Bitmaps generally have an extension .bmp or .png.

If you create a bitmap image with

Note Draw, select File > Export, choose PNG from the pull-down list of file formats, give
the file a name and save it.

Saving and using custom bitmaps

Any new bitmap created or modified is available only in the current document. If you want to use a
custom bitmap in other presentations, click the Save Bitmap List icon and type a unique
filename in the Save as dialog that opens. The file created for a list of saved bitmaps has the file
extension of .sob.

To use a previously saved hatching patterns list, click the Load Bitmap List icon and select
the file used for a bitmaps list from the file open dialog. Click Open to load the saved bitmap list
into Impress.

Formatting shadows
Shadows can be applied to objects such as lines, shapes and text. In Impress you can quickly
apply a default shadow or apply a customized shadow.

Default shadows
Default shadows use the Impress default settings and cannot be customized.
1) Select the object.
2) Click on the Shadow icon in the Line and Filling toolbar and a shadow is applied to the
object.

Customizing shadows
To apply a customized shadow to an object, you have to use the Shadow on the Area dialog.
An alternative method for using customized shadows is to apply a style that uses a shadow See
Working with graphics styles on page 156 for additional information on using styles.
1) Select the object and then select Format > Area on the main menu bar, or right click on the
object and select Area from the context menu to open the Area dialog.
2) Click on the Shadow tab to open the Shadow page (Figure 125).

Figure 125: Area dialog Shadow page

Chapter 6 Formatting Graphic Objects 151

 3) Select Use shadow and set the shadow options fas follows:
Position selects the point determining the direction in which the shadow is cast.
Distance determines the offset distance between the object and the shadow.
Color sets the color used for the shadow.
Transparency determines the amount of transparency for the shadow: 0% opaque
shadow, 100% transparent shadow.
4) Click OK and the customized shadow is applied to the object.

Formatting transparencies
Transparencies can be applied to objects and to any shadow that has been applied to an object. In
Impress two types of transparencies can be applied to an object uniform transparency and
gradient transparency. For more information on gradient transparencies, including an example of
combining a color gradient with a gradient transparency, see Advanced gradient controls on page
147.
To apply transparencies to lines, refer to Formatting lines on page 136 for more information. To
apply transparencies to shadows, refer to Formatting shadows on page 151 for more information.
1) Select the object and then select Format > Area on the main menu bar, or right click on the
object and select Area from the context menu to open the Area dialog.
2) Click on the Transparency tab to open the Transparency page (Figure 126).
3) To create a uniform transparency, select Transparency and then select the percentage of
transparency required.
4) To create a gradient transparency so that the area becomes gradually transparent, select
Gradient and then set the options for the gradient. Refer to Table 12 for a description of the
options available for gradient transparencies.
5) Click OK and the transparency is applied to the object.

Figure 126: Area dialog Transparency page

152 LibreOffice 4.0 Impress Guide

Table 12: Gradient transparency options
Option Meaning
Type Select the type of transparency gradient you want to apply.
Radial, Ellipsoid, Quadratic and Square gradients modify this value to set the
Center X
horizontal offset of the gradient center.
Radial, Ellipsoid, Quadratic and Square gradients modify this value to set the
Center Y
vertical offset of the gradient center.
Linear, Axial, Ellipsoid, Quadratic and Square gradient specifies the angle of
Angle
the gradient axis.
Increase this value to make the gradient start further away from the border of the
Border
object.
Value for the starting transparency gradient. 0% is fully opaque, 100% is fully
Start value
transparent.
Value for the ending transparency gradient. 0% is fully opaque, 100% is fully
End value
transparent.

Formatting text in objects

Impress provides two dialogs related to text formatting on the main menu bar: Format > Character
for individual characters and Format > Text for whole words, sentences or paragraphs.
This section only covers the formatting of text which has been added to an object. For more
information on formatting text that is used separately on a slide, see Chapter 3 Adding and
Formatting Text.

Adding text to objects

To add text to an object:
1) Select the object to which text will be added so that the selection handles are showing.
2) Double-click on the object and the cursor becomes an I-beam to indicate text mode.
3) Type your text.
4) When finished, click outside of the object or press Esc.

Formatting and editing text in objects

To format text that has been placed into an object:
1) Select the object which contains text.
2) Select the object and go to Format > Text on the main menu bar or right-click on the object
and select Text from the context menu to open the Text dialog (Figure 127).
3) Format and edit the text using the available options. Some options will not be available
depending on the type of object to which the text has been added.
Fit width to text expands the width of the object if the text is too long.
Word wrap text in shape starts a new line automatically when the edge of the object is
reached.
Fit height to text expands the object height whenever it is smaller than the text (set by
default for lines).

Chapter 6 Formatting Graphic Objects 153

 Figure 127: Text dialog
Resize shape to fit text expands an object when the text inserted in the object is too
large.
Fit to frame expands the text so that it fills all the available space.
Adjust to contour makes the text follow a curved line.
Spacing to borders specify the amount of space to be left between the borders of the
object and the text. This is similar to setting indentation and spacing for paragraphs.
Text anchor used to anchor the text to a particular point within the object.
Full width when selected, anchors the text in the center of the object and uses the full
width of the object before wrapping text.
4) Click OK to close the dialog and save the changes to the text.

Text animation
To animate text that has been placed into an object:
1) Select the object which contains text.
2) Select the object and go to Format > Text on the main menu bar or right-click on the object
and select Text from the context menu to open the Text dialog (Figure 127).
3) Click the Text Animation tab to open the Text Animation dialog (Figure 128).
4) Select the type of animation required from the Effects drop down list as follows:
No animation default setting.
Blink the text will blink on the screen.
Scroll through the text will move into the object and then out following the selected
direction.
Scroll back and forth the text will move first in the selected direction, but will bounce
back at the object border.
Scroll in the text will scroll in towards the given direction starting from the edge of the
object and stop in the center.

154 LibreOffice 4.0 Impress Guide

 Figure 128: Text animation dialog
5) Set the properties for the animation effect as follows:
Direction use one of the four arrows to set the scroll direction for the text.
Start inside animation starts from inside the object.
Text visible when editing select to see the text while editing.
Animation cycles select Continuous and the text animates continuously or set a specific
number of cycles for the animation.
Increment sets the amount the animation moves in either Pixels or a specific distance.
Units of measurement depend on the settings in Tools > Options > LibreOffice Impress >
General.
Delay sets the delay time either Automatically or a specific length of time before the
animation starts.
6) Click OK to close the dialog and save the animation effect.

Formatting connectors
Connectors are lines that join two shapes and always start from or finish at a glue point on an
object. Refer to Chapter 5 Managing Graphic Objects for a description and use of the connectors.
Connectors are formatted as follows:
1) Right-click on a connector and select Connector from the context menu to open the
context dialog (Figure 129).
2) Set the type of connector from the Type drop down list.
3) Set the Line skew for the connector. Line skew is used where multiple connectors overlap
to set the distance between the lines. You can customize the distance between three
different lines.
4) Set the Line spacing for the connector. Line spacing is used to set the horizontal and
vertical space between the connector and the object at each end of the connector.
5) Click OK to close the dialog and save the changes.

Chapter 6 Formatting Graphic Objects 155

 Figure 129: Connector dialog

Working with graphics styles

To achieve consistency in styles in slides, or a presentation, or to apply the same formatting to a
large number of objects, it is recommended to use a graphics style.
Graphics styles are similar to paragraph styles that are used for text. A graphics style groups all the
formatting properties applicable to a graphic object and then associates this group of properties
with a name allowing it to be used for other graphic objects. If a graphics style is modified (for
example, changing an area transparency), the changes are automatically applied to all objects that
use the same graphics style.
If you use Impress frequently, a library of well-defined graphics styles is an invaluable tool for
speeding up the process of formatting your work according to any style guidelines you may need to
follow (company colors, fonts and so on).

Linked graphics styles

Graphics styles support inheritance which allows a style to be linked to another (parent) style so
that it inherits all the formatting settings of the parent. This inheritance creates families of styles.
For example, if you require multiple boxes that differ in color, but are otherwise identically
formatted, the best way to proceed is to define a generic style for the box including borders, area
fill, font, and so on and a number of hierarchically dependent styles which differ only in the fill color
attribute. If you need to change the font size or the thickness of the border, you only have to
change the parent style and all the other styles will change accordingly.

Creating graphics styles

You can create a new graphics style either by using the Style and Formatting dialog or from a
selection.

Using the Styles and Formatting dialog

1) Select a graphic object.

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 2) Press the F11 key, or click on the Styles and Formatting icon on the Line and Filling
toolbar, or select Format > Styles and Formatting on the main menu bar to open the
Styles and Formatting dialog (Figure 130).

Figure 130: Graphics Styles and Formatting

3) Click on the Graphics Styles icon on the to access graphic styles.

4) Select the style similar to the one you want to use in the Styles and Formatting dialog.
5) Right click and select New from the context menu to open the Graphics Styles dialog
(Figure 131). By default, this will link the selected graphics style with the new graphics
style.
6) To create a graphics style without linking, select None from the Linked with drop down
menu on the Organizer page.
7) Give your new graphics style a memorable name.
8) Use the various tabs and text boxes in the Graphics Styles dialog to format and categorize
your new style as follows:
Organizer contains a summary of the style and its hierarchical position.
Font, Font Effects, Indents & Spacing, Alignment, Tabs and Asian Typography set
the properties of the text inserted in a graphic object.
Dimensioning used to set the style of dimension lines.
Text, Text Animation, Connector, Line, Area, Shadowing, and Transparency
determine the formatting of a graphic object and are discussed elsewhere in this chapter.
9) Click OK when finished to save your new graphics style.

When styles are linked, changing the font for example will change the font in all linked
Note styles. Sometimes this is exactly what you want; at other times you do not want the
changes to apply to all linked styles. It pays to plan ahead.

Chapter 6 Formatting Graphic Objects 157

 Figure 131: Graphics Styles dialog

From a selected object

You can create a new style from an object that has already been formatted. This can be text or
graphics:
1) Select the object you want to use to create your new style.

2) Open the Styles and Formatting dialog and click the New Style from Selection icon .
3) In the Create Style dialog (Figure 132) that opens type a name for the new style. The list
shows existing custom styles of that are available.
4) Click OK to save the new style.

Figure 132: Naming a new style created from a selection

Modifying a graphics style

1) Open the Styles and Formatting dialog.
2) Right-click on the style you want to modify and select Modify from the context menu to
open the Graphics Style dialog (Figure 131).
3) Make the required changes to the style and then click OK to save the changes.

Updating a graphics style from a selection

To update a style from changes you have made to a selected object:
1) Select an object that uses the format you want to adopt as a style.
2) Open the Styles and Formatting dialog and select the style you want to update.

3) Click the Update Style icon and the style is updated with your changes.

Any changes you make to a style are effective only in the document on which you are
working and do not go into change the associated template. If you want the changes
Tip to apply to more than one document, you need to change the template (see Chapter
2 Using Slide Masters, Styles, and Templates for more information).

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Applying graphics styles
Use the following steps to apply a graphics style to an object.
1) Open the Styles and Formatting dialog (Figure 130) and click on the Graphics Styles icon
on the to access graphic styles.
2) Select the object to which you want to apply a graphics style.
3) Double-click on the name of the style you want to apply.

4) Alternatively, click on the Fill Format Mode icon and the cursor changes to this icon.
5) Position the icon on the graphic object to be styled and click the mouse button. This mode
remains active until you turn it off, so you can apply the same style to several objects.
6) To quit Fill Format mode, click the Fill Format mode icon again or press the Esc key.

When Fill Format mode is active, a right-click anywhere in the document cancels the
Note last Fill Format action. Take care not to accidentally right-click and undo any actions
you want to keep.

At the bottom of the Styles and Formatting window is a drop-down list. You can choose
Tip to show all styles or groups of styles such as applied styles or (in the case of graphics
styles) custom styles.

Deleting graphics styles

You cannot delete any of the predefined styles in Impress, even if you are not using them. You can
only delete user-defined (custom) styles. However, before you delete a custom style, make sure
the style is not in use. If an unwanted style is in use, replace it with a substitute style.
1) Open the Styles and Formatting dialog (Figure 130) and click on the Graphics Styles icon
on the to access graphic styles.
2) Right-click on a custom graphic style and click Delete on the context menu. You can only
delete one custom graphics style at a time.
3) Click Yes to confirm the deletion of the graphics style.

Assigning styles to shortcut keys

LibreOffice provides a set of predefined keyboard shortcuts which allow you to quickly apply styles
while working with a document. You can redefine these shortcuts or define your own, as described
in Appendix A Keyboard Shortcuts.

Chapter 6 Formatting Graphic Objects 159

Chapter 7
Including Spreadsheets,
Charts, and Other Objects
OLE objects
Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) is a software technology that allows embedding and linking
of the following types of files or documents into an Impress presentation.
LibreOffice spreadsheets
LibreOffice charts
LibreOffice drawings
LibreOffice formulas
LibreOffice text
The major benefit of using OLE objects is that it provides a quick and easy method of editing the
object using tools from the software used to create the object. These file types can all be created
using LibreOffice and OLE objects can be created from new or from an existing file.

Inserting new OLE objects

When you insert a new OLE object into your presentation, it is only available in your presentation
and can only be edited using Impress.

Figure 133: Inserting a new OLE object

To add a new OLE object into your presentation:

1) Go to the slide where you want to insert the OLE object.
2) Select Insert > Object > OLE Object from the menu bar.
3) On the Insert OLE Object dialog (Figure 133), select Create new.
4) Select the type of OLE object you want to create and click OK.
5) A new OLE object is inserted in the center of the slide in edit mode. The toolbars displayed
in Impress will change providing the necessary tools for you to create the new OLE object.

For computers operating Microsoft Windows there is an additional option of Further

objects in the Object type list. Clicking on this option opens an Insert Object dialog
Note allowing you to create an OLE object using other software that is compatible with
OLE and LibreOffice. This option is available for new OLE objects and OLE objects
from a file.

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Inserting OLE objects from files
When you insert an existing file into your slide as an OLE object, by default any subsequent
changes that are made to the original file do not affect the copy of the file inserted into your
presentation. Similarly, changes to the file copy in your presentation do not change the original file.
If you want any changes made to the file, either in the original or in your presentation, to appear in
both versions you have to link the original file with your presentation when it is inserted.

Figure 134: Inserting an OLE object from file

To insert a file into your presentation as an OLE object:

1) Go to the slide where you want to insert the spreadsheet.
2) Choose Insert > Object > OLE Object from the menu bar.
3) On the Insert OLE Object dialog, select Create from file. The dialog changes to show a
File text box (Figure 134).
4) Click Search and the Open dialog is displayed.
5) Locate the file you want to insert and click Open.
6) Select the Link to file option if you wish to insert the file as a live link so that any changes
made are synchronized in both the original file and your presentation.
7) Click OK to insert the file as an OLE object.

Editing OLE objects

To edit an OLE object after it has been created or inserted from a file:
1) Double-click on the OLE object to open it in edit mode (Figure 135). The toolbars displayed
in Impress will change to provide the tools necessary to edit the OLE object (Figure 136).
2) When finished editing the OLE object, click anywhere outside the OLE object to cancel
editing.
3) Save your presentation. Any changes made to the OLE object are also saved.

Figure 135: Example OLE object in edit mode

Chapter 7 Including Spreadsheets, Charts, and Other Objects 163

Figure 136: Example toolbars for OLE object editing

Spreadsheets
To include a spreadsheet in an Impress slide, you can either insert an existing spreadsheet file or
insert a new spreadsheet as an OLE object. See Inserting new OLE objects on page 162 for
more information.
Embedding a spreadsheet into Impress includes most of the functionality of a Calc spreadsheet.
Impress is capable of performing complex calculations and data analysis. However, if you plan to
use complex data or formulas, it is recommended to perform those operations in a separate Calc
spreadsheet and use Impress only to display the embedded spreadsheet with the results.
You may be tempted to use spreadsheets in Impress for creating complex tables or presenting
data in a tabular format. However, the Table Design feature in Impress is often more suitable and
faster, depending on the complexity of your data; see Chapter 3 Adding and Formatting Text for
more information.
The entire spreadsheet is inserted into your slide. If the spreadsheet contains more than one sheet
and the one you want is not visible, double-click the spreadsheet and then select a different sheet
from the row of sheet tabs at the bottom.

Resizing and moving spreadsheets

When resizing or moving a spreadsheet on slides, ignore the first row and first column (easily
recognizable because of their light background color) and any horizontal and vertical scroll bars.
They are only used for spreadsheet editing purposes and will not be included in the spreadsheet
that appears on the slide.

Resizing
When selected, a spreadsheet OLE object is treated like any other object. However, resizing an
embedded spreadsheet also changes the spreadsheet area that is visible on a slide.
To resize the area occupied by the spreadsheet on a slide:
1) Double-click the OLE object to enter edit mode, if it is not already active. Note the selection
handles visible in the border surrounding the spreadsheet OLE object (Figure 135).
2) Move the mouse over one of the handles. The cursor changes shape to give a visual
representation of the effects applied to the area.
3) Click and hold the left mouse button and drag the handle. The corner handles move the two
adjacent sides simultaneously, while the handles at the midpoint of the sides modify one
dimension at a time.

Moving
You can move a spreadsheet OLE object (change its position within the slide) when it is in edit
mode.
1) Move the mouse over the object border until the cursor changes shape (normally a hand,
but this depends on your computer setup).
2) Click and hold the left mouse button and drag the spreadsheet to the desired position.
3) Release the mouse button.

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Editing spreadsheets
When a spreadsheet is inserted into a slide, it is in edit mode ready for inserting or modifying data
or modifying the format (example shown in Figure 135). Note the position of the active spreadsheet
cell and the small resizing handles on the object border.
When editing a spreadsheet, some of the toolbars change in Impress so that you can easily edit a
spreadsheet (Figure 136). One of the most important changes is the presence of the Formula
toolbar, just below the Formatting toolbar. The Formula toolbar contains (from left to right):
The active cell reference or the name of a selected range of cells.
The Formula Wizard icon .
The Sum and Function icons or the Cancel and Accept icons, depending
on the editing actions taken in the spreadsheet.
A long edit box to enter or review the contents of the active cell.
If you are familiar with Calc, you will immediately recognize the tools and the menu items. See the
Calc Guide for more information on how to create and edit spreadsheets in LibreOffice.

Spreadsheet organization
A spreadsheet consists of multiple tables called sheets, which in turn contain cells. However, in
Impress, only one sheet can be shown at any one time in a slide when a spreadsheet with multiple
sheets is embedded into an Impress slide. The default names for sheets are Sheet 1, Sheet 2,
Sheet 3 and so on, unless the sheets have been renamed, and the sheet names are shown at the
bottom of the spreadsheet area (Figure 135).
Each sheet is organized into cells, which are the elementary units of the spreadsheet. They are
identified by a row number (shown on the left hand side) and a column letter (shown in the top
row). For example, the top left cell is identified as A1, while the third cell in the second row is C2.
All data elements, whether text, numbers or formulas, are entered into a cell.

If you have multiple sheets in your embedded spreadsheet, only the active sheet is
Note shown on the slide after exiting edit mode.

Figure 137: Insert Sheet dialog

Chapter 7 Including Spreadsheets, Charts, and Other Objects 165