linking shapes in network diagrams

[mel]

i'm working on network diagrams - there's a shape that appears in 2, but is
the same object - is it possible to link them so that when i modify one, the
other is automatically updated, so i don't have to maintain both pages
individually?

cheers

 

[Chris Roth [MVP]]

Hi Mel,

This can be done "one-way" with the ShapeSheet. Ie: shape2 reacts to shape1,
but not the other way around. It's also might be possible to use some
ShapeSheet hacks to get them to work both ways, but it can be impractical
and messy. Ie: lemme know if you really want to get down and dirty.

It's also possible with code, but this gets complicated too.

If the shapes come from a master, then you can edit that master in the
Document Stencil (File > Shapes > Show Document Stencil). Any changes to
that master will be reflected in the instances of that master on any page.

--
Hope this helps,

Chris Roth
Visio MVP

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

 

[mel]

the problem i have is that i'm using an imported shape (a cisco switch) - i'm
going to be using a few of them, but they appear on different pages as the
'same' object. with multiple objects does this still work?

and - i've literally started using visio a month ago - ShapeSheet?!

cheers, mel

 

[Chris Roth [MVP]]

No worries, I've been into this stuff for waaaay too long.

The details are a bit geeky, but when you drag a master shape into a Visio
document, it get's copied into the document's "local bag of masters" called
the Document Stencil. All copies of this shape refer back to the master for
their details. This saves space in the document. The thing is, your two
shapes might have some properties overridden - maybe you added some text to
them. You want the two shapes to be the same, but you don't want ever single
instance of that master to be the same..if that makes any sense.

If you just imported clipart from file or copy/pasted, then you might not
have a master.

--
Hope this helps,

Chris Roth
Visio MVP

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

 

[vojo]

and it gets more complicated: Lets assume you go to the trouble of updating
the doc stencil shape (now possibly out of sync from the real stencil). The
update does not take affect on any previously dropped copy of the doc stencil
shape until some event (cell change, shape change, etc) occurs. For example,
assume a custom propriety affects one behavior (line color) and you decide to
add another behavior (dotted lines for ease of B/W printing). The second
behavior does not take affect on any previously dropped shape until the
custom property involved with that shape is changed. (not accessed but
actually changed even if dependson function is used).