How to Exploit the Visio Extras Add On "Renumber" Function?

[SteveM]

As a relatively new user of Visio, (and also a little bit
undisciplined) a tough coding task is keeping track of Shapes on the
page. But I ran across the Renumber function in Visio Extras and it
seems that if shape names were categorized with a Type-specific prefix
and a sequential number was appended using the renumber function, it
would be much easier to refer to Shapes simply by their names.

Is that too simple an assumption? Is there an easier way to reference
individual shapes?

Thanks,

SteveM

 

[Paul Herber]

Is there an easier way to reference individual shapes?

Each shape has an ID and a ShapeID as properties. If these are
insufficient then each shape can be allocated a UniqueID.

 

[SteveM]

Each shape has an ID and a ShapeID as properties. If these are
insufficient then each shape can be allocated a UniqueID.

Paul,

Thanks for the feedback. I was thinking in the context of a model I"m
building. Visio data connects with an external model. If I have
Shapes with names like Factory1, Factory2, ... and TransHub1,
TransHub2 it seems it would be more intuitive to track my assets. I
still have to fully understand the types of Visio shape names.
There's the indiscipline again

SteveM

 

[Paul Herber]

Paul,

Thanks for the feedback. I was thinking in the context of a model I"m
building. Visio data connects with an external model. If I have
Shapes with names like Factory1, Factory2, ... and TransHub1,
TransHub2 it seems it would be more intuitive to track my assets. I
still have to fully understand the types of Visio shape names.

well, once the shape is on the page you can still change the shape's
name.
menu Format -> Special
and change the shape name.
(Note that this changes both the Name and NameU (universal name) the
first time you rename a shape, if you rename it again then only the
Name changes.)