feature: remove single run/paragraph

[theres]

I make some pptx templates processing and this is really desired feature for me. API proposal:

paragraph.remove(run)

and

textframe.remove(paragraph)

[scanny]

Hi @theres, I think the API we'll use is .delete() on each individual object for which it's valid, so something like this:

paragraph.runs[0].delete()
run.delete()
paragraph.delete()
# etc. ...

In the meantime, this code should do the trick for plain content. The trickiness comes in when there are links to external content, like a picture or hyperlink:

def delete_paragraph(paragraph):
    p = paragraph._p
    parent_element = p.getparent()
    parent_element.remove(p)

# this second form is a little more direct, although perhaps not
# quite as clear on all the steps that are happening
def delete_run(run):
    r = run._r
    r.getparent().remove(r)

You'll need to be careful about using any remaining reference to the paragraph after calling delete_paragraph(). It will seem to work but won't affect the presentation content that gets saved. That's one of the reasons using the form delete_paragraph(text_frame.paragraphs[idx]) would be preferred since it doesn't leave a reference hanging around.

Dealing with these smaller details and edge cases will be some of the work that will go into the actual feature when we add it.

Let us know how you go if you decide to use the workaround function :)

[theres]

Thanks!
I found similar workaround by myself and it's working for me now, but it would be great to have some consistent and stable API for delete and other basic operations (ex. insert in specific place new or copy of run/paragraph/br's).

Anyway, great job and thank you again!

[ghost]

Im stuck on this, prs.slides[slideIdx].shapes[1] is an textbox, how can i get rid from it?
i just can do prs.slides[slideIdx].shapes[1].clear()

[zhouaide0924]

Hi Scanny,

is it possible that you give a example how to use this function delete_paragraph()? i always got errors when i call it after i open a word file using Document() function, do I need do any other preparation before call this function?

Thanks so much!

[scanny]

@zhouaide0924 post a small example that doesn't work and describe the error you're getting in a post on StackOverflow tagged with the "python-docx" tag and I'll take a look.

[zhouaide0924]

Hi Scanny, Thanks for your response, it is work now. I find I used it in a wrong way. Sorry for this issue.