboard#answer_1040800

Changing

• h.Visible = 1;

to

h.Visible = 0;

should do what you want.

[jr1995]

Using h.Visible = 0 causes the following error:

---------------

Invoke Error, Dispatch Exception:

Source: Microsoft PowerPoint

Description: Application.Visible : Invalid request. Hiding the application window is not allowed.

Help File:

Help Context ID: 0

Error in class_BasicPresentation_main_v01/makePresentation (line 29)

h.Visible = 0; %-> Does not work...

Error in timeseriesanalyze_v03_mod_VWGS (line 162)

presentation.makePresentation

---------------

Any suggestions?