Why the @#$%! do text boxes NOT have connectors?

M

Mike

I just spent one hour carefully arranging a bunch of textboxes into a
decision tree, with the idea that I'd organize the text first and add dynamic
connectors later. It was only when I went to add my first connector that I
remembered, "Oh, that's right. For some obscure reason, stupid Visio
textboxes DON'T have connection points."

So, now my options are to manually add two or more connection points to
EVERY textbox in this damn tree, or to start all over again, using invisible
box shapes instead of plain ol' textboxes.

Oh my God, I'm angry at this product.

Can someone from Microsoft please explain the rationale to me?
 
P

Paul Herber

I just spent one hour carefully arranging a bunch of textboxes into a
decision tree, with the idea that I'd organize the text first and add dynamic
connectors later. It was only when I went to add my first connector that I
remembered, "Oh, that's right. For some obscure reason, stupid Visio
textboxes DON'T have connection points."

So, now my options are to manually add two or more connection points to
EVERY textbox in this damn tree, or to start all over again, using invisible
box shapes instead of plain ol' textboxes.
Click to expand...

Text boxes are just text boxes so there is no reason for them to have
connection points.

Anyway, if you have used a shape from a stencil and that shape is in
the document stencil then:
1. open the document stencil
2. double click the shape the you used for your text boxes
3. select the shape
4. add connection points
4. when asked, answer 'yes' to update all shapes.

If you have created a box using the rectangle tool then that shape
won't be in the document stencil. Download from
http://www.visio-utilities.sandrila.co.uk
and install it.
Use the new menu to:
a. check all the shape names used in your document
b. substitute the shape name (probably 'shape') for another shape with
connection points.

I've just tried it, took 30 seconds.
 
M

Mike

Text boxes are just text boxes so there is no reason for them to have
connection points.
Click to expand...

Sure there is. Not all connections have to be between shapes -- sometimes,
for example, someone wants to create a tree that consists of bare text
connected by arrows. At times, that can be easier to read than text inside
boxes, circles, etc. I know one can just create a shape and make its edges
and color invisible, but the natural thing to do when one wants to create
just a box with text is to create a textbox; hence, the situation in which I
found myself.

Given that, I think it's a mistake for textboxes NOT to have connection
points. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has gotten stung by their absence.

Anyway, if you have used a shape from a stencil and that shape is in
the document stencil then:
Click to expand...

Sadly, I just used the textbox icon from the toolbar. Thanks, though.

Mike
 
M

Mark Nelson [MS]

Try this:

Tools > Snap & Glue
Check Glue to -- Shape Handles
Click OK

Now you can glue to the text boxes as if they had connection points.

--
Mark Nelson
Office Graphics - Visio
Microsoft Corporation

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