Visio should have better layer system to hide different shapes

[Boreas]

Visio should have a better layer system that resembles the layer system in
AutoCAD. In this way you can have multiple shapes over the same area and be
able to show or hide a different set of the shapes together as a group. In
this way, on lets say a PCB of a cell phone, you can show and hide shapes
that show first the area of the PCB, and then go on to the next layer showing
the grouping of components, and then go on with even more detailed shapes in
the next layer and so on. This way the shapes wont be cluttered with them
being on top of each other and there wont be a need for multiple sheets to
show the same area in different ways. This also makes presentation easier.
Right now im using Visio version 2003 and this system is not present. It
would be a nice addition and make the program more sophisticated.

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[Mark Nelson [MS]]

Could you provide more information about this suggestion? I'm wondering how
this is done through AutoCAD. It's been a while since I've used layers in
that application. It sounds like you are making some layers invisible and
other layers visible. Is there more sophisticated behavior going on?

 

[Boreas]

Yes, its like that. Lets say you create several shapes and you assign it in a
group called "Area 1". So now if you want to hide all the shapes related to
that group, you go to the menu and you de-check an option next to "Area 1"
group, and now all of the shapes that are related to that group are now
invisible. Now you have empty space and you go ahead and make a second group
of shapes which say may be arranged differently than the first group and put
them all under "Area 2". So now if I want to have a different set of shapes
appear, I can allow ether Area 1 or Area 2 or have both of them visible or
invisible at the same time.

This can also be expanded to allow all the shapes in the group to have the
same characteristics in the group like colors and line formats. Lets say you
create a layer group which has a common characteristic of a red fill color
with a thin line, and you create another layer group with a blue fill color
and a thick border line. Now when you create a new shape it will
automatically give it the characteristics depending on the selected layer you
are using. So this could speed up the work done by the user by having a
pre-determined set of characteristics made by the user for a shape rather
than going to a shape after it has been made to change its properties.

 

[Boreas]

I forgot to add, I know Visio has a layer system but its a bit primitive. It
would be nice to have a drop down menu like Autocad's in the toolbar where
you can select a pre-determined layer property and do all of your
hiding/visible options there.

 

[Mark Nelson [MS]]

Visio has a Layers dialog that is fairly similar to the AutoCAD dropdown.
You can find it on the View menu. It provides all the functionality you
described. Once you set up your layers, you need to select shapes and
choose Format > Layer to assign the shapes to layers.