view linked data when mouseover (or) click possible?

[porkchop]

Howdy folks,
Visio 2007
I want to be able to display linked data in a drawing when the viewer
either mouses over the object or else clicks on the object - doesn't
matter which way. The reason for this is that the drawing is kinda
"busy" - there's an awful lot of stuff on there, and to be able to
only show data the viewer wants to see would be a decided advantage.
The default behavior appears to be that linked data sits alongside/
above/near the object and is constantly exposed, and I sure would like
to be able to change that to a mouseover or click.
Although I don't suppose it matters, the data source is a plain Excel
2007 spreadsheet.
Can anyone offer some suggestions?
Regards & TIA
-Porky

 

[Chris Roth [Visio MVP]]

Hey Porky,

You can put a bit of info in a Shape Screentip ("Comment"), which is
available via Insert > Shape Screentip.

This info shows when the mouse hovers above a shape for a second or two.
It can be linked to Shape Data fields if you enter formula references in
the ShapeSheet. For example:

Miscellaneous.Comment = Prop.Cost & CHAR(10) & Prop.Mfg

CHAR(10) is a function for a line-feed.

You could also put information in right-mouse Action or a Smart Tag. So,
say, a user could right-click on a shape and see some info in a "dummy"
menu item that doesn't really do anything but show data.

You could also just rely on the Shape Data window. If a user selects a
shape, all of the shape's data shows in the Shape Data window.

You could also get fancy with any number of code-based solutions, but I
thought I'd throw out the simpler options for starters.

--
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/vgforumH

 

[porkchop]

Hi Chris!

Wow, thanks for a lightning fast reply!

Hey Porky,

You can put a bit of info in a Shape Screentip ("Comment"), which is
available via Insert > Shape Screentip.

This info shows when the mouse hovers above a shape for a second or two.
It can be linked to Shape Data fields if you enter formula references in
the ShapeSheet. For example:

  Miscellaneous.Comment = Prop.Cost & CHAR(10) & Prop.Mfg

CHAR(10) is a function for a line-feed.

That's a nice "clean" solution, though I must confess I have no idea
how to write the formula reference for the spreadsheet which sits in
the same directory.
is the syntax more or less the same for referencing another
spreadsheet and range within (say) Excel?
How would that data be refreshed? (it changes - sometimes daily)

You could also get fancy with any number of code-based solutions, but I
thought I'd throw out the simpler options for starters.

Hmm, might even have to go that route eventually, not sure yet.It's one heck of a starting point, that's for sure!!!!!!

 

[AlEdlund]

Those were also my first thoughts. I guess I got confused when he referred
to linked data, which in my mind referred to data which would come from the
external data window. It's only when the field names match the shape data
names that they will show in the shape data window.
"growin old ain't for sissies"
al