How to move connection point inside endpoint

[LurfysMa]

I am trying to create a shape that acts like a line but with border
and fill properties like other shapes.

The line properties I want are:

* Can be drawn at any angle (rotated without the rotate tool).
* Connect to each other at the end points.
* End points are inside the thickness.

That last property is critical. When I make a like thicker, the
thickness extends beyond the connection point, making the line a
little longer. This makes the connections look right, especially with
rounded caps.

John showed me how to make a rectangle shape behave like a line by
setting the line (1-dimensional) property, but the connection points
remain at the very end of the shape.

I know I can create a comnposite shape by tacking a semi-circle onto
the end of the rectangle, but I would prefer to use a single shape if
possible.

Thanks

 

[LurfysMa]

I am trying to create a shape that acts like a line but with border
and fill properties like other shapes.

The line properties I want are:

* Can be drawn at any angle (rotated without the rotate tool).
* Connect to each other at the end points.
* End points are inside the thickness.

That last property is critical. When I make a like thicker, the
thickness extends beyond the connection point, making the line a
little longer. This makes the connections look right, especially with
rounded caps.

John showed me how to make a rectangle shape behave like a line by
setting the line (1-dimensional) property, but the connection points
remain at the very end of the shape.

I know I can create a comnposite shape by tacking a semi-circle onto
the end of the rectangle, but I would prefer to use a single shape if
possible.

A little progress. I figured out how to add a connection point to the
shape. I created a rectangle shape with rounded corners.I changed it
to a line (1-dimensional) shape. I then added a connection point to
the midpoint of each rounded end (just like a line shape has).

However, I cannot get it two of these shapes to glue to each other at
these new connection points. I can get one of them to glue the end
point to the new connection point of the other, but not both.

Suggestions?

 

[John Marshall, MVP]

An area you could look at is line patterns and line ends. The line pattern
would allow you to create an outlined line. The line end would give you
control of where the connection point is in relationship to the line.

John... Visio MVP

Need stencils or ideas? http://visio.mvps.org/3rdparty.htm
Need VBA examples? http://visio.mvps.org/VBA.htm
Visio Wishlist http://visio.mvps.org/wish_list.htm

 

[LurfysMa]

An area you could look at is line patterns and line ends. The line pattern
would allow you to create an outlined line.

Can you explain how I can use the line pattern to create an outlined
line? I can't get that to work.

Here's what I did:

1. Draw a line using the like tool.

2. Change the line weight to 20 points. I now have a solid black line
that is about .25" thick. It has rounded ends. It looks like a log.
It's exactly like a long skinny rectangle with a semi-circle on each
end:

(XXXXXXXXXX)

I would like to keep the shape and have the it all white (or grey)
with just a border that is black. Like this:
__________
(__________)

3. If I use Format | Line | Pattern, I can get a solid or dotted line,
but I don't see any way to change that solid line into one that has a
black border and a different color on the inside.

 

[John Marshall, MVP]

Open the Drawing Explorer from the View menu.

Right click the folder that says "Line Pattern" and choose "New Pattern..."

Fill in the name and choose the third behavior (Stretch the shape)

Close the dialog

Right click the new pattern and choose "Edit Pattern Shape"

Draw a box. do not worry about the size.

Close the window.

You can now draw a line and choose the new line pattern from the drop down
list. You will probably need to select a large line wieght to make the
pattern visible.

John... Visio MVP

Need stencils or ideas? http://visio.mvps.org/3rdparty.htm
Need VBA examples? http://visio.mvps.org/VBA.htm
Visio Wishlist http://visio.mvps.org/wish_list.htm

 

[John Marshall, MVP]

One other point. The colour.

The black parts of the line pattern are replaced with the line colour. So to
have the line coloured outlined by a black line, you need to change the line
pattern so the fill colour is black.

To keep the black outline, you will have to change the line colour of the
line pattern to be almost black. Select "More colour" from the end of the
list and then Custom Colour. You can then enter values for Red, Green and
Blue. If black was originally selected then the value will be 0,0,0. Change
one of the zeroes to 1. The colour will not be black, but almost black.

John... Visio MVP

Need stencils or ideas? http://visio.mvps.org/3rdparty.htm
Need VBA examples? http://visio.mvps.org/VBA.htm
Visio Wishlist http://visio.mvps.org/wish_list.htm

 

[LurfysMa]

Open the Drawing Explorer from the View menu.

Right click the folder that says "Line Pattern" and choose "New Pattern..."

Fill in the name and choose the third behavior (Stretch the shape)

Close the dialog

Right click the new pattern and choose "Edit Pattern Shape"

Draw a box. do not worry about the size.

Close the window.

You can now draw a line and choose the new line pattern from the drop down
list. You will probably need to select a large line wieght to make the
pattern visible.

John... Visio MVP

Nice instructions. Thanks.

That almost gets it. I was able to create the line pattern as you
described. It works as you say. The only problem is that it had square
ends, not round ones. I tried changing the Caps setting to no avail.

I also tried using a composite shape made from a rectangle with
circles on the ends, but that got a really weird result.

I think the soliution is not to use lines at all, but shapes converted
to lines (1-dimensional). If I can just get the gluing to work.

Thanks for your help.