Master in multiple stencils

[Andy]

If I copy a master from one stencil to another, do these remain the
same master or become different masters. My stencil has become quite
large > 100 masters, such that for ease of use i need to split it into
at least 3 stencils. However, I have a few masters that are commonly
used with the others. If I add these same masters to all 3 stencils,
do they become different masters. I am trying to prevent the user from
constantly switching between the different stencils.

 

[Paul Herber]

If I copy a master from one stencil to another, do these remain the
same master or become different masters. My stencil has become quite
large > 100 masters, such that for ease of use i need to split it into
at least 3 stencils. However, I have a few masters that are commonly
used with the others. If I add these same masters to all 3 stencils,
do they become different masters. I am trying to prevent the user from
constantly switching between the different stencils.

You will probably have the same master. When a shape is dropped on a
page then unless the shape is there already a master is created in the
Document Stencil.
Create two new stencils (menu File -> Shapes -> New Stencil) and copy
your shape into both. Now drop one shape from each stencil. Look in
the document stencil. If there is only one shape then you will end up
with the same master. However, if either master shape gets edited
independently then you will have different masters.

 

[Andy]

Thanks

I just tried that and you are correct.

If my master is in 2 stencils, dropping one of each on a diagram
results in a single master in the document stencil. Changing a master
results in a new master in the document stencil.

 

[Chris Roth [Visio MVP]]

Guys,

There are two possible outcomes: either the "home field master wins", or
you'll get a duplicate. It depends on the settings in the master.

If you right-click on a master and look at its properties dialog, you'll
see a check box that says something like "Match master by name on drop".

If this box is checked, then any master by the same name in the target
document will "win", ie: your newly dropped master will revert to the
already existing one.

If the box is unchecked, then Visio will make duplicates. So if
"Computer" is in the document, and you drop another, different Computer
master, Visio will rename it to "Computer.23" or something like that.
You'll then have two different Computer masters.

People doing shape development often have tens to hundreds of ".23" like
masters in their Document stencils, because they keep making changes to
an external stencil, then dropping the masters into a test document.
Makes for quite a mess!

--
Hope this helps,

Chris Roth
Visio MVP


Visio Guy: Smart Graphics for Visual People

Articles: http://www.visguy.com
Shapes: http://www.visguy.com/shapes
Dev: http://www.visguy.com/category/development/
Forum: http://www.viguy.com/vgforum

Thanks

I just tried that and you are correct.

If my master is in 2 stencils, dropping one of each on a diagram
results in a single master in the document stencil. Changing a master
results in a new master in the document stencil.

 

[SBryson]

People doing shape development often have tens to hundreds of ".23" like
masters in their Document stencils, because they keep making changes to
an external stencil, then dropping the masters into a test document.
Makes for quite a mess!

OK - suppose I've got one of those messes on my hands... it's just one
master that's been duplicated, but I've got instances of each master all over
my models. I'd like to clean it up and have just one master for all instances
of the shape, while maintaining a link between each shape and its master.

Is there any way to change the master a shape is connected to?

 

[Paul Herber]

OK - suppose I've got one of those messes on my hands... it's just one
master that's been duplicated, but I've got instances of each master all over
my models. I'd like to clean it up and have just one master for all instances
of the shape, while maintaining a link between each shape and its master.

Is there any way to change the master a shape is connected to?

You could try replacing each instance with the new master. My
http://www.visio-utilities.sandrila.co.uk/
has a shape substitute that can do this.