File Content Extraction 26.1
Filter SDK Python Programming Guide

# Filter Presentation Files to a Logical Reading Order

With some file formats, for example Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, the order of the text inside the file has no relation to the layout of the text on the page or screen. Recently modified text might appear at the end of a file, even though that text belongs at the beginning of the document.

You can configure File Content Extraction to process position information and sort the extracted text so that it is returned in the correct (reading) order.

NOTE: This feature supports Microsoft PowerPoint files only.

NOTE: The logical reader order for presentations is not compatible with `KVFLT_SHOWHIDDENTEXT`. You can use the two options together, but with logical ordering enabled you might not get all the text included with `KVFLT_SHOWHIDDENTEXT`.

To enable logical reading order

- In the Python API, call the method `logical_order` on your session configuration. For example:

      session.config.logical_order(True)

- In the `formats.ini` file, find the `[Options]` section, and set `LogicalOrder` to 1. (This is an alternative approach - you do not need to do this if you have configured this feature through the API).

  For example:

      [Options]
      LogicalOrder=1

Related Topics

- Filter PDF Files to a Logical Reading Order

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Version 26.1 | Last updated January 2026

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Product: File Content Extraction 26.1

Topic Title: Filter Presentation Files to a Logical Reading Order