Protecting drawings

[Paul]

I read the help on preventing changes to a Visio 2000 file. First, I
set the file to Read-Only using Windows Explorer. It didn't open in
Read-Only, as I expected, and I could change stuff. Resize ovals,
change the text of connector labels, etc..

I then went to the Drawing Explorer, right-clicked on the top-most
icon, and chose Protect. I clicked on all the checkboxes to protect
everything. However, it didn't seem to prevent anything from being
changed.

Is this application behaviour normal? What do I need to change in the
procedure to get the effect I want?

 

[Paul Herber]

I read the help on preventing changes to a Visio 2000 file. First, I
set the file to Read-Only using Windows Explorer. It didn't open in
Read-Only, as I expected, and I could change stuff. Resize ovals,
change the text of connector labels, etc..

I then went to the Drawing Explorer, right-clicked on the top-most
icon, and chose Protect. I clicked on all the checkboxes to protect
everything. However, it didn't seem to prevent anything from being
changed.

Is this application behaviour normal? What do I need to change in the
procedure to get the effect I want?

Open the document, menu Edit -> Select All
menu Format -> Protection - All
Good idea to keep an unprotected version for yourself.

 

[Paul Herber]

Open the document, menu Edit -> Select All
menu Format -> Protection - All
Good idea to keep an unprotected version for yourself.

and
menu View -> Drawing Explorer
right-click on the document name
and select Protect Document

 

[Paul]

and
menu View -> Drawing Explorer
right-click on the document name
and select Protect Document

Paul,

That procedure does a great job...but it doesn't let the user double-
click lines and shapes. For example, if a connector's label is
obscured due to busy-ness, I double-click the line and the label gets
selected (and becomes visible). Is there a way to still permit the
user to browse the attributes of the object but still prevent them
from being changed? For example, if I accidentally overwrite the
selected label with my own typing, it would be great if all that
happens is a message box that says that the field cannot be changed.
At least I can still select things (and hopefully even bring up shape-
sheet if needed).

 

[Paul Herber]

Paul,

That procedure does a great job...but it doesn't let the user double-
click lines and shapes. For example, if a connector's label is
obscured due to busy-ness, I double-click the line and the label gets
selected (and becomes visible). Is there a way to still permit the
user to browse the attributes of the object but still prevent them
from being changed? For example, if I accidentally overwrite the
selected label with my own typing, it would be great if all that
happens is a message box that says that the field cannot be changed.
At least I can still select things (and hopefully even bring up shape-
sheet if needed).

In that case do as above but after Protection -> all
then turn off From Selection
But now you also have to do Format -> Behaviour -> Double-Click
and set all to no action so that the text cannot be edited.

..

 

[Paul]

In that case do as above but after Protection -> all
then turn off From Selection
But now you also have to do Format -> Behaviour -> Double-Click
and set all to no action so that the text cannot be edited.

Thanks again, Paul. That's a bit closer, but I suspect that what I'm
after is rather too specific. I want the items to be selectable for
edit so that the label comes to the front. I just want it to be
impossible for any edits to be committed. Now that I put it into
words, it is quite a specific behaviour....