Is there any shape that behaves similarly to comments or has a pop

[.iznogud]

Hi all!

I am using Visio 2003... and I am doing a good job documenting my network
layout, however, I have a following problem:

I would really like to put basic configuration of a network device into
something like a comment, or to whatever it takes so that the additional text
I enter is visible only if I move mouse over the item in the stencil, or
until I double-click the item... If I insert a comment into my visio file, it
behaves like I wanted - except the fact that I cannot lock comment onto the
particular item on the page, and comments have header that is my initials and
sequential number, and I would like such header (first row, condensed form of
the comment) to show an item title, name, and of course - if I move the
device in the stencil, such comment should follow the device...

To clarify myself better - I would like to have a stencil that displays my
equipment and physical connections to it, and whenever I move my pointer over
particular device/hostname to be able to see additional text I entered ...
like, I have layout of two switches, 20 workstations, and a router, and when
I mouse-over the workstation to have a pop-up text that says IP address,
username, subnet it's on, and if I move pointer over the switch to see the
list of the interfaces and their VLANs, where they connect to, etc.

Is there an easy way to do this in Visio? Well, I am sure there ain't an
easy way, LOL, I'd find it by now, but is there any way to do it in Visio?

 

[Al Edlund]

AFAIK the mouse-over display is what get's in the way most of the time. The
second thing is the amount of shape unique data you want to work with. In
v2007 you can link the data to the shape using recordsets. You can then add
a small amount of code to open the records (in the external data window)
that relate to the shape when you select it with the mouse.
al

 

[.iznogud]

well, it doesn't have to be a mouse-over or pop-up, I'd be happy to do it any
other way - i've figured out that there is an option of doing "custom
properties" for a group of objects, however, that is kind-of obscure place to
put information to, I wish that there is something easier to view/hide.
I usually decrease text size and put it into the objects title, however, if
i have a switch with 24 ports, title of such switch gets really huge... and I
have complex network, so my question arises because I am trying to find a way
to do combine all elements into one stencil and yet to keep it clear and
visible, not overburdened with details...

Do you have any other ideas? I was thinking - only other way to do it would
be to embed a txt file next to each network element...

Thanks in advance for all the help i get.

 

[J Kallay]

Custom properties are designed for EXACTLY the kind of data that you want to
include in your drawing. They are not obscure, they are a critical part of
any sophisticated Visio drawing! In fact, if you look at the custom
properties of Visio's built-in network diagram shapes, you'll see that
they're preconfigured with many network-equipment related properties
(network name, IP address, etc).
To make the custom properties window less 'obscure,' open the custom
properties window (View > Custom Properties Window). This will allow you to
see the custom properties of a shape when it is selected. You can also have
the custom property editor opened when a shape is double-clicked. To do
this, enter the formula "DOCMD(1312)" in the shape's EventDblClick cell in
the ShapeSheet.

 

[.iznogud]

OK, I figured that custom properties were intended for such a purpose. Thank
you for the precise answer. It would solve my problem but

Here is the drawback to such solution, the reason why i didn't use custom
properties: it is really inconvenient to add custom property types "port 1,
port 2, port 3, ..., port 48, VLAN 1, VLAN 2, VLAN 110, VLAN 111, VLAN
112..." etc, i have 5 to 20 lines of text important to me that are
configuration-specific...

I used callouts (like in cartoons) for my scheme, but a real solution to my
problem would be a pop-up cloud or something like that. Hell, even a post-it
yellow note taht could fold up and down and could be anchored to an object
would do my job. whatever folds up and down and has custom title and ability
to anchor to something would do my job...

If anyone has ideas that would fit my solution, or anything that would give
me an opportunity to quickly move from "the whole picture" view into the
detailed view for particular part of the scheme, I am being notified of
replies - please do say so. The whole problem originated when I wanted to
have a drawing of the physical connections between equipment, and to keep
basic information in such file as well - such as info on ports and VLAN's
used, direction where what cable goes, etc.

Thank you all once again! cheers