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Visio shape data

Anonymous
2018-03-04T00:18:45+00:00

I'd like to create a shape to represent a Patent or Patent Application. It should have six pieces of data - Country, ApplicationID, FileDate, PatentID, IssueDate and ExpirationDate.  I've created a new shape called Patent and defined the data, so how to I create instances of that shape that I can add data to and have Visio display the data? Also, I'd like the new shape to inherit the Visio functionality of other typical shapes.

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  1. John Marshall Visio MVP 4,686 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2018-03-26T20:48:37+00:00

    You can create a shape that contains shape data. The basic shape will contain several text blocks that refer to the shape data.

    So...

    Create several text blocks and arrange them the way you want. Then  group the blocks. This will create a new shape with the text blocks as sub shape. Select this new shape Right Click Data > then Define Data and start creating the data fields you will need.

    Now for some surgery.

    Find the name of the shape. From the Developer ribbon select Shape Name and remember the name. I will assume the name you found was Sheet.13.

    Select the shape and then select the text you want to change. From the Insert Ribbon choose Field in the Text Group.

    Chose Custom Formula and set it to =Shape.13!Prop. You will get a drop don list showing the shape data you created in the top shape. Chose the appropriate one and repeat for the other text blocks.

    You can then move the shape to a stencil and make it a master that you can reuse. Any changes to this master will be reflected in all occurrences of this master.

    You can now tie a drawing with these shapes back to an Excel spreadsheet so you have an easy way of updating the shapes.

    Developer Ribbon? Turn it on by going File > Options > Customize Ribbon > check the Developer check box.

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-03-05T08:15:20+00:00

    You need create your own custom stencil and add your shapes in this stencil.

    read more about stencils, when you drop some master-shape from stencil in active Visio document, Visio application engine add to build-in document stencil a copy of master-shape. All instances which have one master-shape are inherited properties from their master-shape.

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