creating masters

[mike]

We are considering trying to create a script that will create a stencil of
master shapes based on parsing an xml file. In other words, each parent node
in the xml file will be a distinct shape, that can be dragged onto the Visio
workspace. And, on top of that, we'd like the shape to be an Excel
spreadsheet.

Anyone know if this can even be done? Maybe we'd have to create the Excel
spreadsheet first ,import the xml data into that, and then create the master?

If all that's possible, we'd like to be able to do a diff on the shapes in
the Visio drawing and the original xml file, but that's still way down the
line...

Thanks.

 

[Chris Roth [MVP]]

Hi Mike,

You can certainly automate the creation of masters. Either by automating
Visio itself, or writing directly to Visio's xml-format. Which avenue you
choose depends on the complexity and nature of your solution.

A good place to start is with the the Visio SDK(s):

Visio 2007:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms426586.aspx

Visio 2003:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb397372(office.11).aspx


If you're interested in writing Visio-xml files instead of going via the
automation-route, I've prepared a list of Visio-xml resources here:

http://www.visguy.com/2006/11/30/visio-and-xml-conference-resources/

--
Hope this helps,

Chris Roth
Visio MVP

Free Visio shapes:
http://www.visguy.com/category/shapes
Visio programming info:
http://www.visguy.com/category/programming/
Other Visio resources:
http://www.visguy.com/visio-links/

 

[mike]

Thanks! I'll check out all of the resources. It's good to know we're not just
running down a blind alley.