Re-defining an image's shape

[samcreasy]

Hey,

I don't really know how to describe this without uploading an example (and I can't do that at work for some reason), but here goes...

Is there any way of re-defining a shape's boundaries/border so you can fill (with the 'paint bucket' icon) only certain portions of a pre-defined shape?

I have created a pretty complex drawing using circles and straight lines (as this seemed to be the easiest way of doing it) but now when I attempt the colour in the shape, I've struck some major issues. I would like to colour in each segment a different colour, but that's not possible (from what I can tell). Normally I would use the 'special pie piece' image and layer it, but this image needed to be an oval, rather than a circle.

The simplest way I can describe it is this: Imagine you have drawn a circle and split that circle into 4 seperate quadrants with a '+' shape created with 2 lines. When you would go to 'fill' the circle, the entire circle would go a single colour. What I am after is some sort of functionality which would allow me to re-define the shapes I drawn so I can fill in each quadrant a seperate colour; that is, instead of being a circle and a '+' shape, the shape would be re-defined as four distinct quarter circles.

Obviously that is an extremely dumbed-down example, but if this feature exists it would make my life a lot easier. Currently I am colouring each section in paint and it is a tedious process...

If you need any clarification of my clumsy description, please ask.

Cheers,
Sam

[Paul Herber]

One shape can only have one fill colour, except ... grouped shapes. Create two or more shapes, group them together. then you can fill each part with different colours/fill patterns etc.

[samcreasy]

One shape can only have one fill colour, except ... grouped shapes. Create two or more shapes, group them together. then you can fill each part with different colours/fill patterns etc.

Thanks Paul.

So to clarify - there is now way AT ALL to fill each quadrant of the circle with a different colour (to go back to my example)?

[AndyW]

That is correct, you draw a shape and fill it.

You just need to draw your quadrants a separate shapes and group them, those 4 shapes can then each be filled with different colours.

[Paul Herber]

It might be very simple, depends on your shapes.I've just drawn a circle, 2 lines across the circle. I then selected all three shapes, Operation -> Fragment, select all the shapes again, group them, then select a quadrant and filled it with colour.

[samcreasy]

That is correct, you draw a shape and fill it.

You just need to draw your quadrants a separate shapes and group them, those 4 shapes can then each be filled with different colours.

Unfortunately the 4-segments was merely an example. The actual diagram has about 100 different segments :/

@Paul: That sounds promising. I don't have the classic-menu version of Visio 2010, do you know where I would find the 'Operation' ribbon in the standard version?

Edit: Ok, I have figured out how to add the Fragment option. Just had a quick play around and this looks like *exactly* what I was after! Thanks a lot Paul.

I'm going to have to have a play around with the layering - it's all a bit haphazard at the moment - but I think this will work.

Cheers!

[Paul Herber]

@Paul: That sounds promising. I don't have the classic-menu version of Visio 2010, do you know where I would find the 'Operation' ribbon in the standard version?

It's on the Developer ribbon. Enable this from the Options -> Advanced dialog.

[samcreasy]

Got it nailed down now.

Thanks for all the help guys - you'll be getting more stupid questions from me in the future