book

Visio® 2007 For Dummies®

by John Paul Mueller, Debbie Walkowski

December 2006

Beginner

387 pages

9h 1m

English

Wiley

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About This BookConventions Used in This BookWhat You're Not to ReadFoolish AssumptionsHow This Book Is OrganizedPart I: Starting with Visio 2007 BasicsPart II: Creating Visio DrawingsPart III: Taking Your Drawings to the Next LevelPart IV: Advancing Your Knowledge of VisioPart V: The Part of TensAbout the Web SiteIcons Used in This BookWhere to Go from Here
In this part . . .
Getting the Scoop on VisioComparing Visio productsA quick peek at some Visio featuresWhat's new in Visio 2007?Familiarizing Yourself with Visio LingoUnderstanding the Vista DifferenceThe graphical interface differenceHelpful user interface changesUnderstanding the security featuresDefining the difference between users and administratorsDigitally signing your macrosRelying on trusted locationsJumping Head First into VisioGetting familiar with the Visio screenChecking out the menusWorking with toolbarsCreating a toolbarModifying a toolbarDeleting a button from a toolbarGetting Help When You Need ItUsing general helpDon't forget ToolTipsClosing Visio
Creating a Drawing the Standard WayUnderstanding the Visio Drawing CategoriesWorking with StencilsMoving and arranging stencilsClosing stencilsOpening additional stencilsSelecting a Pointer Tool ButtonWorking with ShapesAdding a shape to a drawingSelecting a shapeSelecting more than one shape at a timeNavigating through a DrawingZeroing In on a DrawingUsing the Zoom buttonUsing the Pan & Zoom windowUsing Drawing ExplorerSaving DrawingsSaving a drawing the first timeSetting up AutoSaveSaving a drawing as a templateSaving a drawing in another file formatUsing a Visio Wizard to Create a DrawingOpening Drawings
Understanding How Visio PrintsPreparing to PrintChecking the printer paper and drawing page sizesPreviewing your drawingA clear view in Print PreviewPrinting Your DrawingAdding Headers and Footers to a DrawingPrinting GridlinesPrinting Part of a DrawingReducing and Enlarging Printed DrawingsAltering the print scale of a drawingPrinting oversized drawingsUsing online printing servicesPrinting to scaleSetting Shapes Not to PrintPrinting Reviewers' CommentsPrinting a Background SeparatelyPrinting Layers Separately
In this part . . .

Discovering What's in a ShapeExamining open and closed shapesComparing one‐ and two‐dimensional shapesDisplaying all of the shape handlesWorking with ShapesMoving shapesNudging shapesCopying and pasting shapesSizing up your shapesDeleting shapesControlling ShapesAdjusting shapes using control handlesAdjusting shapes using control pointsShaping cornersRotating shapes into placeModifying arcs using eccentricity handlesUsing connection pointsUsing automatic connection pointsFinding the Shapes You WantJazzing Up Your DrawingsLoading stencils from other templatesUsing the Visio Extras stencil shapesUsing themes
Understanding Text BlocksAdding Text to a DrawingWorking with Text and Text BlocksEditing textCopying and pasting textMoving a text blockResizing a text blockChanging alignmentAdjusting marginsUsing tabs in a text blockCreating bulleted listsCreating numbered listsSetting the indentation and spacing of textChanging the Way Your Text LooksChanging the font, size, color, and style of textChoosing a background color for a text blockPainting the formatting to other textRotating text
Discovering ConnectorsWorking with Connection PointsAdding connection points to a shapeDeleting a connection pointUsing the automatic connection featureApplying Glue (without the Mess)Choosing static or dynamic gluePoint‐to‐point glueShape‐to‐shape glueIdentifying glue typesSwitching from one glue to the otherSetting glue optionsGluing Connectors to ShapesConnecting shapes as you drag themDrawing connectors using the Connector ToolSaving time with the Connect Shapes featureChoosing a custom connector to connect shapesDragging connector shapes into your drawingMoving connectorsManaging ConnectorsHandling connectors that cross pathsPerforming changes on single connections quicklyLaying Out Shapes Automatically
In this part . . .
All about Measurements and Placement ToolsUsing the Drawing GridUsing Dynamic GridSetting Drawing ScaleSnapping Shapes into PlaceMeasuring Up with RulersUsing Guide Lines and Guide PointsCreating guide linesCreating guide pointsAligning and Distributing Shapes
Creating Unique Shapes the Fun WayUniting shapesCombining shapesFragmenting shapesIntersecting shapesSubtracting shapesRestacking shapesDrawing Your Own ShapesDrawing with the Line ToolDrawing with the Pencil ToolDrawing with the Arc ToolCreating irregular shapes with the Freeform ToolCreating shapes with the Ellipse Tool and Rectangle ToolManipulating ShapesMoving and adding verticesMoving control pointsRotating shapesRotation handlesRotation buttonsSize & Position windowRotation pinFlipping shapesAdding Style to Your ShapesChanging line styleAdding fill color, pattern, and shadowCopying formatsReformatting a shapeCreating new theme colorsCreating new theme effectsCopying new themesManaging Shapes by GroupingCreating groupsEditing a groupAdding a shape to a groupRemoving a shape from a groupAdding text to grouped shapes
The Role of the TemplateReorienting a PageSetting a Page SizeAdding and Deleting Pages in a DrawingWorking with Multiple PagesGetting from one page to anotherDisplaying multiple pages at onceReordering pagesRenaming PagesViewing on the Big ScreenWhat's in a Background?Creating and assigning a background pageUnassigning a background pageDisplaying a background pageEditing a background pageUsing a background shapeRotating Pages
Getting the Essential Facts on Layers and LayeringWorking with LayersToolbars for working with layersAdding a layer and removing oneRenaming a layerHiding a layerAssigning Shapes to LayersDetermining which layer a shape is assigned toActivating layersUsing Layers on Background PagesProtecting Layers from ChangesAssigning a Color to a LayerSelecting Layers to PrintSnap and Glue Options for Layers
In this part . . .
Working with StencilsUsing the Stencil toolbarUsing a Document StencilCreating a custom stencilNaming master shapes on a custom stencilAdding master shapes to a custom stencilDeleting master shapes from a custom stencilCreating a custom iconCreating a Custom Template
Storing Data in Visio ShapesEntering custom shape dataEditing custom property fieldsAdding custom properties to an individual shapeRemoving custom properties from an individual shapeAdding or removing custom shape properties in stencilsEditing existing custom propertiesModifying shape data for multiple shapesReporting on Data Stored in Visio ShapesUsing a predefined reportCreating a custom reportDefining new reportsModifying existing reportsUpdating shape reportsModifying shape reportsCustomizing Shape BehaviorChanging a shape from 2‐D to 1‐DSetting a shape's group behaviorSetting a shape's double‐click behaviorProtecting Your WorkPreventing shapes from being changedKeeping drawings secureLocking layersSaving files as read‐onlyProtecting an entire drawing
Discovering Markup ToolsAdding Comments to a DrawingHow Markup Tracking WorksWorking with MarkupUsing the Reviewing toolbar and the task paneAdding markup to a drawingViewing markup in a drawingIncorporating markup changes in a drawingDeleting markupUsing Digital InkSelecting an ink toolUsing ink toolsChanging digital ink shapes to geometryChanging digital‐ink shapes to text
Using Files from Other Programs in VisioGenerating Drawings from Data Stored in Non‐Visio FilesCreating an organization chart from existing dataCreating an organization chart from existing dataCreating an organization chart by typing data manuallyCreating a Gantt chart by importing dataImporting data from a text or Excel fileImporting data from Microsoft ProjectCreating data rather than importingExporting your Gantt chart dataCreating a calendar by importing Outlook appointmentsImporting a new calendarUpdating an existing calendarIncorporating Visio Shapes and Drawings in Non‐Visio DocumentsLinking shapes and drawingsEmbedding shapes in drawingsHyperlinking shapes and drawingsExporting and importing shapes and drawingsUsing Visio Viewer to Share Visio DrawingsSaving Visio Drawings for the WebPublishing Your Drawing in XPS FormatCreating Data Links to SQL Server and SpreadsheetsUsing the Data Link featureDefining the data linkAssigning a data link to a graphicAssigning data to multiple shapes at onceUsing automatic data assignmentUsing the Data Graphics featureUsing Data GraphicsCreating Data GraphicsWorking with the PivotDiagram feature
In this part . . .
Rotating Shapes to a Specific AngleCentering a Drawing before PrintingResizing a Page to Fit the Content of a DrawingCreating a Drawing That Spans Several PagesSaving a Company Logo as a Stencil ShapeCreating and Adding a Background Design to a DrawingAdjusting the Transparency of Shapes and Text in a DrawingAdding the Same Shape or Image to All Pages in a DrawingUnlocking a ShapeCopying Formatting from One Shape to Another
VisioCafeMicrosoft VisioDesign‐DrawingVisio The BlogCisco SystemsDellMicrosoft Visio Home PageNick FinckConceptDrawABC Amber Conversion and Merging Software

Content preview from Visio® 2007 For Dummies®

Chapter 6. Connecting Shapes

In This Chapter
Discovering connectors and their functions
Adding connection points to shapes
Unraveling a sticky glue mystery
Gluing connectors to a shape
Working with connectors that cross paths
Gluing shapes to shapes

This chapter helps you discover two important Visio features: connectors and glue. Connectors are lines that show the relationships between individual shapes. In some cases, such as a flowchart, you can't create a diagram without using connectors because the shapes alone can't convey your meaning. Glue ensures that connectors remain attached to a shape. Imagine trying to move shapes around and then having to redraw the connectors with every move. The relationship among glue, connectors, and shapes is a close one. After you understand how each one works, you're on your way to becoming a powerful Visio user.

Discovering Connectors

Connector is a term that's unique to Visio. The simple explanation is that connectors are lines between boxes. A connector is a special, one‐dimensional shape that you use to connect two‐dimensional shapes to one another. This technical definition allows for the fact that connectors are not always lines; they can also be one‐dimensional (1‐D) shapes such as arrows, arcs, hubs, and other specialized shapes (for example, an Ethernet cable) that connect two‐dimensional (2‐D) shapes to each other. Given that connectors are a type of shape, they also have properties that let you define the relationship between the connector ...