8

My navigation bar in Beamer is too long with the way it is presently formatted. I have considered going to multiple lines for the circle navigation, but this results in the vertical space of the navigation bar taking up too much space. I seem to recall at some point seeing a presentation where the circles collapse down to a single circle unless actually inside of the current subsection where they expand back out to have dots for each frame at that point.

I would appreciate suggestions on how to keep the single line navigation bar like I have, but ways to condense the bar so it will fit within the width I have.

enter image description here

I also seem to recall seeing a presentation where there were lines between the circle navigation markers for each subsubsection of the presentation, but haven't been able to find something about how to do that yet. If you could point me to where that might be located, that would be great.

Thanks in advance.

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1
  • Make your talk shorter :)
    – alfC
    Feb 9, 2016 at 22:33

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
7

The beamer template mini frames has 3 predefined templates:

  • [default] shows small circles as mini frames
  • [box] shows small rectangles as mini frames
  • [tick] shows small vertical bars as mini frames

So you could for example just switch to the tick template as it doesn't occupy so much space:

\setbeamertemplate{mini frame}[tick]
\setbeamertemplate{mini frame in current subsection}{tick}

But it seems like you want to keep the circles. So why not just scale them down. To do that you have to redefine the mini frame templates. So I just copied the default template, renamed it to scaled circle and introduced a scaling factor.

\defbeamertemplate{mini frame}{scaled circle}[1]
{%
  \begin{pgfpicture}{0pt}{0pt}{#1 * 0.1cm}{#1 * 0.1cm}
    \pgfsetlinewidth{#1 * 0.4pt}
    \pgfpathcircle{\pgfpoint{#1 * 0.05cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}}{#1 * 0.05cm}
    \pgfusepath{fill,stroke}
  \end{pgfpicture}%
}
[action]
{
  \newlength{\myminiframesize}
  \setlength{\myminiframesize}{0.14cm}
  \newlength{\myminiframeoffset}
  \setlength{\myminiframeoffset}{0.03cm}
  \setbeamersize{mini frame size=#1\myminiframesize,mini frame offset=#1\myminiframeoffset}
}

\defbeamertemplate{mini frame in current section}{scaled circle}[1]
{%
  \begin{pgfpicture}{0pt}{0pt}{#1 * 0.1cm}{#1 * 0.1cm}
    \pgfsetlinewidth{#1 * 0.4pt}
    \pgfpathcircle{\pgfpoint{#1 * 0.05cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}}{#1 * 0.05cm}
    \pgfusepath{stroke}
  \end{pgfpicture}%
}

\defbeamertemplate{mini frame in current subsection}{scaled circle}[1]
{%
  \begin{pgfpicture}{0pt}{0pt}{#1 * 0.1cm}{#1 * 0.1cm}
    \pgfsetlinewidth{#1 * 0.4pt}
    \pgfpathcircle{\pgfpoint{#1 * 0.05cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}}{#1 * 0.05cm}
    \pgfusepath{stroke}
  \end{pgfpicture}%
}

You can then just load it with

\setbeamertemplate{mini frame}[scaled circle]{0.7}
\setbeamertemplate{mini frame in current section}[scaled circle]{0.7}
\setbeamertemplate{mini frame in current subsection}[scaled circle]{0.7}

where 0.7 is the scaling factor.

Complete MWE:

\documentclass[compress]{beamer}
\usepackage{calc}
\useoutertheme{miniframes}

\defbeamertemplate{mini frame}{scaled circle}[1]
{%
  \begin{pgfpicture}{0pt}{0pt}{#1 * 0.1cm}{#1 * 0.1cm}
    \pgfsetlinewidth{#1 * 0.4pt}
    \pgfpathcircle{\pgfpoint{#1 * 0.05cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}}{#1 * 0.05cm}
    \pgfusepath{fill,stroke}
  \end{pgfpicture}%
}
[action]
{
  \newlength{\myminiframesize}
  \setlength{\myminiframesize}{0.14cm}
  \newlength{\myminiframeoffset}
  \setlength{\myminiframeoffset}{0.03cm}
  \setbeamersize{mini frame size=#1\myminiframesize,mini frame offset=#1\myminiframeoffset}
}

\defbeamertemplate{mini frame in current section}{scaled circle}[1]
{%
  \begin{pgfpicture}{0pt}{0pt}{#1 * 0.1cm}{#1 * 0.1cm}
    \pgfsetlinewidth{#1 * 0.4pt}
    \pgfpathcircle{\pgfpoint{#1 * 0.05cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}}{#1 * 0.05cm}
    \pgfusepath{stroke}
  \end{pgfpicture}%
}

\defbeamertemplate{mini frame in current subsection}{scaled circle}[1]
{%
  \begin{pgfpicture}{0pt}{0pt}{#1 * 0.1cm}{#1 * 0.1cm}
    \pgfsetlinewidth{#1 * 0.4pt}
    \pgfpathcircle{\pgfpoint{#1 * 0.05cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}}{#1 * 0.05cm}
    \pgfusepath{stroke}
  \end{pgfpicture}%
}

\setbeamertemplate{mini frame}[scaled circle]{0.7}
\setbeamertemplate{mini frame in current section}[scaled circle]{0.7}
\setbeamertemplate{mini frame in current subsection}[scaled circle]{0.7}

\begin{document}

\section{Section 1}
\subsection{Subsection 1}
\frame{Frame 1}
\frame{Frame 2}
\frame{Frame 3}
\frame{Frame 4}
\frame{Frame 5}
\frame{Frame 6}
\frame{Frame 7}
\frame{Frame 8}
\frame{Frame 9}
\frame{Frame 10}
\subsection{Subsection 2}
\frame{Frame 1}
\frame{Frame 2}
\frame{Frame 3}
\frame{Frame 4}
\frame{Frame 5}
\frame{Frame 6}
\frame{Frame 7}
\frame{Frame 8}
\frame{Frame 9}
\frame{Frame 10}

\end{document}

Scaling Factor = 0.7

scaling0.7

Scaling Factor = 1

scaling1

Scaling Factor = 2

scaling2

EDIT – Connect Circles 

\makeatletter
\def\slideentry#1#2#3#4#5#6{%
  %section number, subsection number, slide number, first/last frame, page number, part number
  \ifnum#6=\c@part\ifnum#2>0\ifnum#3>0%
    \ifbeamer@compress%
      \advance\beamer@xpos by1\relax%
    \else%
      \beamer@xpos=#3\relax%
      \beamer@ypos=#2\relax%
    \fi%
  \hbox to 0pt{%
    \beamer@tempdim=-\beamer@vboxoffset%
    \advance\beamer@tempdim by-\beamer@boxsize%
    \multiply\beamer@tempdim by\beamer@ypos%
    \advance\beamer@tempdim by -.05cm%
    \raise\beamer@tempdim\hbox{%
      \beamer@tempdim=\beamer@boxsize%
      \multiply\beamer@tempdim by\beamer@xpos%
      \advance\beamer@tempdim by -\beamer@boxsize%
      \advance\beamer@tempdim by 1pt%
      \kern\beamer@tempdim
      \global\beamer@section@min@dim\beamer@tempdim
      \hbox{\beamer@link(#4){%
          \usebeamerfont{mini frame}%
          \ifnum\c@section=#1%
            \ifnum\c@subsection=#2%
              \usebeamercolor[fg]{mini frame}%
              \ifnum\c@subsectionslide=#3%
                \ifnum#3=1%
                  \usebeamertemplate{mini frame first}%\beamer@minislidehilight%
                \else%
                  \usebeamertemplate{mini frame}%\beamer@minislidehilight%
                \fi
              \else%
                \ifnum#3=1%
                  \usebeamertemplate{mini frame in current subsection first}%
                \else%
                  \usebeamertemplate{mini frame in current subsection}%\beamer@minisliderowhilight%
                \fi
              \fi%
            \else%
              \usebeamercolor{mini frame}%
              %\color{fg!50!bg}%
              \usebeamertemplate{mini frame in other subsection}%\beamer@minislide%
            \fi%
          \else%
            \usebeamercolor{mini frame}%
            %\color{fg!50!bg}%
            \usebeamertemplate{mini frame in other subsection}%\beamer@minislide%
          \fi%
        }}}\hskip-10cm plus 1fil%
  }\fi\fi%
  \else%
  \fakeslideentry{#1}{#2}{#3}{#4}{#5}{#6}%
  \fi\ignorespaces
  }
\makeatother

\defbeamertemplate{mini frame}{scaled circle}[1]
{%
  \begin{pgfpicture}{0pt}{0pt}{#1 * 0.1cm}{#1 * 0.1cm}
    \pgfsetlinewidth{#1 * 0.4pt}
    \pgfpathmoveto{\pgfpoint{0cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}} 
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpoint{#1 * -0.04cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}} 
    \pgfpathcircle{\pgfpoint{#1 * 0.05cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}}{#1 * 0.05cm}
    \pgfusepath{fill,stroke}
  \end{pgfpicture}%
}
[action]
{
  \newlength{\myminiframesize}
  \setlength{\myminiframesize}{0.14cm}
  \newlength{\myminiframeoffset}
  \setlength{\myminiframeoffset}{0.03cm}
  \setbeamersize{mini frame size=#1\myminiframesize,mini frame offset=#1\myminiframeoffset}
}

\defbeamertemplate{mini frame first}{scaled circle}[1]
{%
  \begin{pgfpicture}{0pt}{0pt}{#1 * 0.1cm}{#1 * 0.1cm}
    \pgfsetlinewidth{#1 * 0.4pt}
    \pgfpathcircle{\pgfpoint{#1 * 0.05cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}}{#1 * 0.05cm}
    \pgfusepath{fill,stroke}
  \end{pgfpicture}%
}


\defbeamertemplate{mini frame in current section}{scaled circle}[1]
{%
  \begin{pgfpicture}{0pt}{0pt}{#1 * 0.1cm}{#1 * 0.1cm}
    \pgfsetlinewidth{#1 * 0.4pt}
    \pgfpathmoveto{\pgfpoint{0cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}} 
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpoint{#1 * -0.04cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}} 
    \pgfpathcircle{\pgfpoint{#1 * 0.05cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}}{#1 * 0.05cm}
    \pgfusepath{stroke}
  \end{pgfpicture}%
}

\defbeamertemplate{mini frame in other section}{scaled circle}[1]
{%
  \color{fg!50!bg}
  \begin{pgfpicture}{0pt}{0pt}{#1 * 0.1cm}{#1 * 0.1cm}
    \pgfsetlinewidth{#1 * 0.4pt}
    \pgfpathcircle{\pgfpoint{#1 * 0.05cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}}{#1 * 0.05cm}
    \pgfusepath{stroke}
  \end{pgfpicture}%
}

\defbeamertemplate{mini frame in current subsection}{scaled circle}[1]
{%
  \begin{pgfpicture}{0pt}{0pt}{#1 * 0.1cm}{#1 * 0.1cm}
    \pgfsetlinewidth{#1 * 0.4pt}
    \pgfpathmoveto{\pgfpoint{0cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}} 
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpoint{#1 * -0.04cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}} 
    \pgfpathcircle{\pgfpoint{#1 * 0.05cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}}{#1 * 0.05cm}
    \pgfusepath{stroke}
  \end{pgfpicture}%
}

\defbeamertemplate{mini frame in current subsection first}{scaled circle}[1]
{%
  \begin{pgfpicture}{0pt}{0pt}{#1 * 0.1cm}{#1 * 0.1cm}
    \pgfsetlinewidth{#1 * 0.4pt}
    \pgfpathcircle{\pgfpoint{#1 * 0.05cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}}{#1 * 0.05cm}
    \pgfusepath{stroke}
  \end{pgfpicture}%
}

\defbeamertemplate{mini frame in other subsection}{scaled circle}[1]
{%
  \color{fg!50!bg}
  \begin{pgfpicture}{0pt}{0pt}{#1 * 0.1cm}{#1 * 0.1cm}
    \pgfsetlinewidth{#1 * 0.4pt}
    \pgfpathcircle{\pgfpoint{#1 * 0.05cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}}{#1 * 0.05cm}
    \pgfusepath{stroke}
  \end{pgfpicture}%
}

\setbeamertemplate{mini frame}[scaled circle]{0.7}
\setbeamertemplate{mini frame first}[scaled circle]{0.7}
\setbeamertemplate{mini frame in current section}[scaled circle]{0.7}
\setbeamertemplate{mini frame in current subsection}[scaled circle]{0.7}
\setbeamertemplate{mini frame in current subsection first}[scaled circle]{0.7}
\setbeamertemplate{mini frame in other section}[scaled circle]{0.7}
\setbeamertemplate{mini frame in other subsection}[scaled circle]{0.7}

Output:

connected

EDIT 2 – Collapse Other Subsections

\makeatletter
\def\slideentry#1#2#3#4#5#6{%
  %section number, subsection number, slide number, first/last frame, page number, part number
  \ifnum#6=\c@part\ifnum#2>0\ifnum#3>0%
    \ifbeamer@compress%
      \ifnum\c@section=#1
        \ifnum\c@subsection=#2
          \advance\beamer@xpos by1\relax%
        \else%
          \ifnum#3=1%
            \advance\beamer@xpos by1\relax%
          \fi
        \fi
      \else%
        \ifnum#3=1%
          \advance\beamer@xpos by1\relax%
        \fi
      \fi
    \else%
      \beamer@xpos=#3\relax%
      \beamer@ypos=#2\relax%
    \fi%
  \hbox to 0pt{%
    \beamer@tempdim=-\beamer@vboxoffset%
    \advance\beamer@tempdim by-\beamer@boxsize%
    \multiply\beamer@tempdim by\beamer@ypos%
    \advance\beamer@tempdim by -.05cm%
    \raise\beamer@tempdim\hbox{%
      \beamer@tempdim=\beamer@boxsize%
      \multiply\beamer@tempdim by\beamer@xpos%
      \advance\beamer@tempdim by -\beamer@boxsize%
      \advance\beamer@tempdim by 1pt%
      \kern\beamer@tempdim
      \global\beamer@section@min@dim\beamer@tempdim
      \hbox{\beamer@link(#4){%
          \usebeamerfont{mini frame}%
          \ifnum\c@section=#1%
            \ifnum\c@subsection=#2%
              \usebeamercolor[fg]{mini frame}%
              \ifnum\c@subsectionslide=#3%
                \ifnum#3=1%
                  \usebeamertemplate{mini frame first}%\beamer@minislidehilight%
                \else%
                  \usebeamertemplate{mini frame}%\beamer@minislidehilight%
                \fi
              \else%
                \ifnum#3=1%
                  \usebeamertemplate{mini frame in current subsection first}%
                \else%
                  \usebeamertemplate{mini frame in current subsection}%\beamer@minisliderowhilight%
                \fi
              \fi%
            \else%
              \ifnum#3=1%
                \usebeamercolor{mini frame}%
                %\color{fg!50!bg}%
                \usebeamertemplate{mini frame in other subsection}%\beamer@minislide%
              \fi
            \fi%
          \else%
            \ifnum#3=1%
              \usebeamercolor{mini frame}%
              %\color{fg!50!bg}%
              \usebeamertemplate{mini frame in other subsection}%\beamer@minislide%
            \fi
          \fi%
        }}}\hskip-10cm plus 1fil%
  }\fi\fi%
  \else%
  \fakeslideentry{#1}{#2}{#3}{#4}{#5}{#6}%
  \fi\ignorespaces
  }
\makeatother

\defbeamertemplate{mini frame}{scaled circle}[1]
{%
  \begin{pgfpicture}{0pt}{0pt}{#1 * 0.1cm}{#1 * 0.1cm}
    \pgfsetlinewidth{#1 * 0.4pt}
    \pgfpathmoveto{\pgfpoint{0cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}} 
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpoint{#1 * -0.04cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}} 
    \pgfpathcircle{\pgfpoint{#1 * 0.05cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}}{#1 * 0.05cm}
    \pgfusepath{fill,stroke}
  \end{pgfpicture}%
}
[action]
{
  \newlength{\myminiframesize}
  \setlength{\myminiframesize}{0.14cm}
  \newlength{\myminiframeoffset}
  \setlength{\myminiframeoffset}{0.03cm}
  \setbeamersize{mini frame size=#1\myminiframesize,mini frame offset=#1\myminiframeoffset}
}

\defbeamertemplate{mini frame first}{scaled circle}[1]
{%
  \begin{pgfpicture}{0pt}{0pt}{#1 * 0.1cm}{#1 * 0.1cm}
    \pgfsetlinewidth{#1 * 0.4pt}
    \pgfpathcircle{\pgfpoint{#1 * 0.05cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}}{#1 * 0.05cm}
    \pgfusepath{fill,stroke}
  \end{pgfpicture}%
}


\defbeamertemplate{mini frame in current section}{scaled circle}[1]
{%
  \begin{pgfpicture}{0pt}{0pt}{#1 * 0.1cm}{#1 * 0.1cm}
    \pgfsetlinewidth{#1 * 0.4pt}
    \pgfpathmoveto{\pgfpoint{0cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}} 
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpoint{#1 * -0.04cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}} 
    \pgfpathcircle{\pgfpoint{#1 * 0.05cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}}{#1 * 0.05cm}
    \pgfusepath{stroke}
  \end{pgfpicture}%
}

\defbeamertemplate{mini frame in other section}{scaled circle}[1]
{%
  \color{fg!50!bg}
  \begin{pgfpicture}{0pt}{0pt}{#1 * 0.1cm}{#1 * 0.1cm}
    \pgfsetlinewidth{#1 * 0.4pt}
    \pgfpathcircle{\pgfpoint{#1 * 0.05cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}}{#1 * 0.05cm}
    \pgfusepath{stroke}
  \end{pgfpicture}%
}

\defbeamertemplate{mini frame in current subsection}{scaled circle}[1]
{%
  \begin{pgfpicture}{0pt}{0pt}{#1 * 0.1cm}{#1 * 0.1cm}
    \pgfsetlinewidth{#1 * 0.4pt}
    \pgfpathmoveto{\pgfpoint{0cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}} 
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpoint{#1 * -0.04cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}} 
    \pgfpathcircle{\pgfpoint{#1 * 0.05cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}}{#1 * 0.05cm}
    \pgfusepath{stroke}
  \end{pgfpicture}%
}

\defbeamertemplate{mini frame in current subsection first}{scaled circle}[1]
{%
  \begin{pgfpicture}{0pt}{0pt}{#1 * 0.1cm}{#1 * 0.1cm}
    \pgfsetlinewidth{#1 * 0.4pt}
    \pgfpathcircle{\pgfpoint{#1 * 0.05cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}}{#1 * 0.05cm}
    \pgfusepath{stroke}
  \end{pgfpicture}%
}

\defbeamertemplate{mini frame in other subsection}{scaled circle}[1]
{%
  \color{fg!50!bg}
  \begin{pgfpicture}{0pt}{0pt}{#1 * 0.1cm}{#1 * 0.1cm}
    \pgfsetlinewidth{#1 * 0.4pt}
    \pgfpathcircle{\pgfpoint{#1 * 0.05cm}{#1 * 0.05cm}}{#1 * 0.05cm}
    \pgfusepath{stroke}
  \end{pgfpicture}%
}

\setbeamertemplate{mini frame}[scaled circle]{0.7}
\setbeamertemplate{mini frame first}[scaled circle]{0.7}
\setbeamertemplate{mini frame in current section}[scaled circle]{0.7}
\setbeamertemplate{mini frame in current subsection}[scaled circle]{0.7}
\setbeamertemplate{mini frame in current subsection first}[scaled circle]{0.7}
\setbeamertemplate{mini frame in other section}[scaled circle]{0.7}
\setbeamertemplate{mini frame in other subsection}[scaled circle]{0.7}
Improve this answer
7
  • The scaling suggestion worked well, thank you. Out of curiosity, do you have any ideas about how to perhaps have a link show between the circles within the same subsection? And perhaps have the linked circles collapse to a single circle unless actively in that current subsection? If not, it is ok, as you already helped me bring it back down to fit across the top.
    – Jeremie
    Feb 10, 2016 at 18:31
  • What do you mean with have a link show between the circles within the same subsection? Collapsing the circles is not that easy. I think you have to redefine the definition of \slideentry for that.
    – Benjamin
    Feb 10, 2016 at 18:41
  • Something that looks like this (for 3 frames in the subsection): o o-o-o o. Here the lines between the circles would be the links (a line that connects to each circle).
    – Jeremie
    Feb 10, 2016 at 19:05
  • Ah, ok. I just edited my post and added an unfinished solution for the connecting line. The remaining problem with it is, that the first and last frame of one subsection also has a short line. It is also necessary to redefine \slideentry to differentiate between a regular and a first/last frame.
    – Benjamin
    Feb 10, 2016 at 19:35
  • I couldn't stand it to post an unfinished solution. So I edited my answer again with a proper solution to your connecting line problem.
    – Benjamin
    Feb 10, 2016 at 20:23

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