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How to: Return Objects from Collections

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The Item method returns a single object from a collection. The following example sets the firstPres variable to a Presentation object that represents presentation one variable to a Presentation object that represents presentation one.

Set firstPres = Presentations.Item(1)

The Item method is the default method for most collections, so you can write the same statement more concisely by omitting the Item keyword.

Set firstPres = Presentations(1)

For more information about a specific collection, see the Help topic for that collection or the Item method for the collection.

Named Objects

Although you can usually specify an integer value by using the Item method, it may be more convenient to return an object by name. Many objects are given automatically generated names when they are created. For example, the first slide you create will be automatically named "Slide1." If the first two shapes you create are a rectangle and an oval, their default names will be "Rectangle 1" and "Oval 2". You may want to give an object a more meaningful name to make it easier to refer to later. Most often, this is done by setting the object's Name property. The following example sets a meaningful name for a slide as it is added. You can then use the name instead of the index number to refer to the slide.

ActivePresentation.Slides.Add(1, 1).Name = "Home Page Slide"
With ActivePresentation.Slides("Home Page Slide")
    .FollowMasterBackground = False
    .Background.Fill.PresetGradient _
        msoGradientDiagonalDown, 1, msoGradientBrass
End With

Predefined Index Values

Some collections have predefined index values you can use to return single objects. Each predefined index value is represented by a constant. For example, you specify a PpTextStyleType constant with the Item method of the TextStyles collection to return a single text style.

The following example sets the margins for the body area on slides in the active presentation.

With ActivePresentation.SlideMaster _
        .TextStyles(ppBodyStyle).TextFrame
    .MarginBottom = 50
    .MarginLeft = 50
    .MarginRight = 50
    .MarginTop = 50
End With