DevExpress Presentation API Library: Configure Slide Masters and Layouts

Dec 03, 2025
10 minutes to read

The Slide Master is a top-level template slide that you can use as a base for other slides. This master slide shares content, layouts, and text styles with all derived slides. Changes made to the slide master are applied to all descendant slides. If a presentation has multiple slide masters, you can apply different slide masters to different slides within the same presentation.

A slide master stores predefined layouts that you use to organize content on a slide. A layout arranges content placeholders. Each valid presentation file contains at least one slide master with one associated layout element.

Add Slide Masters

Use the Presentation.SlideMasters property to access a collection of slide masters within the presentation. Each individual slide master is a SlideMaster object. For each master, you can specify the following options:

LayoutsStores the layout presets associated with the slide master. When you create a new slide master, the Presentation API library populates it with a predefined set of layouts. For more information, see the following section: Layout Presets.ShapesStores shapes associated with the slide master. Shapes added to this collection are displayed on all descendant slides unless you disable a slide’s ShowMasterShapes property.BackgroundSpecifies the background for descendant slides.NameSpecifies the slide master name. The name is optional and does not have to be unique.

The following code snippet adds two slide masters to a presentation. Since each presentation must have a slide master, a newly created presentation initially contains a default slide master. You can call ResetTo to replace the default slide master with the newly created slide master.

C#
VB.NET

csharp

using DevExpress.Docs.Presentation;

    Presentation presentation = new Presentation();
    SlideMaster slideMaster1 = new SlideMaster("master");
    //...
    presentation.SlideMasters.ResetTo(slideMaster1);

    SlideMaster slideMaster2 = new SlideMaster();
    // ...
    presentation.SlideMasters.Add(slideMaster2);

Imports DevExpress.Docs.Presentation

    Dim presentation As Presentation = New Presentation()
    Dim slideMaster1 As SlideMaster = New SlideMaster("master")
    '...
    presentation.SlideMasters.ResetTo(slideMaster1)

    Dim slideMaster2 As SlideMaster = New SlideMaster()
    ' ...
    presentation.SlideMasters.Add(slideMaster2)

You can also access the SlideMasters collection and call Remove and RemoveAt methods to delete a SlideMaster instance from the collection. Note that if you try to save a presentation with an empty SlideMasters collection, the library throws an InvalidOperationException.

Layout Presets

A manually created slide master and the default slide master in a new presentation contain the following set of predefined layouts. Each layout delivers an individual set of placeholders available in a layout’s Shapes collection:

Title

Placeholders: CenteredTitle, Subtitle, DateAndTime, Footer, SlideNumber

Object

Placeholders: Title, Body, DateAndTime, Footer, SlideNumber

SectionHeader

Placeholders: Title, Body, DateAndTime, Footer, SlideNumber

TwoObjects

Placeholders: Title, Body, Body, DateAndTime, Footer, SlideNumber

TwoTextsAndTwoObjects

Placeholders: Title, Body, Body, Body, Body, DateAndTime, Footer, SlideNumber

TitleOnly

Placeholders: Title, DateAndTime, Footer, SlideNumber

Blank

Placeholders: DateAndTime, Footer, SlideNumber

TitleObjectAndCaption

Placeholders: Title, Object, Body, DateAndTime, Footer, SlideNumber

PictureAndCaption

Placeholders: Title, Picture, Body, DateAndTime, Footer, SlideNumber

VerticalText

Placeholders: Title, Body, DateAndTime, Footer, SlideNumber

VerticalTitleAndText

Placeholders: Title, Body, DateAndTime, Footer, SlideNumber

The SlideLayoutType enumeration lists all layout presets available for PPTX format.

Add a Layout

In addition to default layouts, you can create and add your own layouts.

To configure a slide layout, create a SlideLayout instance and pass the layout type in the constructor. Since each layout should be linked to a single slide master, the Presentation API library automatically adds the layout to the first slide master in the SlideMasters collection once you assign the layout to a slide. If you want the layout to link to the specified slide master, add this layout instance to the slide master’s SlideMaster.Layouts collection.

For each individual layout, you can specify the following options:

ShapesStores shapes associated with the layout. Shapes added to this collection are displayed on all descendant slides unless you disable a slide’s ShowMasterShapes property.LayoutTypeReturns the layout type. The SlideLayoutType enumeration lists all layout types.BackgroundSpecifies the background for descendant slides.NameSpecifies the layout name. The name is optional and does not have to be unique.

C#
VB.NET

csharp

using DevExpress.Docs.Presentation;

    SlideMaster slideMaster = new SlideMaster("master");
    SlideLayout layout1 = new SlideLayout(SlideLayoutType.Title);
    layout1.Background = new CustomSlideBackground(new SolidFill(Color.LightBlue));
    slideMaster.Layouts.ResetTo(layout1); // ResetTo replaces default layouts with the newly created layout.
    // ...
    // Call the slideMaster's Add method to add other layout instances.
    // ...

Imports DevExpress.Docs.Presentation

    Dim slideMaster As SlideMaster = New SlideMaster("master")
    Dim layout1 As SlideLayout = New SlideLayout(SlideLayoutType.Title)
    layout1.Background = New CustomSlideBackground(New SolidFill(Color.LightBlue))
    slideMaster.Layouts.ResetTo(layout1) ' ResetTo replaces default layouts with the newly created layout.
    ' ...
    ' Call the slideMaster's Add method to add other layout instances.
    ' ...

The SlideLayout constructor only adds placeholder shapes for default layout types. You can obtain these placeholder shapes in the slide’s Shapes collection. For more information, refer to the following section: Access Placeholder Shapes.

For instructions on how to configure a placeholder, refer to the following section: Add Placeholders to a Layout.

Create a Slide using a Slide Master

Call the slide master’s Layouts.Get method to obtain a layout of the specified type. You can also call the Layouts.GetOrCreate method to create a layout of the requested type if it does not exist.

C#
VB.NET

csharp

Slide slide = new Slide(presentation.SlideMasters[0].Layouts.GetOrCreate(SlideLayoutType.Title));

Dim slide As Slide = New Slide(presentation.SlideMasters(0).Layouts.GetOrCreate(SlideLayoutType.Title))

Set Slide Background

A background set at the Slide Master or the layout level is applied to all descendent slides. A background is applied from the slide master down to an individual layout, and then to a slide. You can set a background individually for each slide. In this case, the slide background redefines both the layout and master backgrounds for that slide.

C#
VB.NET

csharp

slideMaster.Background = new CustomSlideBackground(new SolidFill(Color.LightPink));
layout1.Background = new CustomSlideBackground(new SolidFill(Color.LightBlue));

slideMaster.Background = New CustomSlideBackground(New SolidFill(Color.LightPink))
layout1.Background = New CustomSlideBackground(New SolidFill(Color.LightBlue))

For more information on how to format slide backgrounds, refer to the following help topic: DevExpress Presentation API Library: Set Slide Background.

Add Shapes

Shapes added to the slide master or layout are displayed on all descendant slides unless you disable the slide’s ShowMasterShapes property.

In the following code snippet, a slide obtains shapes both from a slide master and a layout:

C#
VB.NET

csharp

Presentation presentation = new Presentation();
presentation.Slides.Clear();
SlideMaster slideMaster1 = new SlideMaster("master");
presentation.SlideMasters.ResetTo(slideMaster1);

Shape shape1 = new Shape(ShapeType.Heart) { Width = 500, Height = 500, X = 100, Y = 100, Fill = new SolidFill(Color.Red) };
slideMaster1.Shapes.Add(shape1);

SlideLayout layout1 = new SlideLayout();
slideMaster1.Layouts.Add(layout1);
Shape shape2 = new Shape(ShapeType.Diamond) { Width = 500, Height = 500, X = 2500, Y = 1500, Fill = new SolidFill(Color.Blue) };
layout1.Shapes.Add(shape2);

Slide slide = new Slide(layout1);
presentation.Slides.Add(slide);

Dim presentation As Presentation = New Presentation()
presentation.Slides.Clear()
Dim slideMaster1 As SlideMaster = New SlideMaster("master")
presentation.SlideMasters.ResetTo(slideMaster1)

Dim shape1 As Shape = New Shape(ShapeType.Heart) With {
        .Width = 500,
        .Height = 500,
        .X = 100,
        .Y = 100,
        .Fill = New SolidFill(Color.Red)
    }
slideMaster1.Shapes.Add(shape1)

Dim layout1 As SlideLayout = New SlideLayout()
slideMaster1.Layouts.Add(layout1)
Dim shape2 As Shape = New Shape(ShapeType.Diamond) With {
        .Width = 500,
        .Height = 500,
        .X = 2500,
        .Y = 1500,
        .Fill = New SolidFill(Color.Blue)
    }
layout1.Shapes.Add(shape2)

Dim slide As Slide = New Slide(layout1)
presentation.Slides.Add(slide)

You can also add shapes directly to a slide. For more information, refer to the following help topic: Add a Shape

Access Placeholder Shapes

If you create a slide based on a layout, the slide inherits placeholder shapes from this layout (except for DateAndTime, Footer, SlideNumber). You can access them in a slide’s Shapes collection.

Use a shape’s PlaceholderSettings property to access shape placeholder options:

TypeSpecifies the placeholder type. The PlaceholderType enumeration contains all available types.IndexSpecifies the placeholder zero-based index.OrientationSpecifies the placeholder orientation.SizeSpecifies the placeholder size.

The following code snippet adds text to a title placeholder:

C#
VB.NET

csharp

Slide slide = new Slide(new SlideLayout(SlideLayoutType.Title));

foreach (Shape shape in slide.Shapes) {
    if (shape.PlaceholderSettings.Type is PlaceholderType.CenteredTitle) {
        TextArea textArea = new TextArea();
        TextParagraph paragraph = new TextParagraph();
        paragraph.Runs.Add(new TextRun { Text = "Presentation Title", TextProperties = new TextProperties { Fill = new SolidFill(Color.RoyalBlue) } });
        textArea.Paragraphs.Add(paragraph);
        shape.TextArea = textArea;
    }
}
presentation.Slides.Add(slide);

Dim slide As Slide = New Slide(New SlideLayout(SlideLayoutType.Title))

For Each shape As Shape In slide.Shapes
    If TypeOf shape.PlaceholderSettings.Type Is PlaceholderType.CenteredTitle Then
        Dim textArea As TextArea = New TextArea()
        Dim paragraph As TextParagraph = New TextParagraph()
        paragraph.Runs.Add(New TextRun With {
                .Text = "Presentation Title",
                .TextProperties = New TextProperties With {
                    .Fill = New SolidFill(Color.RoyalBlue)
                }
            })
        textArea.Paragraphs.Add(paragraph)
        shape.TextArea = textArea
    End If
Next
presentation.Slides.Add(slide)

You can access DateAndTime, Footer, and SlideNumber placeholders at the slide level:

ActualSlideNumberPlaceholderReturns the first found slide number placeholder in the Shapes collection.ActualFooterPlaceholderReturns the first found footer placeholder in the Shapes collection.ActualDateTimePlaceholderReturns the first found date and time placeholder in the Shapes collection.

The following code snippet changes date format for a date and time slide placeholder shape:

C#
VB.NET

csharp

presentation.HeaderFooterManager.AddDateTimePlaceholder(slide);
TextField date = slide.ActualDateTimePlaceholder.TextArea.Paragraphs[0].Runs[0] as TextField;
slide.ActualDateTimePlaceholder.PlaceholderSettings.Size = PlaceholderSize.Full;
date.FieldType = TextFieldType.DateTime2;
date.CharacterProperties = new TextCharacterProperties() { FontSize = 22 };

presentation.HeaderFooterManager.AddDateTimePlaceholder(slide)
Dim [date] As TextField = TryCast(slide.ActualDateTimePlaceholder.TextArea.Paragraphs(0).Runs(0), TextField)
slide.ActualDateTimePlaceholder.PlaceholderSettings.Size = PlaceholderSize.Full
[date].FieldType = TextFieldType.DateTime2
[date].TextProperties = New TextProperties() With {
        .FontSize = 22
    }

Add Placeholders to a Layout

If you create a custom layout, you may need to arrange your own set of placeholders on it. To create a placeholder shape, initialize a Shape instance and add it to the layout’s Shapes collection. Specify the shape PlaceholderSettings, such as Type, Index, and Size.

The following code snippet creates a placeholder shape, adds it to a custom layout, and populates this placeholder with content in a slide:

C#
VB.NET

csharp

using DevExpress.Docs.Presentation;
using System.Drawing;

namespace PptxExportSample;

public class Program {
    public static void Main(string[] _) {

        // Create a new presentation and clear default slides
        Presentation presentation = new Presentation();
        presentation.Slides.Clear();

        // Create a custom slide layout and add it to the first slide master (default)
        SlideLayout layout = new SlideLayout(SlideLayoutType.Custom, "customlayout");
        presentation.SlideMasters[0].Layouts.Add(layout);

        // Create a rectangle shape to use it as a placeholder
        Shape placeholder = new Shape(ShapeType.Rectangle);
        placeholder.Name = "placeholder";
        placeholder.Outline = new LineStyle { Fill = new SolidFill(Color.DarkRed), Width = 10 };
        placeholder.Fill = new SolidFill(Color.White);

        // Configure placeholder settings
        PlaceholderSettings placeholderSettings = new PlaceholderSettings();
        placeholderSettings.Size = PlaceholderSize.Full;
        placeholderSettings.Type = PlaceholderType.Object;
        placeholderSettings.Index = 0;
        placeholder.PlaceholderSettings = placeholderSettings;

        // Add the placeholder shape to the custom layout
        layout.Shapes.Add(placeholder);

        // Create a slide based on the custom layout and add it to the presentation
        Slide slide1 = new Slide(layout);
        presentation.Slides.Add(slide1);

        // Set text and formatting for the placeholder shape in the slide
        foreach (Shape s in slide1.Shapes) {
            if (s.PlaceholderSettings.Index == 0) {
                s.TextArea.Text = "Text";
                s.TextArea.Level1ParagraphProperties.TextProperties.Fill = new SolidFill(Color.Black);
                s.TextArea.Properties.AnchorCenter = true;
                s.TextArea.Level1ParagraphProperties.ListBullet = ListBullet.None;
            }
        }
    }
}

Imports DevExpress.Docs.Presentation
Imports System.Drawing

Namespace PptxExportSample

    Public Class Program
        Public Shared Sub Main(__ As String())

            ' Create a new presentation and clear default slides
            Dim presentation As Presentation = New Presentation()
            presentation.Slides.Clear()

            ' Create a custom slide layout and add it to the first slide master (default)
            Dim layout As SlideLayout = New SlideLayout(SlideLayoutType.Custom, "customlayout")
            presentation.SlideMasters(0).Layouts.Add(layout)

            ' Create a rectangle shape to use it as a placeholder
            Dim placeholder As Shape = New Shape(ShapeType.Rectangle)
            placeholder.Name = "placeholder"
            placeholder.Outline = New LineStyle With {
                    .Fill = New SolidFill(Color.DarkRed),
                    .Width = 10
                }
            placeholder.Fill = New SolidFill(Color.White)

            ' Configure placeholder settings
            Dim placeholderSettings As PlaceholderSettings = New PlaceholderSettings()
            placeholderSettings.Size = PlaceholderSize.Full
            placeholderSettings.Type = PlaceholderType.Object
            placeholderSettings.Index = 0
            placeholder.PlaceholderSettings = placeholderSettings

            ' Add the placeholder shape to the custom layout
            layout.Shapes.Add(placeholder)

            ' Create a slide based on the custom layout and add it to the presentation
            Dim slide1 As Slide = New Slide(layout)
            presentation.Slides.Add(slide1)

            ' Set text and formatting for the placeholder shape in the slide
            For Each s As Shape In slide1.Shapes
                If s.PlaceholderSettings.Index = 0 Then
                    s.TextArea.Text = "Text"
                    s.TextArea.Level1ParagraphProperties.TextProperties.Fill = New SolidFill(Color.Black)
                    s.TextArea.Properties.AnchorCenter = True
                    s.TextArea.Level1ParagraphProperties.ListBullet = ListBullet.None
                End If
            Next
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace