# How to Create Morph Transitions and Other Slide Transitions in PowerPoint with OfficeCLI > Create stunning morph and other slide transitions in PowerPoint using OfficeCLI. Effortlessly apply effects like morph-byword-slow or fade-fast-1500 with the officecli set command. - Repository: [OfficeAI/OfficeCLI](https://github.com/iofficeai/OfficeCLI) - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-08-09 --- **Use the `officecli set` command with the `--prop transition` flag to apply any PowerPoint transition type, including morph effects, by specifying transition tokens like `morph-byword-slow` or `fade-fast-1500`.** OfficeCLI manipulates PowerPoint files through the OpenXML SDK, offering a declarative, scriptable interface for slide animations. To create morph transitions and other slide transitions in PowerPoint with OfficeCLI, you pass structured property strings that the CLI converts into strongly-typed OpenXML transition elements. ## How OfficeCLI Processes Transition Commands ### Command Parsing in PowerPointHandler.Set.Slide.cs The entry point for transition commands is the `SetSlideByPath` method in [`src/officecli/Handlers/Pptx/PowerPointHandler.Set.Slide.cs`](https://github.com/iOfficeAI/OfficeCLI/blob/main/src/officecli/Handlers/Pptx/PowerPointHandler.Set.Slide.cs). When you execute a `set` command targeting a specific slide path (e.g., `/slide[2]`), this method matches the `transition` key and forwards the value to `ApplyTransition` and optionally `ApplyTransitionSpeed`. ### Building Transition Elements in PowerPointHandler.Animations.cs The `ApplyTransition` method in [`src/officecli/Handlers/Pptx/PowerPointHandler.Animations.cs`](https://github.com/iOfficeAI/OfficeCLI/blob/main/src/officecli/Handlers/Pptx/PowerPointHandler.Animations.cs) handles the heavy lifting of constructing the actual XML. It splits the supplied string—such as `morph-byword-slow-1500`—into tokens representing the **type**, optional **direction**, **speed**, **duration**, and special modifiers. For classic transitions like `fade`, `cut`, or `wipe`, the method instantiates strongly-typed OpenXML subclasses such as `new FadeTransition()`, setting properties like `ThroughBlack`, `Direction`, `Speed`, and `Duration` based on parsed tokens. For **Morph** transitions specifically, the handler calls `AutoPrefixMorphNames`, which automatically prepends `!!` to every shape name on the slide. This enables the OOXML "shape-by-name" binding required for PowerPoint's morph animation engine. ### Helper Utilities in PowerPointHandler.Helpers.Transition.cs The `FindOrCreateTransition` method in [`src/officecli/Handlers/Pptx/PowerPointHandler.Helpers.Transition.cs`](https://github.com/iOfficeAI/OfficeCLI/blob/main/src/officecli/Handlers/Pptx/PowerPointHandler.Helpers.Transition.cs) guarantees that a `` element exists before properties are set. It handles edge cases where slides contain unknown-element transitions by creating new transition nodes when necessary. ## Applying Standard Slide Transitions Standard transitions use a token syntax combining the transition type with optional speed and duration modifiers separated by hyphens. ```bash # Simple fade with default speed officecli set deck.pptx /slide[2] --prop transition=fade # Cut transition with fast speed officecli set deck.pptx /slide[3] --prop transition=cut-fast # Wheel transition with 8 spokes and 1.5 second duration officecli set deck.pptx /slide[4] --prop transition=wheel-8-1500 # Modern Office 2010 transition with reverse direction officecli set deck.pptx /slide[5] --prop transition=peelOff-out ``` The CLI parses these strings in a single pass. Specifying `transition=fade-fast` sets `Speed = Fast`, while `transition=fade-1500` sets `Duration = "1500"` milliseconds. Combined shortcuts like `transition=morph-slow-2000` set both properties simultaneously. ## Creating Morph Transitions Morph transitions require specific setup because they animate between consecutive slides based on matching shape names. ### Basic Morph Setup To create a morph transition, apply the property to both the source and target slides: ```bash # Apply morph to slide 2 (source) officecli set deck.pptx /slide[2] --prop transition=morph # Apply morph to slide 3 (target) - required for the effect to work officecli set deck.pptx /slide[3] --prop transition=morph ``` ### How Morph Works Internally When you set `transition=morph`, OfficeCLI automatically invokes `AutoPrefixMorphNames` in [`PowerPointHandler.Animations.cs`](https://github.com/iOfficeAI/OfficeCLI/blob/main/PowerPointHandler.Animations.cs). This method prepends `!!` to every shape name on the slide, enabling the OOXML shape-by-name binding that PowerPoint requires for morph animation. Selectors using `@name=` still resolve the original name, though the stored name includes the prefix. ### Morph Variants OfficeCLI supports word-level and character-level morph animations through specific modifiers: ```bash # Morph by word with slow speed officecli set deck.pptx /slide[6] --prop transition=morph-byword-slow # Morph by character with 2 second duration officecli set deck.pptx /slide[7] --prop transition=morph-bychar-2000 ``` These variants add the appropriate `Morph`-type attributes (`byWord`, `byChar`) to the transition element. ## Supported Transition Types and Modifiers The `ApplyTransition` method in [`PowerPointHandler.Animations.cs`](https://github.com/iOfficeAI/OfficeCLI/blob/main/PowerPointHandler.Animations.cs) enumerates every built-in transition the CLI supports. ### Transition Types Supported types include classic transitions (`fade`, `cut`, `wipe`, `push`, `wheel`, `circle`, `diamond`) and modern Office 2010 transitions (`peelOff`, `airplane`, `prism`, `vortex`, `shred`, `switch`). ### Modifiers - **Speed**: `slow`, `fast` (maps to OpenXML `Speed` enum) - **Duration**: Numeric value in milliseconds (e.g., `1500`, `2000`) - **Direction**: `in`, `out`, `up`, `down`, `left`, `right` (context-dependent on transition type) - **Special parameters**: For wheel transitions, specify spoke count (e.g., `wheel-8`) To clear any transition, set the value to `none` or `false`, which removes the entire `` element including alternate-content wrappers for Morph. ```bash # Clear transition from slide 4 officecli set deck.pptx /slide[4] --prop transition=none ``` ## Summary - Use `officecli set deck.pptx /slide[N] --prop transition=` to apply any PowerPoint transition from the command line. - The [`PowerPointHandler.Set.Slide.cs`](https://github.com/iOfficeAI/OfficeCLI/blob/main/PowerPointHandler.Set.Slide.cs) file routes transition commands to `ApplyTransition` in [`PowerPointHandler.Animations.cs`](https://github.com/iOfficeAI/OfficeCLI/blob/main/PowerPointHandler.Animations.cs). - Morph transitions require the property on both consecutive slides and automatically trigger `AutoPrefixMorphNames` to prepend `!!` to shape names. - Combine transition types with speed (`fast`, `slow`), duration (milliseconds), and direction modifiers using hyphen-separated tokens. - Use `transition=none` to remove transition elements entirely via the helper methods in [`PowerPointHandler.Helpers.Transition.cs`](https://github.com/iOfficeAI/OfficeCLI/blob/main/PowerPointHandler.Helpers.Transition.cs). ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How do I remove a transition from a slide? Set the transition property to `none` or `false`. This triggers the removal of the entire `` element, including any alternate-content wrappers specific to Morph transitions. The `FindOrCreateTransition` helper in [`PowerPointHandler.Helpers.Transition.cs`](https://github.com/iOfficeAI/OfficeCLI/blob/main/PowerPointHandler.Helpers.Transition.cs) handles the deletion logic. ### Why isn't my morph transition working? Morph requires the transition property on both consecutive slides. Ensure you run `officecli set` with `transition=morph` on both the source slide and the target slide. OfficeCLI automatically prefixes shape names with `!!` to enable OOXML binding, but both slides must have the transition flag set for PowerPoint to render the animation. ### Can I combine multiple transition modifiers? Yes. OfficeCLI parses transition tokens in a single pass, allowing combinations like `transition=fade-fast-1500` or `transition=morph-byword-slow`. The `ApplyTransition` method extracts speed, duration, direction, and special modifiers (like `byWord` or spoke counts) from the hyphen-delimited string. ### Where does OfficeCLI store transition settings? OfficeCLI writes transition settings directly into the PowerPoint OpenXML structure via the OpenXML SDK. The `ApplyTransition` method in [`PowerPointHandler.Animations.cs`](https://github.com/iOfficeAI/OfficeCLI/blob/main/PowerPointHandler.Animations.cs) creates strongly-typed transition elements (such as `FadeTransition` or `MorphTransition`) and inserts them into the slide's `` node, which PowerPoint reads when presenting.