diff --git a/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/model/ParagraphPropertyFetcher.java b/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/model/ParagraphPropertyFetcher.java
index 6085b9d80b..1d2c3422c8 100644
--- a/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/model/ParagraphPropertyFetcher.java
+++ b/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/model/ParagraphPropertyFetcher.java
@@ -19,15 +19,21 @@
 
 package org.apache.poi.xslf.model;
 
+import javax.xml.namespace.QName;
+import javax.xml.stream.XMLStreamReader;
+
 import org.apache.poi.xslf.usermodel.XSLFShape;
-import org.apache.xmlbeans.XmlObject;
+import org.apache.xmlbeans.XmlException;
+import org.openxmlformats.schemas.drawingml.x2006.main.CTTextParagraph;
 import org.openxmlformats.schemas.drawingml.x2006.main.CTTextParagraphProperties;
 
-/**
- *
- * @author Yegor Kozlov
- */
 public abstract class ParagraphPropertyFetcher<T> extends PropertyFetcher<T> {
+    static final String PML_NS = "http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/presentationml/2006/main";
+    static final String DML_NS = "http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/drawingml/2006/main";
+
+    private static final QName[] TX_BODY = { new QName(PML_NS, "txBody") };
+    private static final QName[] LST_STYLE = { new QName(DML_NS, "lstStyle") };
+
     int _level;
 
     public ParagraphPropertyFetcher(int level) {
@@ -35,17 +41,20 @@ public abstract class ParagraphPropertyFetcher<T> extends PropertyFetcher<T> {
     }
 
     public boolean fetch(XSLFShape shape) {
-
-        XmlObject[] o = shape.getXmlObject().selectPath(
-                "declare namespace p='http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/presentationml/2006/main' " +
-                "declare namespace a='http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/drawingml/2006/main' " +
-                ".//p:txBody/a:lstStyle/a:lvl" + (_level + 1) + "pPr"
-        );
-        if (o.length == 1) {
-            CTTextParagraphProperties props = (CTTextParagraphProperties) o[0];
-            return fetch(props);
+        QName[] lvlProp = { new QName(DML_NS, "lvl" + (_level + 1) + "pPr") };
+        CTTextParagraphProperties props = null;
+        try {
+            props = shape.selectProperty(
+                    CTTextParagraphProperties.class, ParagraphPropertyFetcher::parse, TX_BODY, LST_STYLE, lvlProp);
+            return (props != null) && fetch(props);
+        } catch (XmlException e) {
+            return false;
         }
-        return false;
+    }
+
+    private static CTTextParagraphProperties parse(XMLStreamReader reader) throws XmlException {
+        CTTextParagraph para = CTTextParagraph.Factory.parse(reader);
+        return (para != null && para.isSetPPr()) ? para.getPPr() : null;
     }
 
     public abstract boolean fetch(CTTextParagraphProperties props);
diff --git a/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/model/TextBodyPropertyFetcher.java b/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/model/TextBodyPropertyFetcher.java
index 4b1d546e75..9bb02504f8 100644
--- a/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/model/TextBodyPropertyFetcher.java
+++ b/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/model/TextBodyPropertyFetcher.java
@@ -19,32 +19,35 @@
 
 package org.apache.poi.xslf.model;
 
+import static org.apache.poi.xslf.model.ParagraphPropertyFetcher.DML_NS;
+import static org.apache.poi.xslf.model.ParagraphPropertyFetcher.PML_NS;
+
+import javax.xml.namespace.QName;
+import javax.xml.stream.XMLStreamReader;
+
 import org.apache.poi.xslf.usermodel.XSLFShape;
-import org.apache.xmlbeans.XmlObject;
+import org.apache.xmlbeans.XmlException;
+import org.openxmlformats.schemas.drawingml.x2006.main.CTTextBody;
 import org.openxmlformats.schemas.drawingml.x2006.main.CTTextBodyProperties;
 
-/**
- * Created by IntelliJ IDEA.
- * User: yegor
- * Date: Oct 21, 2011
- * Time: 1:18:52 PM
- * To change this template use File | Settings | File Templates.
- */
 public abstract class TextBodyPropertyFetcher<T> extends PropertyFetcher<T> {
+    private static final QName[] TX_BODY = { new QName(PML_NS, "txBody") };
+    private static final QName[] BODY_PR = { new QName(DML_NS, "bodyPr") };
 
     public boolean fetch(XSLFShape shape) {
-
-        XmlObject[] o = shape.getXmlObject().selectPath(
-                "declare namespace p='http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/presentationml/2006/main' " +
-                "declare namespace a='http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/drawingml/2006/main' " +
-                ".//p:txBody/a:bodyPr"
-        );
-        if (o.length == 1) {
-            CTTextBodyProperties props = (CTTextBodyProperties) o[0];
-            return fetch(props);
+        CTTextBodyProperties props = null;
+        try {
+            props = shape.selectProperty(
+                    CTTextBodyProperties.class, TextBodyPropertyFetcher::parse, TX_BODY, BODY_PR);
+            return (props != null) && fetch(props);
+        } catch (XmlException e) {
+            return false;
         }
+    }
 
-        return false;
+    private static CTTextBodyProperties parse(XMLStreamReader reader) throws XmlException {
+        CTTextBody body = CTTextBody.Factory.parse(reader);
+        return (body != null) ? body.getBodyPr() : null;
     }
 
     public abstract boolean fetch(CTTextBodyProperties props);
diff --git a/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/usermodel/XSLFObjectShape.java b/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/usermodel/XSLFObjectShape.java
index 34042273a0..eb71e7ed02 100644
--- a/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/usermodel/XSLFObjectShape.java
+++ b/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/usermodel/XSLFObjectShape.java
@@ -25,10 +25,11 @@ import java.io.IOException;
 import java.io.OutputStream;
 
 import javax.xml.namespace.QName;
+import javax.xml.stream.XMLStreamReader;
 
+import org.apache.poi.hpsf.ClassID;
 import org.apache.poi.ooxml.POIXMLDocumentPart.RelationPart;
 import org.apache.poi.ooxml.POIXMLException;
-import org.apache.poi.hpsf.ClassID;
 import org.apache.poi.openxml4j.exceptions.InvalidFormatException;
 import org.apache.poi.openxml4j.opc.OPCPackage;
 import org.apache.poi.openxml4j.opc.PackagePart;
@@ -42,8 +43,6 @@ import org.apache.poi.sl.usermodel.ObjectShape;
 import org.apache.poi.util.Internal;
 import org.apache.xmlbeans.XmlCursor;
 import org.apache.xmlbeans.XmlException;
-import org.apache.xmlbeans.XmlObject;
-import org.apache.xmlbeans.impl.values.XmlAnyTypeImpl;
 import org.openxmlformats.schemas.drawingml.x2006.main.CTBlip;
 import org.openxmlformats.schemas.drawingml.x2006.main.CTBlipFillProperties;
 import org.openxmlformats.schemas.drawingml.x2006.main.CTGraphicalObjectData;
@@ -63,6 +62,10 @@ import org.openxmlformats.schemas.presentationml.x2006.main.CTPictureNonVisual;
 public class XSLFObjectShape extends XSLFGraphicFrame implements ObjectShape<XSLFShape,XSLFTextParagraph> {
 
     /* package */ static final String OLE_URI = "http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/presentationml/2006/ole";
+    private static final QName[] GRAPHIC = { new QName(DML_NS, "graphic") };
+    private static final QName[] GRAPHIC_DATA = { new QName(DML_NS, "graphicData") };
+    private static final QName[] OLE_OBJ = { new QName(PML_NS, "oleObj") };
+    private static final QName[] CT_PICTURE = { new QName(PML_NS, "pic") };
 
     private CTOleObject _oleObject;
     private XSLFPictureData _data;
@@ -70,31 +73,13 @@ public class XSLFObjectShape extends XSLFGraphicFrame implements ObjectShape<XSL
     /*package*/ XSLFObjectShape(CTGraphicalObjectFrame shape, XSLFSheet sheet){
         super(shape, sheet);
 
-        CTGraphicalObjectData god = shape.getGraphic().getGraphicData();
-        XmlCursor xc = god.newCursor();
         // select oleObj potentially under AlternateContent
         // usually the mc:Choice element will be selected first
-        xc.selectPath("declare namespace p='"+PML_NS+"' .//p:oleObj");
         try {
-            if (!xc.toNextSelection()) {
-                throw new IllegalStateException("p:oleObj element was not found in\n " + god);
-            }
-
-            XmlObject xo = xc.getObject();
-            // Pesky XmlBeans bug - see Bugzilla #49934
-            // it never happens when using the full ooxml-schemas jar but may happen with the abridged poi-ooxml-schemas
-            if (xo instanceof XmlAnyTypeImpl){
-                String errStr =
-                    "Schemas (*.xsb) for CTOleObject can't be loaded - usually this happens when OSGI " +
-                    "loading is used and the thread context classloader has no reference to " +
-                    "the xmlbeans classes - use POIXMLTypeLoader.setClassLoader() to set the loader, " +
-                    "e.g. with CTOleObject.class.getClassLoader()"
-                ;
-                throw new IllegalStateException(errStr);
-            }
-            _oleObject = (CTOleObject)xo;
-        } finally {
-            xc.dispose();
+            _oleObject = selectProperty(CTOleObject.class, null, GRAPHIC, GRAPHIC_DATA, OLE_OBJ);
+        } catch (XmlException e) {
+            // ole objects should be also inside AlternateContent tags, even with ECMA 376 edition 1
+            throw new IllegalStateException(e);
         }
     }
 
@@ -113,13 +98,13 @@ public class XSLFObjectShape extends XSLFGraphicFrame implements ObjectShape<XSL
     public String getProgId() {
         return (_oleObject == null) ? null : _oleObject.getProgId();
     }
-    
+
     @Override
     public String getFullName() {
         return (_oleObject == null) ? null : _oleObject.getName();
     }
-    
-    
+
+
     /**
      * Return the data on the (internal) picture.
      * For an external linked picture, will return null
@@ -160,19 +145,19 @@ public class XSLFObjectShape extends XSLFGraphicFrame implements ObjectShape<XSL
     }
 
     protected CTBlipFillProperties getBlipFill() {
-        String xquery =
-                "declare namespace p='http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/presentationml/2006/main' "
-              + ".//p:blipFill"
-              ;
-        XmlObject xo = selectProperty(XmlObject.class, xquery);
         try {
-            xo = CTPicture.Factory.parse(xo.getDomNode());
-        } catch (XmlException xe) {
+            CTPicture pic = selectProperty
+                (CTPicture.class, XSLFObjectShape::parse, GRAPHIC, GRAPHIC_DATA, OLE_OBJ, CT_PICTURE);
+            return (pic != null) ? pic.getBlipFill() : null;
+        } catch (XmlException e) {
             return null;
         }
-        return ((CTPicture)xo).getBlipFill();
     }
 
+    private static CTPicture parse(XMLStreamReader reader) throws XmlException {
+        CTGroupShape gs = CTGroupShape.Factory.parse(reader);
+        return (gs.sizeOfPicArray() > 0) ? gs.getPicArray(0) : null;
+    }
 
     @Override
     public OutputStream updateObjectData(final Application application, final ObjectMetaData metaData) throws IOException {
diff --git a/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/usermodel/XSLFPictureShape.java b/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/usermodel/XSLFPictureShape.java
index 1a0c96fa30..1408bedb5b 100644
--- a/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/usermodel/XSLFPictureShape.java
+++ b/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/usermodel/XSLFPictureShape.java
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import java.net.URI;
 
 import javax.imageio.ImageIO;
 import javax.xml.namespace.QName;
+import javax.xml.stream.XMLStreamReader;
 
 import org.apache.poi.openxml4j.opc.PackagePart;
 import org.apache.poi.openxml4j.opc.PackageRelationship;
@@ -69,11 +70,15 @@ public class XSLFPictureShape extends XSLFSimpleShape
     implements PictureShape<XSLFShape,XSLFTextParagraph> {
     private static final POILogger LOG = POILogFactory.getLogger(XSLFPictureShape.class);
 
-    private static final String DML_NS = "http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/drawing/2010/main";
-    private static final String SVG_NS = "http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/drawing/2016/SVG/main";
+    private static final String MS_DML_NS = "http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/drawing/2010/main";
+    private static final String MS_SVG_NS = "http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/drawing/2016/SVG/main";
     private static final String BITMAP_URI = "{28A0092B-C50C-407E-A947-70E740481C1C}";
     private static final String SVG_URI = "{96DAC541-7B7A-43D3-8B79-37D633B846F1}";
 
+    private static final QName EMBED_TAG = new QName(CORE_PROPERTIES_ECMA376_NS, "embed", "rel");
+    private static final QName[] BLIP_FILL = { new QName(PML_NS, "blipFill") };
+
+
     private XSLFPictureData _data;
 
     /*package*/ XSLFPictureShape(CTPicture shape, XSLFSheet sheet) {
@@ -135,8 +140,8 @@ public class XSLFPictureShape extends XSLFSimpleShape
     public void setPlaceholder(Placeholder placeholder) {
         super.setPlaceholder(placeholder);
     }
-    
-    
+
+
     /**
      * For an external linked picture, return the last-seen
      *  path to the picture.
@@ -147,13 +152,13 @@ public class XSLFPictureShape extends XSLFSimpleShape
             // Internal picture, nothing to return
             return null;
         }
-        
+
         String rId = getBlipLink();
         if (rId == null) {
             // No link recorded, nothing we can do
             return null;
         }
-        
+
         PackagePart p = getSheet().getPackagePart();
         PackageRelationship rel = p.getRelationship(rId);
         if (rel != null) {
@@ -168,25 +173,23 @@ public class XSLFPictureShape extends XSLFSimpleShape
         if (bfp != null) {
             return bfp;
         }
-                    
-        String xquery =
-                "declare namespace p='http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/presentationml/2006/main'; "
-              + "declare namespace mc='http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006' "
-              + ".//mc:Fallback/p:blipFill"
-              ;
-        XmlObject xo = selectProperty(XmlObject.class, xquery);
+
         try {
-            xo = CTPicture.Factory.parse(xo.getDomNode());
+            return selectProperty(CTBlipFillProperties.class, XSLFPictureShape::parse, BLIP_FILL);
         } catch (XmlException xe) {
             return null;
         }
-        return ((CTPicture)xo).getBlipFill();
     }
-    
+
+    private static CTBlipFillProperties parse(XMLStreamReader reader) throws XmlException {
+        CTPicture pic = CTPicture.Factory.parse(reader);
+        return (pic != null) ? pic.getBlipFill() : null;
+    }
+
     protected CTBlip getBlip(){
         return getBlipFill().getBlip();
     }
-    
+
     @SuppressWarnings("WeakerAccess")
     protected String getBlipLink(){
         CTBlip blip = getBlip();
@@ -232,8 +235,8 @@ public class XSLFPictureShape extends XSLFSimpleShape
             extBitmap.setUri(BITMAP_URI);
             XmlCursor cur = extBitmap.newCursor();
             cur.toEndToken();
-            cur.beginElement(new QName(DML_NS, "useLocalDpi", "a14"));
-            cur.insertNamespace("a14", DML_NS);
+            cur.beginElement(new QName(MS_DML_NS, "useLocalDpi", "a14"));
+            cur.insertNamespace("a14", MS_DML_NS);
             cur.insertAttributeWithValue("val", "0");
             cur.dispose();
         }
@@ -252,9 +255,9 @@ public class XSLFPictureShape extends XSLFSimpleShape
         svgBitmap.setUri(SVG_URI);
         XmlCursor cur = svgBitmap.newCursor();
         cur.toEndToken();
-        cur.beginElement(new QName(SVG_NS, "svgBlip", "asvg"));
-        cur.insertNamespace("asvg", SVG_NS);
-        cur.insertAttributeWithValue(new QName(CORE_PROPERTIES_ECMA376_NS, "embed", "rel"), svgRelId);
+        cur.beginElement(new QName(MS_SVG_NS, "svgBlip", "asvg"));
+        cur.insertNamespace("asvg", MS_SVG_NS);
+        cur.insertAttributeWithValue(EMBED_TAG, svgRelId);
         cur.dispose();
     }
 
@@ -277,8 +280,8 @@ public class XSLFPictureShape extends XSLFSimpleShape
         for (int i = 0; i < size; i++) {
             XmlCursor cur = extLst.getExtArray(i).newCursor();
             try {
-                if (cur.toChild(SVG_NS, "svgBlip")) {
-                    String svgRelId = cur.getAttributeText(new QName(CORE_PROPERTIES_ECMA376_NS, "embed"));
+                if (cur.toChild(MS_SVG_NS, "svgBlip")) {
+                    String svgRelId = cur.getAttributeText(EMBED_TAG);
                     return (svgRelId != null) ? (XSLFPictureData) getSheet().getRelationById(svgRelId) : null;
                 }
             } finally {
@@ -367,13 +370,13 @@ public class XSLFPictureShape extends XSLFSimpleShape
             CTOfficeArtExtensionList extLst = blip.getExtLst();
             //noinspection deprecation
             for(CTOfficeArtExtension ext : extLst.getExtArray()){
-                String xpath = "declare namespace a14='"+ DML_NS +"' $this//a14:imgProps/a14:imgLayer";
+                String xpath = "declare namespace a14='"+ MS_DML_NS +"' $this//a14:imgProps/a14:imgLayer";
                 XmlObject[] obj = ext.selectPath(xpath);
                 if(obj != null && obj.length == 1){
                     XmlCursor c = obj[0].newCursor();
-                    String id = c.getAttributeText(new QName("http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/officeDocument/2006/relationships", "embed"));//selectPath("declare namespace r='http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/officeDocument/2006/relationships' $this//[@embed]");
+                    String id = c.getAttributeText(EMBED_TAG);
                     String newId = getSheet().importBlip(id, p.getSheet());
-                    c.setAttributeText(new QName("http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/officeDocument/2006/relationships", "embed"), newId);
+                    c.setAttributeText(EMBED_TAG, newId);
                     c.dispose();
                 }
             }
diff --git a/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/usermodel/XSLFPlaceholderDetails.java b/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/usermodel/XSLFPlaceholderDetails.java
index e5d321bc0d..6cb179d964 100644
--- a/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/usermodel/XSLFPlaceholderDetails.java
+++ b/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/usermodel/XSLFPlaceholderDetails.java
@@ -22,9 +22,12 @@ import static org.apache.poi.xslf.usermodel.XSLFShape.PML_NS;
 import java.util.function.Consumer;
 import java.util.function.Function;
 
+import javax.xml.namespace.QName;
+
 import org.apache.poi.sl.usermodel.MasterSheet;
 import org.apache.poi.sl.usermodel.Placeholder;
 import org.apache.poi.sl.usermodel.PlaceholderDetails;
+import org.apache.xmlbeans.XmlException;
 import org.openxmlformats.schemas.presentationml.x2006.main.CTApplicationNonVisualDrawingProps;
 import org.openxmlformats.schemas.presentationml.x2006.main.CTHeaderFooter;
 import org.openxmlformats.schemas.presentationml.x2006.main.CTNotesMaster;
@@ -190,9 +193,24 @@ public class XSLFPlaceholderDetails implements PlaceholderDetails {
         return _ph;
     }
 
+    private static final QName[] NV_CONTAINER = {
+        new QName(PML_NS, "nvSpPr"),
+        new QName(PML_NS, "nvCxnSpPr"),
+        new QName(PML_NS, "nvGrpSpPr"),
+        new QName(PML_NS, "nvPicPr"),
+        new QName(PML_NS, "nvGraphicFramePr")
+    };
+
+    private static final QName[] NV_PROPS = {
+        new QName(PML_NS, "nvPr")
+    };
+
     private CTApplicationNonVisualDrawingProps getNvProps() {
-        final String xquery = "declare namespace p='" + PML_NS + "' .//*/p:nvPr";
-        return shape.selectProperty(CTApplicationNonVisualDrawingProps.class, xquery);
+        try {
+            return shape.selectProperty(CTApplicationNonVisualDrawingProps.class, null, NV_CONTAINER, NV_PROPS);
+        } catch (XmlException e) {
+            return null;
+        }
     }
 
     private CTHeaderFooter getHeaderFooter(final boolean create) {
diff --git a/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/usermodel/XSLFShape.java b/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/usermodel/XSLFShape.java
index 7d80fbe3b9..efdbd7b12c 100644
--- a/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/usermodel/XSLFShape.java
+++ b/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/usermodel/XSLFShape.java
@@ -21,7 +21,13 @@ package org.apache.poi.xslf.usermodel;
 
 import java.awt.Graphics2D;
 import java.awt.geom.Rectangle2D;
+import java.util.Locale;
 
+import javax.xml.namespace.QName;
+import javax.xml.stream.XMLStreamReader;
+
+import com.microsoft.schemas.compatibility.AlternateContentDocument;
+import com.microsoft.schemas.compatibility.AlternateContentDocument.AlternateContent;
 import org.apache.poi.openxml4j.opc.PackagePart;
 import org.apache.poi.sl.draw.DrawFactory;
 import org.apache.poi.sl.draw.DrawPaint;
@@ -37,7 +43,9 @@ import org.apache.poi.util.Internal;
 import org.apache.poi.xslf.model.PropertyFetcher;
 import org.apache.poi.xslf.usermodel.XSLFPropertiesDelegate.XSLFFillProperties;
 import org.apache.xmlbeans.XmlCursor;
+import org.apache.xmlbeans.XmlException;
 import org.apache.xmlbeans.XmlObject;
+import org.apache.xmlbeans.impl.values.XmlAnyTypeImpl;
 import org.openxmlformats.schemas.drawingml.x2006.main.CTBlipFillProperties;
 import org.openxmlformats.schemas.drawingml.x2006.main.CTGradientFillProperties;
 import org.openxmlformats.schemas.drawingml.x2006.main.CTGroupShapeProperties;
@@ -59,7 +67,36 @@ import org.openxmlformats.schemas.presentationml.x2006.main.STPlaceholderType;
  */
 @Beta
 public abstract class XSLFShape implements Shape<XSLFShape,XSLFTextParagraph> {
+
+    @Internal
+    public interface ReparseFactory<T extends XmlObject> {
+        T parse(XMLStreamReader reader) throws XmlException;
+    }
+
+    static final String DML_NS = "http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/drawingml/2006/main";
     static final String PML_NS = "http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/presentationml/2006/main";
+    private static final String MC_NS = "http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006";
+    private static final String MAC_DML_NS = "http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/mac/drawingml/2008/main";
+
+    private static final QName ALTERNATE_CONTENT_TAG = new QName(MC_NS, "AlternateContent");
+
+    private static final QName[] NV_CONTAINER = {
+        new QName(PML_NS, "nvSpPr"),
+        new QName(PML_NS, "nvCxnSpPr"),
+        new QName(PML_NS, "nvGrpSpPr"),
+        new QName(PML_NS, "nvPicPr"),
+        new QName(PML_NS, "nvGraphicFramePr")
+    };
+
+    private static final QName[] CNV_PROPS = {
+        new QName(PML_NS, "cNvPr")
+    };
+
+    private static final String OSGI_ERROR =
+        "Schemas (*.xsb) for <CLASS> can't be loaded - usually this happens when OSGI " +
+        "loading is used and the thread context classloader has no reference to " +
+        "the xmlbeans classes - please either verify if the <XSB>.xsb is on the " +
+        "classpath or alternatively try to use the full ooxml-schemas-x.x.jar";
 
     private final XmlObject _shape;
     private final XSLFSheet _sheet;
@@ -199,11 +236,14 @@ public abstract class XSLFShape implements Shape<XSLFShape,XSLFTextParagraph> {
     }
 
     protected CTNonVisualDrawingProps getCNvPr() {
-        if (_nvPr == null) {
-            String xquery = "declare namespace p='http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/presentationml/2006/main' .//*/p:cNvPr";
-            _nvPr = selectProperty(CTNonVisualDrawingProps.class, xquery);
+        try {
+            if (_nvPr == null) {
+                _nvPr = selectProperty(CTNonVisualDrawingProps.class, null, NV_CONTAINER, CNV_PROPS);
+            }
+            return _nvPr;
+        } catch (XmlException e) {
+            return null;
         }
-        return _nvPr;
     }
 
     @SuppressWarnings("WeakerAccess")
@@ -281,6 +321,160 @@ public abstract class XSLFShape implements Shape<XSLFShape,XSLFTextParagraph> {
         return (resultClass.isInstance(rs[0])) ? (T)rs[0] : null;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Internal code - API may change any time!
+     * <p>
+     * The {@link #selectProperty(Class, String)} xquery method has some performance penalties,
+     * which can be workaround by using {@link XmlCursor}. This method also takes into account
+     * that {@code AlternateContent} tags can occur anywhere on the given path.
+     * <p>
+     * It returns the first element found - the search order is:
+     * <ul>
+     *     <li>searching for a direct child</li>
+     *     <li>searching for a AlternateContent.Choice child</li>
+     *     <li>searching for a AlternateContent.Fallback child</li>
+     * </ul>
+     * Currently POI OOXML is based on the first edition of the ECMA 376 schema, which doesn't
+     * allow AlternateContent tags to show up everywhere. The factory flag is
+     * a workaround to process files based on a later edition. But it comes with the drawback:
+     * any change on the returned XmlObject aren't saved back to the underlying document -
+     * so it's a non updatable clone. If factory is null, a XmlException is
+     * thrown if the AlternateContent is not allowed by the surrounding element or if the
+     * extracted object is of the generic type XmlAnyTypeImpl.
+     *
+     * @param resultClass the requested result class
+     * @param factory a factory parse method reference to allow reparsing of elements
+     *                extracted from AlternateContent elements. Usually the enclosing XmlBeans type needs to be used
+     *                to parse the stream
+     * @param path the elements path, each array must contain at least 1 QName,
+     *             but can contain additional alternative tags
+     * @return the xml object at the path location, or null if not found
+     *
+     * @throws XmlException If factory is null, a XmlException is
+     *      thrown if the AlternateContent is not allowed by the surrounding element or if the
+     *      extracted object is of the generic type XmlAnyTypeImpl.
+     *
+     * @since POI 4.1.2
+     */
+    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+    @Internal
+    public <T extends XmlObject> T selectProperty(Class<T> resultClass, ReparseFactory<T> factory, QName[]... path)
+    throws XmlException {
+        XmlObject xo = getXmlObject();
+        XmlCursor cur = xo.newCursor();
+        XmlCursor innerCur = null;
+        try {
+            innerCur = selectProperty(cur, path, 0, factory != null, false);
+            if (innerCur == null) {
+                return null;
+            }
+
+            // Pesky XmlBeans bug - see Bugzilla #49934
+            // it never happens when using the full ooxml-schemas jar but may happen with the abridged poi-ooxml-schemas
+            xo = innerCur.getObject();
+            if (xo instanceof XmlAnyTypeImpl) {
+                String errorTxt = OSGI_ERROR
+                    .replace("<CLASS>", resultClass.getSimpleName())
+                    .replace("<XSB>", resultClass.getSimpleName().toLowerCase(Locale.ROOT)+"*");
+                if (factory == null) {
+                    throw new XmlException(errorTxt);
+                } else {
+                    xo = factory.parse(innerCur.newXMLStreamReader());
+                }
+            }
+
+            return (T)xo;
+        } finally {
+            cur.dispose();
+            if (innerCur != null) {
+                innerCur.dispose();
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private XmlCursor selectProperty(final XmlCursor cur, final QName[][] path, final int offset, final boolean reparseAlternate, final boolean isAlternate)
+    throws XmlException {
+        // first try the direct children
+        for (QName qn : path[offset]) {
+            if (cur.toChild(qn)) {
+                if (offset == path.length-1) {
+                    return cur;
+                }
+                cur.push();
+                XmlCursor innerCur = selectProperty(cur, path, offset+1, reparseAlternate, false);
+                if (innerCur != null) {
+                    return innerCur;
+                }
+                cur.pop();
+            }
+        }
+        // if we were called inside an alternate content handling don't look for alternates again
+        if (isAlternate || !cur.toChild(ALTERNATE_CONTENT_TAG)) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        // otherwise check first the choice then the fallback content
+        XmlObject xo = cur.getObject();
+        AlternateContent alterCont;
+        if (xo instanceof AlternateContent) {
+            alterCont = (AlternateContent)xo;
+        } else {
+            // Pesky XmlBeans bug - see Bugzilla #49934
+            // it never happens when using the full ooxml-schemas jar but may happen with the abridged poi-ooxml-schemas
+            if (!reparseAlternate) {
+                throw new XmlException(OSGI_ERROR
+                    .replace("<CLASS>", "AlternateContent")
+                    .replace("<XSB>", "alternatecontentelement")
+                );
+            }
+            try {
+                AlternateContentDocument acd = AlternateContentDocument.Factory.parse(cur.newXMLStreamReader());
+                alterCont = acd.getAlternateContent();
+            } catch (XmlException e) {
+                throw new XmlException("unable to parse AlternateContent element", e);
+            }
+        }
+
+        final int choices = alterCont.sizeOfChoiceArray();
+        for (int i=0; i<choices; i++) {
+            // TODO: check [Requires] attribute of [Choice] element, if we can handle the content
+            AlternateContent.Choice choice = alterCont.getChoiceArray(i);
+            XmlCursor cCur = choice.newCursor();
+            XmlCursor innerCur = null;
+            try {
+                String requiresNS = cCur.namespaceForPrefix(choice.getRequires());
+                if (MAC_DML_NS.equalsIgnoreCase(requiresNS)) {
+                    // Mac DML usually contains PDFs ...
+                    continue;
+                }
+                innerCur = selectProperty(cCur, path, offset, reparseAlternate, true);
+                if (innerCur != null) {
+                    return innerCur;
+                }
+            } finally {
+                if (innerCur != cCur) {
+                    cCur.dispose();
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (!alterCont.isSetFallback()) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        XmlCursor fCur = alterCont.getFallback().newCursor();
+        XmlCursor innerCur = null;
+        try {
+            innerCur = selectProperty(fCur, path, offset, reparseAlternate, true);
+            return innerCur;
+        } finally {
+            if (innerCur != fCur) {
+                fCur.dispose();
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+
     /**
      * Walk up the inheritance tree and fetch shape properties.<p>
      *
diff --git a/src/ooxml/testcases/org/apache/poi/xslf/TestXSLFBugs.java b/src/ooxml/testcases/org/apache/poi/xslf/TestXSLFBugs.java
index a9a9e16b7c..d83de633cf 100644
--- a/src/ooxml/testcases/org/apache/poi/xslf/TestXSLFBugs.java
+++ b/src/ooxml/testcases/org/apache/poi/xslf/TestXSLFBugs.java
@@ -17,7 +17,14 @@
 package org.apache.poi.xslf;
 
 import static org.apache.poi.POITestCase.assertContains;
-import static org.junit.Assert.*;
+import static org.apache.poi.xslf.XSLFTestDataSamples.openSampleDocument;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertArrayEquals;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertFalse;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertNotNull;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertNull;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
+import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
 
 import java.awt.Color;
 import java.awt.Dimension;
@@ -66,6 +73,7 @@ import org.apache.poi.xslf.usermodel.XSLFAutoShape;
 import org.apache.poi.xslf.usermodel.XSLFGroupShape;
 import org.apache.poi.xslf.usermodel.XSLFHyperlink;
 import org.apache.poi.xslf.usermodel.XSLFNotes;
+import org.apache.poi.xslf.usermodel.XSLFObjectShape;
 import org.apache.poi.xslf.usermodel.XSLFPictureData;
 import org.apache.poi.xslf.usermodel.XSLFPictureShape;
 import org.apache.poi.xslf.usermodel.XSLFRelation;
@@ -89,7 +97,7 @@ public class TestXSLFBugs {
 
     @Test
     public void bug62929() throws Exception {
-        try(XMLSlideShow ss1 = XSLFTestDataSamples.openSampleDocument("missing-blip-fill.pptx")) {
+        try(XMLSlideShow ss1 = openSampleDocument("missing-blip-fill.pptx")) {
             assertEquals(1, ss1.getSlides().size());
 
             XSLFSlide slide = ss1.getSlides().get(0);
@@ -108,7 +116,7 @@ public class TestXSLFBugs {
 
     @Test
     public void bug62736() throws Exception {
-        XMLSlideShow ss1 = XSLFTestDataSamples.openSampleDocument("bug62736.pptx");
+        XMLSlideShow ss1 = openSampleDocument("bug62736.pptx");
 
         assertEquals(1, ss1.getSlides().size());
 
@@ -332,7 +340,7 @@ public class TestXSLFBugs {
 
     @Test
     public void bug51187() throws Exception {
-       XMLSlideShow ss1 = XSLFTestDataSamples.openSampleDocument("51187.pptx");
+       XMLSlideShow ss1 = openSampleDocument("51187.pptx");
 
        assertEquals(1, ss1.getSlides().size());
 
@@ -373,7 +381,7 @@ public class TestXSLFBugs {
      */
     @Test
     public void tika705() throws Exception {
-       XMLSlideShow ss = XSLFTestDataSamples.openSampleDocument("with_japanese.pptx");
+       XMLSlideShow ss = openSampleDocument("with_japanese.pptx");
 
        // Should have one slide
        assertEquals(1, ss.getSlides().size());
@@ -423,7 +431,7 @@ public class TestXSLFBugs {
      */
     @Test
     public void bug54916() throws IOException {
-        try (XMLSlideShow ss = XSLFTestDataSamples.openSampleDocument("OverlappingRelations.pptx")) {
+        try (XMLSlideShow ss = openSampleDocument("OverlappingRelations.pptx")) {
             XSLFSlide slide;
 
             // Should find 4 slides
@@ -452,7 +460,7 @@ public class TestXSLFBugs {
      */
     @Test
     public void bug56812() throws Exception {
-        XMLSlideShow ppt = XSLFTestDataSamples.openSampleDocument("56812.pptx");
+        XMLSlideShow ppt = openSampleDocument("56812.pptx");
 
         int internalPictures = 0;
         int externalPictures = 0;
@@ -485,7 +493,7 @@ public class TestXSLFBugs {
     @Test
     @Ignore("Similar to TestFontRendering it doesn't make sense to compare images because of tiny rendering differences in windows/unix")
     public void bug54542() throws Exception {
-        XMLSlideShow ss = XSLFTestDataSamples.openSampleDocument("54542_cropped_bitmap.pptx");
+        XMLSlideShow ss = openSampleDocument("54542_cropped_bitmap.pptx");
 
         Dimension pgsize = ss.getPageSize();
 
@@ -676,7 +684,7 @@ public class TestXSLFBugs {
 
     @Test
     public void bug58205() throws IOException {
-        XMLSlideShow ss = XSLFTestDataSamples.openSampleDocument("themes.pptx");
+        XMLSlideShow ss = openSampleDocument("themes.pptx");
 
         int i = 1;
         for (XSLFSlideMaster sm : ss.getSlideMasters()) {
@@ -688,14 +696,14 @@ public class TestXSLFBugs {
 
     @Test
     public void bug55791a() throws IOException {
-        XMLSlideShow ppt = XSLFTestDataSamples.openSampleDocument("45541_Footer.pptx");
+        XMLSlideShow ppt = openSampleDocument("45541_Footer.pptx");
         removeAndCreateSlide(ppt);
         ppt.close();
     }
 
     @Test
     public void bug55791b() throws IOException {
-        XMLSlideShow ppt = XSLFTestDataSamples.openSampleDocument("SampleShow.pptx");
+        XMLSlideShow ppt = openSampleDocument("SampleShow.pptx");
         removeAndCreateSlide(ppt);
         ppt.close();
     }
@@ -708,7 +716,7 @@ public class TestXSLFBugs {
 
     @Test
     public void blibFillAlternateContent() throws IOException {
-        XMLSlideShow ppt = XSLFTestDataSamples.openSampleDocument("2411-Performance_Up.pptx");
+        XMLSlideShow ppt = openSampleDocument("2411-Performance_Up.pptx");
         XSLFPictureShape ps = (XSLFPictureShape)ppt.getSlides().get(4).getShapes().get(0);
         assertNotNull(ps.getPictureData());
         ppt.close();
@@ -781,7 +789,7 @@ public class TestXSLFBugs {
 
     @Test
     public void bug55714() throws IOException {
-        XMLSlideShow srcPptx = XSLFTestDataSamples.openSampleDocument("pptx2svg.pptx");
+        XMLSlideShow srcPptx = openSampleDocument("pptx2svg.pptx");
         XMLSlideShow newPptx = new XMLSlideShow();
         XSLFSlide srcSlide = srcPptx.getSlides().get(0);
         XSLFSlide newSlide = newPptx.createSlide();
@@ -807,7 +815,7 @@ public class TestXSLFBugs {
 
     @Test
     public void bug59273() throws IOException {
-        XMLSlideShow ppt = XSLFTestDataSamples.openSampleDocument("bug59273.potx");
+        XMLSlideShow ppt = openSampleDocument("bug59273.potx");
         ppt.getPackage().replaceContentType(
             XSLFRelation.PRESENTATIONML_TEMPLATE.getContentType(),
             XSLFRelation.MAIN.getContentType()
@@ -851,7 +859,7 @@ public class TestXSLFBugs {
 
     @Test
     public void bug60715() throws IOException {
-        XMLSlideShow ppt = XSLFTestDataSamples.openSampleDocument("bug60715.pptx");
+        XMLSlideShow ppt = openSampleDocument("bug60715.pptx");
         ppt.createSlide();
         ppt.close();
     }
@@ -887,7 +895,7 @@ public class TestXSLFBugs {
 
     @Test
     public void test60810() throws IOException {
-        XMLSlideShow ppt = XSLFTestDataSamples.openSampleDocument("60810.pptx");
+        XMLSlideShow ppt = openSampleDocument("60810.pptx");
         for(XSLFSlide slide : ppt.getSlides()) {
             XSLFNotes notesSlide = ppt.getNotesSlide(slide);
             assertNotNull(notesSlide);
@@ -898,7 +906,7 @@ public class TestXSLFBugs {
 
     @Test
     public void test60042() throws IOException {
-        XMLSlideShow ppt = XSLFTestDataSamples.openSampleDocument("60042.pptx");
+        XMLSlideShow ppt = openSampleDocument("60042.pptx");
         ppt.removeSlide(0);
         ppt.createSlide();
         ppt.close();
@@ -906,7 +914,7 @@ public class TestXSLFBugs {
 
     @Test
     public void test61515() throws IOException {
-        XMLSlideShow ppt = XSLFTestDataSamples.openSampleDocument("61515.pptx");
+        XMLSlideShow ppt = openSampleDocument("61515.pptx");
         ppt.removeSlide(0);
         assertEquals(1, ppt.createSlide().getRelations().size());
         try {
@@ -923,7 +931,7 @@ public class TestXSLFBugs {
 
     @Test
     public void testAptia() throws IOException {
-        try (XMLSlideShow ppt = XSLFTestDataSamples.openSampleDocument("aptia.pptx");
+        try (XMLSlideShow ppt = openSampleDocument("aptia.pptx");
              XMLSlideShow saved = XSLFTestDataSamples.writeOutAndReadBack(ppt)) {
             assertEquals(ppt.getSlides().size(), saved.getSlides().size());
         }
@@ -932,7 +940,7 @@ public class TestXSLFBugs {
     @Ignore
     @Test
     public void testDivinoRevelado() throws IOException {
-        try (XMLSlideShow ppt = XSLFTestDataSamples.openSampleDocument("Divino_Revelado.pptx");
+        try (XMLSlideShow ppt = openSampleDocument("Divino_Revelado.pptx");
              XMLSlideShow saved = XSLFTestDataSamples.writeOutAndReadBack(ppt)){
             assertEquals(ppt.getSlides().size(), saved.getSlides().size());
         }
@@ -968,7 +976,7 @@ public class TestXSLFBugs {
 
     @Test
     public void bug63200() throws Exception {
-        try (XMLSlideShow ss1 = XSLFTestDataSamples.openSampleDocument("63200.pptx")) {
+        try (XMLSlideShow ss1 = openSampleDocument("63200.pptx")) {
             assertEquals(1, ss1.getSlides().size());
 
             XSLFSlide slide = ss1.getSlides().get(0);
@@ -982,4 +990,25 @@ public class TestXSLFBugs {
             assertNull(arrow.getFillColor());
         }
     }
+
+    @Test
+    public void alternateContent() throws Exception {
+        try (XMLSlideShow ppt = openSampleDocument("alterman_security.pptx")) {
+            XSLFSlideMaster slide = ppt.getSlideMasters().get(0);
+            XSLFObjectShape os = (XSLFObjectShape)slide.getShapes().get(0);
+            // ctOleObject is nested in AlternateContent in this file
+            // if there are casting errors, we would fail early and wouldn't reach this point anyway
+            assertNotNull(os.getCTOleObject());
+            // accessing the picture data of the AlternateContent fallback part
+            XSLFPictureData picData = os.getPictureData();
+            assertNotNull(picData);
+        }
+
+        try (XMLSlideShow ppt = openSampleDocument("2411-Performance_Up.pptx")) {
+            XSLFSlide slide = ppt.getSlides().get(4);
+            XSLFPictureShape ps = (XSLFPictureShape)slide.getShapes().get(0);
+            assertEquals("image4.png", ps.getPictureData().getFileName());
+            assertEquals("Picture 5", ps.getShapeName());
+        }
+    }
 }