Multishapes (Again)

[Mike M 91107]

Microsoft has apparently decided that us amateurs no longer need instructions
on how to create multishapes (shapes that can change their visual
representation based on a right click menu selection). To wit, they have
deleted the following Knowledge Base article.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;254713

Does anyone have a copy of this that they can email or post?

If not, can someone post a procedure or example of using the new ShapeStudio
to create multishapes?

Or, is there a book somewhere that explains how to create a multishape using
ShapeStudio?

Thanks.

 

[JuneTheSecond]

It is unfortunate, but making a multi-shape is not difficult.
The main points are to make number of geometry sections and just to control
noshow cells with events triggered by action cells.

 

[John Marshall, MVP]

There is no logical reason for the article to be missing. The information is
still relevant for Visio 2003 and 2007.

As June mentioned, the basic principal is that a custom property, user cell
or other cell is used to control the visibilty of several geometry sections.
The NoShow cell for each geometry section is set to be False for a specific
condition of the controlling cell. (False for NoShow means the Geometry
section is visible).

For example if the NoShow cell in Geometry section 1 is Control <> 1 and the
NoShow cell in Geometry section 2 is Control <>2, then Geometry 1 will be
visible when the value of the Control is 1 and Geometry 2 will be visible if
the value of Control is 2.

The easiest way is to have all the geometry sections in the same shape, but
if you want different colours, you will need to use a group shape and place
the Control cell in the shape that controls the group. Note: if you have a
tendancy to accidently ungroup shapes, it may be worthwhile to set a scratch
or user cell to point to the controlling group and have all references
within the shape point to the new scratch or user cell. That way this is the
only cell corrupted if you accidently ungroup.


There is an example of using ShapeStudio here
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...vis2003_ta/html/OfficeVisioBuildingShapes.asp

John... Visio MVP

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

 

[Mark Nelson [MS]]

There is also a pair of articles posted on the Visio Insights blog that
illustrate how to construct multi-shapes.

http://blogs.msdn.com/visio/archive/2006/07/18/670154.aspx

http://blogs.msdn.com/visio/archive/2006/07/21/673305.aspx

If you are only creating one or two multi-shapes, there probably isn't much
of a need for ShapeStudio.

--
Mark Nelson
Office Graphics - Visio
Microsoft Corporation

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[John Marshall, MVP]

From the response at the Visio Conference, there does not appear to be a lot
of people using ShapeStudio. I believe there was only three of us who
admitted to using and none were enthusiastic. Is the lack of enthusiasm due
to difficulty in use or a lack of documentation? Does ShapeStudio have a
real future?

John... Visio MVP

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

 

[Mark Nelson [MS]]

I don't have an answer for that John. For me, there are still many
challenges to shape design that need to be addressed in the core Visio
product first.

--
Mark Nelson
Office Graphics - Visio
Microsoft Corporation

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.