Class PageElement

  • PageElement represents a visual element rendered on a page.

  • PageElement provides methods to align, duplicate, remove, and manage the position, size, rotation, title, description, and transform of the element on the page.

  • PageElement can be cast to specific types such as Group, Image, Line, Shape, SheetsChart, SpeakerSpotlight, Table, Video, and WordArt using correspondingas...() methods.

  • You can get information about the PageElement including its connection sites, dimensions, position, unique ID, element type, parent group or page, and transform.

  • Methods likeselect() allow interaction with the PageElement in the active presentation.

PageElement

A visual element rendered on a page.

Methods

MethodReturn typeBrief description
alignOnPage(alignmentPosition)PageElementAligns the element to the specified alignment position on the page.
asGroup()GroupReturns the page element as a group.
asImage()ImageReturns the page element as an image.
asLine()LineReturns the page element as a line.
asShape()ShapeReturns the page element as a shape.
asSheetsChart()SheetsChartReturns the page element as a linked chart embedded from Google Sheets.
asSpeakerSpotlight()SpeakerSpotlightReturns the page element as a speaker spotlight.
asTable()TableReturns the page element as a table.
asVideo()VideoReturns the page element as a video.
asWordArt()WordArtReturns the page element as word art.
bringForward()PageElementBrings the page element forward on the page by one element.
bringToFront()PageElementBrings the page element to the front of the page.
duplicate()PageElementDuplicates the page element.
getConnectionSites()ConnectionSite[]Returns the list ofConnectionSites on the page element, or an empty list if the pageelement does not have any connection sites.
getDescription()StringReturns the page element's alt text description.
getHeight()Number|nullGets the element's height in points, which is the height of the element's bounding box when theelement has no rotation.
getInherentHeight()Number|nullReturns the element's inherent height in points.
getInherentWidth()Number|nullReturns the element's inherent width in points.
getLeft()NumberReturns the element's horizontal position in points, measured from the upper-left corner of thepage when the element has no rotation.
getObjectId()StringReturns the unique ID for this object.
getPageElementType()PageElementTypeReturns the page element's type, represented as aPageElementType enum.
getParentGroup()Group|nullReturns the group this page element belongs to, ornull if the element is not in agroup.
getParentPage()PageReturns the page this page element is on.
getRotation()NumberReturns the element's clockwise rotation angle around its center in degrees, where zero degreesmeans no rotation.
getTitle()StringReturns the page element's alt text title.
getTop()NumberGets the element's vertical position in points, measured from the upper-left corner of the pagewhen the element has no rotation.
getTransform()AffineTransformReturns the page element's transform.
getWidth()Number|nullReturns the element's width in points, which is the width of the element's bounding box whenthe element has no rotation.
preconcatenateTransform(transform)PageElementPreconcatenates the provided transform to the existing transform of the page element.
remove()voidRemoves the page element.
scaleHeight(ratio)PageElementScales the element's height by the specified ratio.
scaleWidth(ratio)PageElementScales the element's width by the specified ratio.
select()voidSelects only thePageElement in the active presentation and removes any previousselection.
select(replace)voidSelects thePageElement in the active presentation.
sendBackward()PageElementSends the page element backward on the page by one element.
sendToBack()PageElementSends the page element to the back of the page.
setDescription(description)PageElementSets the page element's alt text description.
setHeight(height)PageElementSets the element's height in points, which is the height of the element's bounding box when theelement has no rotation.
setLeft(left)PageElementSets the element's horizontal position in points, measured from the upper-left corner of thepage when the element has no rotation.
setRotation(angle)PageElementSets the element's clockwise rotation angle around its center in degrees.
setTitle(title)PageElementSets the page element's alt text title.
setTop(top)PageElementSets the element's vertical position in points, measured from the upper-left corner of the pagewhen the element has no rotation.
setTransform(transform)PageElementSets the transform of the page element with the provided transform.
setWidth(width)PageElementSets the element's width in points, which is the width of the element's bounding box when theelement has no rotation.

Detailed documentation

alignOnPage(alignmentPosition)

Aligns the element to the specified alignment position on the page.

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
alignmentPositionAlignmentPositionThe position to align this page element to on the page.

Return

PageElement — This page element, for chaining.


asGroup()

Returns the page element as a group.

Return

Group — This page element as a group.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

asImage()

Returns the page element as an image.

Return

Image — This page element as an image.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

asLine()

Returns the page element as a line.

Return

Line — This page element as a line.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

asShape()

Returns the page element as a shape.

Return

Shape — This page element as a shape.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

asSheetsChart()

Returns the page element as a linked chart embedded from Google Sheets.

Return

SheetsChart — The page element as a chart.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

asSpeakerSpotlight()

Returns the page element as a speaker spotlight.

constslide=SlidesApp.getActivePresentation().getSlides()[0];constpageElement=slide.getPageElements()[0];pageElement.asSpeakerSpotlight();

Return

SpeakerSpotlight — The page element as a speaker spotlight.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

asTable()

Returns the page element as a table.

Return

Table — This page element as a table.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

asVideo()

Returns the page element as a video.

Return

Video — This page element as a video.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

asWordArt()

Returns the page element as word art.

Return

WordArt — This page element as word art.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

bringForward()

Brings the page element forward on the page by one element.

The page element must not be in a group.

Return

PageElement — This page element, for chaining.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

bringToFront()

Brings the page element to the front of the page.

The page element must not be in a group.

Return

PageElement — This page element, for chaining.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

duplicate()

Duplicates the page element.

The duplicate page element is placed on the same page at the same position as the original.

Return

PageElement — The new duplicate of this page element.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

getConnectionSites()

Returns the list ofConnectionSites on the page element, or an empty list if the pageelement does not have any connection sites.

Return

ConnectionSite[] — The connection sites list, which may be empty if this element has no connection sites.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

getDescription()

Returns the page element's alt text description. The description is combined with the title todisplay and read alt text.

Return

String — The page element's alt text description.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

getHeight()

Gets the element's height in points, which is the height of the element's bounding box when theelement has no rotation.

This method isn't compatible with all page elements. To learn which page elements aren'tcompatible with this method, refer to thesizing and positioning limitations.

Return

Number|null — The page element's inherent height in points, ornull if the page element does not have a height.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

getInherentHeight()

Returns the element's inherent height in points.

The page element's transform is relative to its inherent size. Use the inherent size inconjunction with the element's transform to determine the element's final visual appearance.

Return

Number|null — The page element's inherent height in points, ornull if the page element does not have a height.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

getInherentWidth()

Returns the element's inherent width in points.

The page element's transform is relative to its inherent size. Use the inherent size inconjunction with the element's transform to determine the element's final visual appearance.

Return

Number|null — The page element's inherent width in points, ornull if the page element does not have a width.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

getLeft()

Returns the element's horizontal position in points, measured from the upper-left corner of thepage when the element has no rotation.

Return

Number — This element's horizontal position in points, from the upper-left corner of the page.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

getObjectId()

Returns the unique ID for this object. Object IDs used by pages and page elements share thesame namespace.

Return

String — The unique ID for this object.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

getPageElementType()

Returns the page element's type, represented as aPageElementType enum.

Return

PageElementType — The page element's type.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

getParentGroup()

Returns the group this page element belongs to, ornull if the element is not in agroup.

Return

Group|null — The group this page element belongs to, ornull.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

getParentPage()

Returns the page this page element is on.

Return

Page — The page this element resides on.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

getRotation()

Returns the element's clockwise rotation angle around its center in degrees, where zero degreesmeans no rotation.

Return

Number — The rotation angle in degrees between 0 (inclusive) and 360 (exclusive).

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

getTitle()

Returns the page element's alt text title. The title is combined with the description todisplay and read alt text.

Return

String — The page element's alt text title.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

getTop()

Gets the element's vertical position in points, measured from the upper-left corner of the pagewhen the element has no rotation.

Return

Number — This element's vertical position in points, from the upper-left corner of the page.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

getTransform()

Returns the page element's transform.

The visual appearance of the page element is determined by its absolute transform. Tocompute the absolute transform, preconcatenate a page element's transform with the transformsof all of its parent groups. If the page element is not in a group, its absolute transform isthe same as the value in this field.

Return

AffineTransform — The page element's transform.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

getWidth()

Returns the element's width in points, which is the width of the element's bounding box whenthe element has no rotation.

This method isn't compatible with all page elements. To learn which page elements aren'tcompatible with this method, refer to thesizing and positioning limitations.

Return

Number|null — The page element's inherent width in points, ornull if the page element does not have a width.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

preconcatenateTransform(transform)

Preconcatenates the provided transform to the existing transform of the page element.

newTransform = argument * existingTransform;

For example, to move a page elements 36 points to the left:

constelement=SlidesApp.getActivePresentation().getSlides()[0].getPageElements()[0];element.preconcatenateTransform(SlidesApp.newAffineTransformBuilder().setTranslateX(-36.0).build(),);

You can also replace the page element's transform withsetTransform(transform).

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
transformAffineTransformThe transform to preconcatenate onto this page element's transform.

Return

PageElement — This page element, for chaining.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

remove()

Removes the page element.

If after a remove operation, aGroup contains only one or no page elements, thegroup itself is also removed.

If a placeholderPageElement is removed on a master or layout, any empty inheritingplaceholders are also removed.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

scaleHeight(ratio)

Scales the element's height by the specified ratio. The element's height is the height of itsbounding box when the element has no rotation.

This method isn't compatible with all page elements. To learn which page elements aren'tcompatible with this method, refer to thesizing and positioning limitations.

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
ratioNumberThe ratio to scale this page element's height by.

Return

PageElement — This page element, for chaining.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

scaleWidth(ratio)

Scales the element's width by the specified ratio. The element's width is the width of itsbounding box when the element has no rotation.

This method isn't compatible with all page elements. To learn which page elements aren'tcompatible with this method, refer to thesizing and positioning limitations.

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
ratioNumberThe ratio to scale this page element's width by.

Return

PageElement — This page element, for chaining.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

select()

Selects only thePageElement in the active presentation and removes any previousselection. This is the same as callingselect(replace) withtrue.

A script can only access the selection of the user who is running the script, and only ifthe script isbound to the presentation.

This sets the parentPage of thePageElement as thecurrent page selection.

constslide=SlidesApp.getActivePresentation().getSlides()[0];constpageElement=slide.getPageElements()[0];// Only select this page element and replace any previous selection.pageElement.select();

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

select(replace)

Selects thePageElement in the active presentation.

A script can only access the selection of the user who is running the script, and only ifthe script isbound to the presentation.

Passtrue to this method to select only thePageElement and remove anyprevious selection. This also sets the parentPage of thePageElement as thecurrent page selection.

Passfalse to select multiplePageElement objects. ThePageElementobjects must be in the samePage.

The following conditions must be met while selecting a page element using afalseparameter:

  1. The parentPage of thePageElement object must be thecurrent page selection.
  2. There should not be multiplePage objects selected.

To make sure that’s the case the preferred approach is to select the parentPagefirst usingPage.selectAsCurrentPage() and then select the page elements in that page.

constslide=SlidesApp.getActivePresentation().getSlides()[0];// First select the slide page, as the current page selection.slide.selectAsCurrentPage();// Then select all the page elements in the selected slide page.constpageElements=slide.getPageElements();for(leti=0;i <pageElements.length;i++){pageElements[i].select(false);}

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
replaceBooleanIftrue, the selection replaces any previous selection; otherwise the selection is added to any previous selection.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

sendBackward()

Sends the page element backward on the page by one element.

The page element must not be in a group.

Return

PageElement — This page element, for chaining.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

sendToBack()

Sends the page element to the back of the page.

The page element must not be in a group.

Return

PageElement — This page element, for chaining.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

setDescription(description)

Sets the page element's alt text description.

The method is not supported forGroup elements.

// Set the first page element's alt text description to "new alt text// description".constpageElement=SlidesApp.getActivePresentation().getSlides()[0].getPageElements()[0];pageElement.setDescription('new alt text description');Logger.log(pageElement.getDescription());

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
descriptionStringThe string to set the alt text description to.

Return

PageElement — This page element.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

setHeight(height)

Sets the element's height in points, which is the height of the element's bounding box when theelement has no rotation.

This method isn't compatible with all page elements. To learn which page elements aren'tcompatible with this method, refer to thesizing and positioning limitations.

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
heightNumberThe new height of this page element to set, in points.

Return

PageElement — This page element, for chaining.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

setLeft(left)

Sets the element's horizontal position in points, measured from the upper-left corner of thepage when the element has no rotation.

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
leftNumberThe new horizontal position to set, in points.

Return

PageElement — This page element, for chaining.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

setRotation(angle)

Sets the element's clockwise rotation angle around its center in degrees.

This method isn't compatible with all page elements. To learn which page elements aren'tcompatible with this method, refer to thesizing and positioning limitations.

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
angleNumberThe new clockwise rotation angle to set, in degrees.

Return

PageElement — This page element, for chaining.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

setTitle(title)

Sets the page element's alt text title.

The method is not supported forGroup elements.

// Set the first page element's alt text title to "new alt text title".constpageElement=SlidesApp.getActivePresentation().getSlides()[0].getPageElements()[0];pageElement.setTitle('new alt text title');Logger.log(pageElement.getTitle());

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
titleStringThe string to set the alt text title to.

Return

PageElement — This page element.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

setTop(top)

Sets the element's vertical position in points, measured from the upper-left corner of the pagewhen the element has no rotation.

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
topNumberThe new vertical position to set, in points.

Return

PageElement — This page element, for chaining.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

setTransform(transform)

Sets the transform of the page element with the provided transform.

Updating the transform of a group changes the absolute transform of the page elements inthat group, which can change their visual appearance.

Updating the transform of a page element that is in a group only changes the transform ofthat page element; it doesn't affect the transforms of the group or other page elements in thegroup.

For details on how transforms impact the visual appearance of page elements, seegetTransform().

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
transformAffineTransformThe transform that is set for this page element.

Return

PageElement — This element, for chaining.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

setWidth(width)

Sets the element's width in points, which is the width of the element's bounding box when theelement has no rotation.

This method isn't compatible with all page elements. To learn which page elements aren'tcompatible with this method, refer to thesizing and positioning limitations.

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
widthNumberThe new width of this page element to set, in points.

Return

PageElement — This page element, for chaining.

Authorization

Scripts that use this method require authorization with one or more of the followingscopes:

  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations.currentonly
  • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/presentations

Except as otherwise noted, the content of this page is licensed under theCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 License, and code samples are licensed under theApache 2.0 License. For details, see theGoogle Developers Site Policies. Java is a registered trademark of Oracle and/or its affiliates.

Last updated 2025-12-11 UTC.