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DevExpress Presentation API Library: Work with Tables

officefileapi-405619-presentation-api-slides-work-with-tables.md

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DevExpress Presentation API Library: Work with Tables

  • Nov 18, 2025
  • 12 minutes to read

Tables are shapes that organize text in a tabular format. The Presentation API library supports the following table-related operations:

  • Create and add a table to a slide.
  • Specify table style.
  • Format table cells.
  • Merge and split table cells.
  • Extract data from table cells.

Create and Add a Table to a Slide

Follow the steps below to create a table and add it to a slide:

  • Create a Table object and specify the number of rows and columns in the Table constructor.
  • Use the table’s X, Y, Width, and Height properties to set the table’s position and size on the slide. All these properties are measured in Document units (1/300 of an inch). You can also set these properties in a Table constructor.
  • Add the table to the slide’s Shapes collection.
  • Use the table’s indexer to access individual cells.
  • Use the cell’s TextArea property to add text to the cell. Note that cells support only text content.

The following code snippet creates a 3x3 table, adds it to a slide, and populates the cells with text:

csharp
using DevExpress.Docs.Presentation;

namespace PresentationApiSample;

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

        // Create an in-memory Presentation document
        Presentation presentation = new Presentation();
        presentation.Slides.Clear();

        // Create a blank slide and add it to the presentation
        Slide slide = new Slide(SlideLayoutType.Blank);
        presentation.Slides.Add(slide);

        // Create a 3x3 table (rows x columns), specify its position and size, and add the table as a shape to the slide
        Table table = new Table(3, 3);
        table.X = 10;
        table.Y = 10;
        table.Width = 2500;
        table.Height = 2000;
        slide.Shapes.Add(table);

        // Populate table cell text (row, column)
        for (int row = 0; row < 3; row++) {
            for (int column = 0; column < 3; column++) {
                table[row, column].TextArea.Text = $"({row}, {column})";
            }
        }

        // Export the presentation to PDF
        presentation.ExportToPdf(new FileStream(@"D:\\exported-document.pdf", FileMode.Create));

        // Save the presentation as a PPTX file
        FileStream outputStream = new FileStream(@"D:\\presentation.pptx", FileMode.Create);
        presentation.SaveDocument(outputStream, DocumentFormat.Pptx);
        outputStream.Dispose();
    }
}
vb
Imports DevExpress.Docs.Presentation

Namespace PresentationApiSample

    Public Class Program
        Public Shared Sub Main(__ As String())
            ' Create an in-memory Presentation document
            Dim presentation As Presentation = New Presentation()
            presentation.Slides.Clear()

            ' Create a blank slide and add it to the presentation
            Dim slide As Slide = New Slide(SlideLayoutType.Blank)
            presentation.Slides.Add(slide)

            ' Create a 3x3 table (rows x columns), specify its position and size, and add the table as a shape to the slide
            Dim table As Table = New Table(3, 3)
            table.X = 10
            table.Y = 10
            table.Width = 2500
            table.Height = 2000
            slide.Shapes.Add(table)

            ' Populate table cell text (row, column)
            For row As Integer = 0 To 2
                For column As Integer = 0 To 2
                    table(row, column).TextArea.Text = $"({row}, {column})"
                Next
            Next
            ' Export the presentation to PDF
            presentation.ExportToPdf(New FileStream("D:\\exported-document.pdf", FileMode.Create))

            ' Save the presentation as a PPTX file
            Dim outputStream As FileStream = New FileStream("D:\\presentation.pptx", FileMode.Create)
            presentation.SaveDocument(outputStream, DocumentFormat.Pptx)
            outputStream.Dispose()
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

Note: You get a System.ArgumentOutOfRangeException if you try to access a table cell using a row or column index that is out of range.

Insert Rows and Columns

Call the Insert method of the Table.Columns or Table.Rows collection to add new columns or rows to the table.

The following code snippet adds a new column at the beginning of the table and populates its cells with text. Then, a new row is added at the top of the table and its cells are populated with text:

csharp
using DevExpress.Docs.Presentation;

namespace PresentationApiSample;

public class Program {
    public static void Main(string[] _) {
        // ...
        // Insert a new column at the beginning of the table
        table.Columns.Insert(0, new TableColumn(width: 500));
        table[0, 0].TextArea.Text = "A";
        table[1, 0].TextArea.Text = "B";
        table[2, 0].TextArea.Text = "C";

        // Insert a new row at the top of the table
        table.Rows.Insert(0, new TableRow());
        table[0, 0].TextArea.Text = "AAA";
        table[0, 1].TextArea.Text = "BBB";
        table[0, 2].TextArea.Text = "CCC";
        table[0, 3].TextArea.Text = "DDD";

    }
}
vb
Imports DevExpress.Docs.Presentation

Namespace PresentationApiSample

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

            table.Columns.Insert(0, New TableColumn(width:=500))
            table(0, 0).TextArea.Text = "A"
            table(1, 0).TextArea.Text = "B"
            table(2, 0).TextArea.Text = "C"

            table.Rows.Insert(0, New TableRow())
            table(0, 0).TextArea.Text = "AAA"
            table(0, 1).TextArea.Text = "BBB"
            table(0, 2).TextArea.Text = "CCC"
            table(0, 3).TextArea.Text = "DDD"

        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

Extract Data from Table Cells

The following code snippet extracts text from all cells in a table to a StringBuilder object and formats it as tab-delimited text:

csharp
public string ExtractTextFromTable(Table table){
    var sb = new StringBuilder();
    for (int r = 0; r < table.Rows.Count; r++) {
        for (int c = 0; c < table.Columns.Count; c++) {
            TableCell cell = table[r, c];
            string cellText = cell.TextArea?.Text ?? string.Empty;
            sb.Append(cellText);
            if (c != table.Columns.Count - 1)
                sb.Append('\t');
        }
        sb.AppendLine();
    }
    return sb.ToString();
}
vb
Public Function ExtractTextFromTable(table As Table) As String
    Dim sb As StringBuilder = New StringBuilder()
    For r As Integer = 0 To table.Rows.Count - 1
        For c As Integer = 0 To table.Columns.Count - 1
            Dim cell As TableCell = table(r, c)
            Dim cellText As String = If(cell.TextArea?.Text, String.Empty)
            sb.Append(cellText)
            If c <> table.Columns.Count - 1 Then
                sb.Append(vbTab)
            End If
        Next
        sb.AppendLine()
    Next
    Return sb.ToString()
End Function

Merge Table Cells

Call the Table.MergeCells method to merge a rectangular range of table cells. The first cell in the method parameters specifies the start of the range, and the second specifies the end of the range. After the cells are merged, the Presentation API performs the following steps:

  • The first cell’s ColumnSpan or RowSpan property is increased by the corresponding number of columns or rows.
  • Text paragraphs of merged cells are appended to the first cell Paragraphs collection.
  • The TextArea property of merged cells is set to null.
  • The merged cells’ TableCell.IsMergedVertically or TableCell.IsMergedHorizontally property is set to true depending on the position of merged cells.

The following code snippet merges two cells in a table:

csharp
using DevExpress.Docs.Presentation;

namespace PresentationApiSample;

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

        // Create a 3x3 table (rows x columns) and add it as a shape to the slide
        Table table = new Table(3, 3);
        slide.Shapes.Add(table);

        for (int row = 0; row < 3; row++) {
            for (int column = 0; column < 3; column++) {
                table[row, column].TextArea.Text = $"({row}, {column})";
            }
        }

        table.MergeCells(table[0, 0], table[0, 1]);

    }
}
vb
Imports DevExpress.Docs.Presentation

Namespace PresentationApiSample

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

            ' Create a 3x3 table (rows x columns) and add it as a shape to the slide
            Dim table As Table = New Table(3, 3)
            slide.Shapes.Add(table)

            For row As Integer = 0 To 2
                For column As Integer = 0 To 2
                    table(row, column).TextArea.Text = $"({row}, {column})"
                Next
            Next

            table.MergeCells(table(0, 0), table(0, 1))

        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

Split Table Cells

Call the TableCell.Split method to split a table cell into individual cells.

The following code snippet splits a merged cell from the previous section into two columns:

csharp
using DevExpress.Docs.Presentation;

namespace PresentationApiSample;

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

        // ...
        table[0, 0].Split(rowCount: 1, columnCount: 2);
        table[0, 1].TextArea.Text = table[0, 0].TextArea.Paragraphs[1].Text;
        table[0, 0].TextArea.Paragraphs.RemoveAt(1);
    }
}
vb
Imports DevExpress.Docs.Presentation

Namespace PresentationApiSample

    Public Class Program
        Public Shared Sub Main(__ As String())
            ' ...
            table(0, 0).Split(rowCount:=1, columnCount:=2)
            table(0, 1).TextArea.Text = table(0, 0).TextArea.Paragraphs(1).Text
            table(0, 0).TextArea.Paragraphs.RemoveAt(1)
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

Obtain All Table Cells

If you merge two cells, both of those cells remain in the internal table structure. One becomes the resulting cell (takes the space of two and displays data). Another disappears from the table (the object remains in case you split the merged cell back into two).

To obtain all cells that display data, call Table.GetActiveCells. This method skips cells that only exist in the internal structure and do not display data. If you traverse cells manually, you can identify these inactive cells by checking if IsMergedVertically or IsMergedHorizontally is true.

The following code snippet iterates through all active cells in a table and obtains a list of 8 cells:

csharp
using DevExpress.Docs.Presentation;

    IEnumerable<TableCell> tableCells = table.GetActiveCells(TableTraversalOrder.RowThenColumn);
vb
Imports DevExpress.Docs.Presentation

    Dim tableCells As IEnumerable(Of TableCell) = table.GetActiveCells(TableTraversalOrder.RowThenColumn)

Find Text in Table Cells

You can search for the specified text on the table cell’s TextArea level, slide level, or presentation level. For more information, refer to the following section:

Replace Text in Table Cells

You can replace text on the table cell’s TextArea level, slide level, or presentation level. For more information, refer to the following section:

Remove Text in Table Cells

You can remove text on the table cell’s TextArea level, slide level, or presentation level. For more information, refer to the following section:

Specify a Table Style

Initialize the Table.Style property with a ThemedTableStyle instance to apply a theme-based style to a table. The TableStyleType enumeration lists predefined styles. The predefined styles obtain colors from the presentation theme.

The following code snippet applies the LightStyle1Accent4 style to a table:

csharp
using DevExpress.Docs.Presentation;

namespace PresentationApiSample;

public class Program {
    public static void Main(string[] _) {
        //...
        table.Style = new ThemedTableStyle(TableStyleType.LightStyle1Accent4);
    }
}
vb
Imports DevExpress.Docs.Presentation

Namespace PresentationApiSample

    Public Class Program
        Public Shared Sub Main(__ As String())
            '...
            table.Style = New ThemedTableStyle(TableStyleType.LightStyle1Accent4)
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

Note: The current version of the DevExpress Presentation API library does not support custom styles.

Highlight Rows and Columns

Use the following properties to highlight specific rows and columns in a table. The highlight appearance and colors depend on the table style:

HasBandedColumns

Specifies whether to highlight alternating columns.

HasBandedRows

Specifies whether to highlight alternating rows.

HasFirstColumn

Specifies whether to highlight the first column.

HasLastColumn

Specifies whether to highlight the last column.

HasHeaderRow

Specifies whether to highlight the first row.

HasTotalRow

Specifies whether to highlight the last row.

csharp
using DevExpress.Docs.Presentation;

namespace PresentationApiSample;

public class Program {
    public static void Main(string[] _) {
        //...
        table.HasBandedColumns = true;
        table.HasBandedRows = true;
        table.HasFirstColumn = true;
        table.HasLastColumn = true;
        table.HasTotalRow = true;
        table.HasHeaderRow = true;
    }
}
vb
Imports DevExpress.Docs.Presentation

Namespace PresentationApiSample

    Public Class Program
        Public Shared Sub Main(__ As String())
            '...
            table.HasBandedColumns = True
            table.HasBandedRows = True
            table.HasFirstColumn = True
            table.HasLastColumn = True
            table.HasTotalRow = True
            table.HasHeaderRow = True
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

Customize Individual Table Cells

The following code snippet configures a cell’s text settings and fill:

csharp
using DevExpress.Docs.Presentation;

namespace PresentationApiSample;

public class Program {
    public static void Main(string[] _) {
        //...
        TableCell cell = table2[3, 2];
        cell.Fill = new SolidFill(Color.AliceBlue);
        cell.TextArea.Level1ParagraphProperties.TextProperties.Fill = new SolidFill(Color.Blue);
        cell.TextArea.Level1ParagraphProperties.Alignment = TextParagraphAlignment.Center;
    }
}
vb
Imports DevExpress.Docs.Presentation

Namespace PresentationApiSample

    Public Class Program
        Public Shared Sub Main(__ As String())
            '...
            Dim cell As TableCell = table2(3, 2)
            cell.Fill = New SolidFill(Color.AliceBlue)
            cell.TextArea.Level1ParagraphProperties.TextProperties.Fill = New SolidFill(Color.Blue)
            cell.TextArea.Level1ParagraphProperties.Alignment = TextParagraphAlignment.Center
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

Customize Cell Borders

Use the following properties to customize table cell borders:

Note : Border visibility depends on the presentation viewer app and the table style applied to the table.

csharp
using DevExpress.Docs.Presentation;

namespace PresentationApiSample;

public class Program {
    public static void Main(string[] _) {
        //...
        TableCell cell = table[1, 1];

        cell.LeftBorder = new LineStyle { Width = 4, Fill = new SolidFill(Color.Red) };
        cell.TopBorder = new LineStyle { Width = 4, Fill = new SolidFill(Color.Blue) };
        cell.RightBorder = new LineStyle { Width = 4, Fill = new SolidFill(Color.Green) };
        cell.BottomBorder = new LineStyle { Width = 4, Fill = new SolidFill(Color.Orange) };
        cell.DiagonalDownBorder = new LineStyle { Width = 4, Fill = new SolidFill(Color.Magenta) };
        cell.DiagonalUpBorder = new LineStyle { Width = 4, Fill = new SolidFill(Color.Lime) };
    }
}
vb
Imports DevExpress.Docs.Presentation

Namespace PresentationApiSample

    Public Class Program
        Public Shared Sub Main(__ As String())
            '...
            Dim cell As TableCell = table(1, 1)

            cell.LeftBorder = New LineStyle With {.Width = 4, .Fill = New SolidFill(Color.Red)}
            cell.TopBorder = New LineStyle With {.Width = 4, .Fill = New SolidFill(Color.Blue)}
            cell.RightBorder = New LineStyle With {.Width = 4, .Fill = New SolidFill(Color.Green)}
            cell.BottomBorder = New LineStyle With {.Width = 4, .Fill = New SolidFill(Color.Orange)}
            cell.DiagonalDownBorder = New LineStyle With {.Width = 4, .Fill = New SolidFill(Color.Magenta)}
            cell.DiagonalUpBorder = New LineStyle With {.Width = 4, .Fill = New SolidFill(Color.Lime)}
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

Remove Rows and Columns

Call the RemoveAt or Remove method of the Table.Columns or Table.Rows collection to delete columns or rows from a table.

csharp
using DevExpress.Docs.Presentation;

namespace PresentationApiSample;

public class Program {
    public static void Main(string[] _) {
        //...
        table.Columns.RemoveAt(0);
        table.Columns.Remove(table.Columns[1]);

        table.Rows.RemoveAt(0);
        table.Rows.Remove(table.Rows[1]);
    }
}
vb
Imports DevExpress.Docs.Presentation

Namespace PresentationApiSample

    Public Class Program
        Public Shared Sub Main(__ As String())
            '...
            table.Columns.RemoveAt(0)
            table.Columns.Remove(table.Columns(1))

            table.Rows.RemoveAt(0)
            table.Rows.Remove(table.Rows(1))
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

Delete a Table

Call the Shapes.Remove or Shapes.RemoveAt method to delete a table from a slide.

csharp
using DevExpress.Docs.Presentation;

namespace PresentationApiSample;

public class Program {
    public static void Main(string[] _) {
        //...
        slide.Shapes.Remove(table);
        slide.Shapes.RemoveAt(0); // assuming the table is the first shape on the slide
    }
}
vb
Imports DevExpress.Docs.Presentation

Namespace PresentationApiSample

    Public Class Program
        Public Shared Sub Main(__ As String())
            '...
            slide.Shapes.Remove(table)
            slide.Shapes.RemoveAt(0) ' assuming the table is the first shape on the slide
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

Clone a Table

Call a table’s Clone method to create this table’s copy. Then you can use this copy as a base for another table:

csharp
using DevExpress.Docs.Presentation;

namespace PresentationApiSample;

public class Program {
    public static void Main(string[] _) {
        //...
        Table clonedTable = table.Clone();
        slide.Shapes.Add(clonedTable);
    }
}
vb
Imports DevExpress.Docs.Presentation

Namespace PresentationApiSample

    Public Class Program
        Public Shared Sub Main(__ As String())
            '...
            Dim clonedTable As Table = table.Clone()
            slide.Shapes.Add(clonedTable)
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace