Shape properties issue

Question

Hi all,

I've a problem with Visio 2019. I have created a diagram with a bunch of shapes. From these shapes I've created my own set of stencils each with several properties. All of these properties have the flag "Ask on drop". Now, if i drag a shape from the "document stencil" to the diagram and set the properties in the shape properties window everything works, but if I change a property from the lateral toolbar the value that I enter is pushed to each shape belonging to the same stencil.

There's a way to stop this? If I change a property for a single shape I want to update the property for THAT shape, not for all of them!

Thank you for your kind help!

Answer 1

Thanks for the video; I certainly see the issue you described.

At this point I will only be guessing unless I can examine the shapes themselves. Can you attach the diagram you used for the video? Or, if you prefer, email it to me at ******@VisioStepByStep.com.

Answer 2

Yes sure! here enclosed you will find a short video of the issue. As it can be seen, there are two copies of the TC master with two different names ("ID"). Then, if I change one also the other one is changed.

Just to give you more information: this Visio file is a copy-paste of different files created with different Visio versions (some colleagues used Visio 2016 in italian, some other 2016 in English, while I'm using Visio 2016 in English).

Answer 3

Your technique sounds correct. Changes made to copies of a shape should not affect other copies of the shape. I've done what you described with this result:

Can you attach a diagram with a modified master that exhibits the behavior you're talking about?

Answer 4

Thank you for your reply. I've found your article very interesting and clear, especially about the terminology to use (shapes, masters, and stencils).

I've followed the examples provided, and I have understood how masters affect instances.. and probably the error that I'm facing is linked on how I use Visio. I usually do the following:

1. Drop a shape from a built-in library (e.g More shapes -> General -> Basic Shapes) into a document.
2. Modify the master shape from the Document Stencil toolbar (usually this means adding a bunch of custom properties with the "Ask on drop" option turned on).
3. Remove the shape placed at step 1.
4. Drop the shape modified at step 2 into the drawing.
5. Fill in the fields shown in the Shape Data window.
6. Copy-paste the created shape instance several times since most of the custom properties are identical. I do this only to save time.

Then, if I modify a property in any of the copy-pasted instances the same property is updated in all copy-pasted instances. So, probably, the best thing to do is to always take the shape from Document Stencil instead of copy-pasting the same instance over and over again. Am I right?

Thank you again for your kind help!

Answer 5

Yes it is possible to affect a single shape and not all shapes derived from a master. Please take a look at this article about shapes and masters and let me know whether it helps. If it doesn't, let me know and we can dig a bit deeper.