Linking embedded Visio file to MS Word headers/text

[JAnderson]

Here's what I'm trying to do:

I have a Visio flowchart that I embedded in an MS Word file. Each of the
flowchart shapes corresponds to a section in the document (ex: Customers,
1.3.2; Ordering, 3.2.11).

I want to display the related section underneath each Visio shape. (I don't
even need hyperlinks.) The difficulty is that this is a living document that
will change with time; new sections will be added, thus changing the
numbering scheme. This is the only document I will be using, so I'd prefer
to use an embedded file instead of a linked one.

I've tried looking at the shapesheet formulas, but I can't find a way to
command a shape (or text box) to display header text from Word. I'm mostly a
VB novice, but is there some sort of VB language I could use to connect the
two programs? I'd even be willing to paste the Visio flowchart as a JPEG
image and create MS Word textboxes below each shape, if that would somehow do
the trick. I'm primarily concerned with how the document will look on paper
after it is updated (i.e. maintaining the correct 'citations').

Thanks for looking!

 

[Chris Roth [MVP]]

J.

I don't think you can get Visio to dynamically display parts of a Word
document, but you can certainly hyperlink from shapes to specific locations
inside the .doc.

Does the data or description for each step exist elsewhere? Ie: in a
database, xml-file, or simpler document?

With a bit of automation, you could dump a report with a push of a button.
And Visio has VBA built-in, so you can start experimenting right away. (just
hit F11 and you've got a VBA editor!)

I've got a simple example for creating flowcharts from code here:
http://www.wanderkind.com/visio/2006/09/create-visio-flowcharts.html

That might help give you an idea of what's involved with automation.

Hope this post wasn't too nebulous, maybe some of the guys in the later time
zones will be more lucid : )

--
Hope this helps,

Chris Roth
Visio MVP

More Visio shapes, articles, development info and pure diagramming fun at:
www.wanderkind.com/visio

 

[JAnderson]

Actually, what I need should be even simpler than that. I lack the right
terminology to discuss this properly, but I'll do what I can to make sense.

What I want is very basic- I just want the numbered headings (i.e. 1.4.8,
3.2.6) to appear in a text box LIKE a cross-reference, but to be updated
automatically. My final product is primarily a printed document, so I don't
care about intra-document functionality. Thus, if some user adds a paragraph
in the middle of Chapter 1, I want the remaining references to remain valid.
If section 1.4.8 is now, because of some additions, section 1.5.3, I want
some way to have a label/text box/etc display this underneath some flowchart
shape.

Thanks for taking the time to reply!!