How to clip PowerPoint graphics using Apache POI with XSLF API

Question

I'm trying to convert a Eclipse Draw2D Figure to a PowerPoint page by implementing org.eclipse.draw2d.Graphics with Apache POI's XSLF API.

Apache POI's HSLF API supports a similar approach for AWT drawing, implementing java.awt.Graphics2D with HSLF class org.apache.poi.hslf.model.PPGraphics2D .

The base graphics classes for both AWT and Draw2D provide methods to clip subsequent drawing. This is highly useful when drawing part of a larger scene.

The Apache POI implementation of the AWT graphics methods to set the clipping region is to log a warning. This suggests that it might not be feasible to clip arbitrary drawing in a PowerPoint page. So too does the apparent lack of controls for setting such clipping within the PowerPoint application itself.

Questions:

A) Is clipping feasible in PowerPoint documents?

B) If so, how can clipping be requested through Apache POI?'

C) If not, what are possible workarounds?

Notes:

In my case, I have adjacent columns that each need to be clipped. Laying big background-colored rectangles over the margins isn't sufficient.

Answer 1

Please have a look at org.apache.poi.sl.draw.SLGraphics - I might remove the PPGraphics2D class in the not so far future.

A) I think it's not such an big issue, I've did some rudimentary clipping in Graphics2d context for JasperReports

B) maybe via opening a feature request ;)

C) The workaround is to extend SLGraphics (preferably) or PPGraphics2D, but you basically would need to include the clipping in all drawing calls, ie clip all shapes.