How to Connect Shapes with Connectors in Python

This guide shows how to connect shapes with connectors in PowerPoint slides using Aspose.Slides FOSS for Python. Call slide.shapes.add_connector() to create a connector, then set conn.start_shape_connected_to and conn.end_shape_connected_to to link two shapes. The most common connector type is BENT_CONNECTOR3, which routes around obstacles with a single elbow bend.

Prerequisites

Install the library in your Python environment by running the following pip command before running any examples:

pip install aspose-slides-foss

Connection Site Indexes

Every shape has four numbered connection sites:

Index	Position
`0`	Top center
`1`	Left center
`2`	Bottom center
`3`	Right center

Connect Two Shapes

Create the two shapes, add a connector with slide.shapes.add_connector(), then set start_shape_connected_to and end_shape_connected_to to link them:

from aspose.slides_foss import ShapeType
import aspose.slides_foss as slides
from aspose.slides_foss.export import SaveFormat

with slides.Presentation() as prs:
    slide = prs.slides[0]

    # Add two rectangles
    box1 = slide.shapes.add_auto_shape(ShapeType.RECTANGLE, 50, 200, 200, 100)
    box2 = slide.shapes.add_auto_shape(ShapeType.RECTANGLE, 450, 200, 200, 100)

    box1.add_text_frame("Start")
    box2.add_text_frame("End")

    # Add a bent connector (initial bounds are overwritten by the connection)
    conn = slide.shapes.add_connector(ShapeType.BENT_CONNECTOR3, 0, 0, 10, 10)

    # Connect right side of box1 (site 3) to left side of box2 (site 1)
    conn.start_shape_connected_to = box1
    conn.start_shape_connection_site_index = 3
    conn.end_shape_connected_to = box2
    conn.end_shape_connection_site_index = 1

    prs.save("connected.pptx", SaveFormat.PPTX)

The placeholder bounds (0, 0, 10, 10) passed to add_connector are ignored once the connection endpoints are set; PowerPoint re-routes the connector to the attached shapes.

Connector Types

Use ShapeType constants to select the connector routing style. Common options include straight lines, single-elbow, and double-elbow connectors:

from aspose.slides_foss import ShapeType

# Straight line
ShapeType.STRAIGHT_CONNECTOR1

# Single elbow (L-shape)
ShapeType.BENT_CONNECTOR2

# Double elbow (Z-shape): most common
ShapeType.BENT_CONNECTOR3

# Curved connector
ShapeType.CURVED_CONNECTOR3

Style the Connector Line

Set the connector’s line color, width, and dash style via conn.line_format after creating the connector:

from aspose.slides_foss import ShapeType, LineDashStyle
from aspose.slides_foss.drawing import Color
import aspose.slides_foss as slides
from aspose.slides_foss.export import SaveFormat

with slides.Presentation() as prs:
    slide = prs.slides[0]

    box1 = slide.shapes.add_auto_shape(ShapeType.RECTANGLE, 50, 150, 180, 80)
    box2 = slide.shapes.add_auto_shape(ShapeType.RECTANGLE, 500, 300, 180, 80)

    conn = slide.shapes.add_connector(ShapeType.BENT_CONNECTOR3, 0, 0, 10, 10)
    conn.start_shape_connected_to = box1
    conn.start_shape_connection_site_index = 2   # bottom of box1
    conn.end_shape_connected_to = box2
    conn.end_shape_connection_site_index = 0     # top of box2

    # Style: dashed blue line, 2 pt width
    lf = conn.line_format
    lf.width = 2.0
    lf.fill_format.solid_fill_color.color = Color.from_argb(255, 0, 0, 255)  # blue
    lf.dash_style = LineDashStyle.DASH

    prs.save("styled-connector.pptx", SaveFormat.PPTX)

Flowchart with Multiple Connectors

Build a multi-step flowchart by creating several shapes and adding a BENT_CONNECTOR3 connector between each consecutive pair:

from aspose.slides_foss import ShapeType
import aspose.slides_foss as slides
from aspose.slides_foss.export import SaveFormat

with slides.Presentation() as prs:
    slide = prs.slides[0]

    # Three-step flowchart
    step1 = slide.shapes.add_auto_shape(ShapeType.RECTANGLE, 350, 50, 200, 70)
    step2 = slide.shapes.add_auto_shape(ShapeType.RECTANGLE, 350, 220, 200, 70)
    step3 = slide.shapes.add_auto_shape(ShapeType.RECTANGLE, 350, 390, 200, 70)

    step1.add_text_frame("Step 1")
    step2.add_text_frame("Step 2")
    step3.add_text_frame("Step 3")

    def connect_vertical(shapes, top_shape, bottom_shape):
        conn = shapes.add_connector(ShapeType.BENT_CONNECTOR3, 0, 0, 10, 10)
        conn.start_shape_connected_to = top_shape
        conn.start_shape_connection_site_index = 2   # bottom
        conn.end_shape_connected_to = bottom_shape
        conn.end_shape_connection_site_index = 0     # top
        return conn

    connect_vertical(slide.shapes, step1, step2)
    connect_vertical(slide.shapes, step2, step3)

    prs.save("flowchart.pptx", SaveFormat.PPTX)

Read Connector Properties

Load an existing presentation and inspect each connector’s start_shape_connected_to and end_shape_connected_to by casting shapes to Connector:

from aspose.slides_foss import Connector
import aspose.slides_foss as slides

with slides.Presentation("connected.pptx") as prs:
    for shape in prs.slides[0].shapes:
        if isinstance(shape, Connector):
            start = shape.start_shape_connected_to
            end = shape.end_shape_connected_to
            print(f"Connector: {getattr(start, 'name', '?')} → {getattr(end, 'name', '?')}")