Shape/Symbol editing

[bkelly]

Drawing flowcharts. Rather than adding "Yes" and "No" to every decision
symbol to show which line out is which, I want to add six new symbols, each
with the output pre labeled. The first should have the bottom exit labeled
Yes and the right exit labeled No. I won't list the other five permutations.

When I draw them and add the text and save the symbol/shape, the center no
longer lines up and the symbol/shape will not change size to accomodate the
text I enter within it.

What is the difference between a symbol and a shape?
This is Visio 2003 SP1


Thanks for your time.

 

[Mark Nelson [MS]]

I don't quite follow everything you describe, but I assume that you are
using a group to add multiple text labels to your decision shape. Even if
you didn't explicitly group the parts together, Visio creates a group for
you when creating the master shape. The group's size is determined by a
rectangular envelope tightly encompassing all the shapes. If you have text
below the symbol, the symbol will not be positioned in the center of the
group. This could explain the alignment issues.

Try this approach instead. Draw your geometry. Then select that shape and
choose Shape > Grouping > Convert to Group. Then open the group's
Shapesheet using Window > Show Shapesheet. Find the Protection section and
set LockCalcWH to 1. This will prevent subsequent grouping operations from
changing the overall size of the group. Now add your text labels. Select
the group, then Shift+Click to selet the text labels. Choose Shape >
Grouping > Add to Group. The result is a group shape with text extending
beyond the group boundaries. This shape should align much better within the
flowchart.

--
Mark Nelson
Office Graphics - Visio
Microsoft Corporation

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