Reading PowerPoint Animation Effects with VBA

Question

I have been working with PowerPoint VBA, and have a grasp on most things.

What I am struggling with is reading the effect/animation settings for each object.

I seem to be able to get a lot of what I need through the Powerpoint.ActivePresentation.Slides(slide_id).TimeLine.MainSequence(seq_num)

What confuses me is how to convert the numeric value of Powerpoint.ActivePresentation.Slides(slide_id).TimeLine.MainSequence(seq_num).EffectType to an effect (so looking for a table of values to effects or perhaps a CONST table).

Also, how to read in all the different level of effects (like entrance, or emphasis, etc) is really confusing. not to mention I cannot wrap my head around the timeline (which seems like it is not really a timeline).

Can anyone point me to any good articles or documentation that discusses how to read the effects and animations properly and fully?

Answer 1

If you have some specific code that can demonstrate what is happening versus what you're after, that may be more helpful in determining what is failing for you. As far as I can discern, you're looking for a way to see the constants for the EffectType values, is that correct? Have you tried the EffectInformation object?

Here are some good primers on Animation in general:

MSDN:

• Creating Animation Sequences in PowerPoint 2002 and PowerPoint 2003 (Part 1)
• Creating Animation Sequences in PowerPoint 2002 and PowerPoint 2003 (Part 2)

MVP Article

• Timeline – The animation engine in PowerPoint 2002/2003 - Part I (there never was a Part II published)

Note that PowerPoint 2002 throught to 2010 uses the new Animation engine so all/most 2002 samples will be applicable to later versions.