Visio "Shape Report" Formatting

Question

Hello,

I'm working on creating some efficiencies for our team, and one of my initiatives is to utilize shape data and shape reports to auto-create BOMs (Bill of Materials) in Visio, instead of them being manually created and updated separately. So far this has worked very well, except for one problem: the default color scheme and text formatting of shape reports is pretty unsightly. Here's an example:

The blue and yellow notepad-esque colors don't look very professional. The only way I've found to change them is to double-click on the report in order to open the embedded Excel file, highlight the table and select No Fill (which leaves the entire table yellow), then exit out of the embedded Excel file and right-click on the table, select "Format Shape," and select "No fill" there as well. 

I've tried searching around online and can't find any information on a better way to manage these reports. I use VBA with Excel so thought I might be able to create a macro of some sort, but when I try running one of these shape reports and/or changing the color within the embedded Excel file with the macro recorder on, nothing gets recorded. 

If anyone can point me in the right direction, it would be greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

Hi Meg,

There is no out of the box way changing the color of the reports automatically after you run the reports in Visio 2016. I suggest you submit your feedback on our Visio UserVoice as it is the direct way for our product developers to know users’ requirements for product improvements.

Meanwhile, I also suggest you post a new thread on our Visio Development category to see if the engineers there can find some development way to change the behavior.

Thanks for your understanding.

Cliff

Answer 2

At my side this code can change fill for range A1:J10

Sub Meg()

Dim ws As Excel.Worksheet, wr As Excel.Range

Set ws = ActivePage.OLEObjects(1).Object.Sheets(1)

ws.Activate

With ws.Range(ws.Cells(1, 1), ws.Cells(10, 10)).Interior

    .Pattern = -4142

    .TintAndShade = 0

    .PatternTintAndShade = 0

End With

End Sub

Answer 3

Hi Surrogate,

I was trying the macro recorder within Visio. I did also try just now to open a new workbook in Excel and start the macro recorder set to my personal macro workbook before trying to create and edit the shape report, but that didn't produce anything either (i.e. I'm just seeing "Sub Macro1() ... End Sub"). I'm finding working with VBA within Visio to be a lot more challenging than Excel, and there don't seem to be nearly as many resources out there. 

Does that answer your question?

Thanks,

Meg

Answer 4

Hi Cliff,

Thanks for your reply-- I'll follow your recommendations and will submit feedback and try the Visio development subcategory as well. 

Have a good day!

Meg

Answer 5

You try write your actions with embed excel table into Visio or excel application?