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Visio Discussions => Shapes & Templates => Topic started by: MarkL94 on March 16, 2023, 06:50:25 AM

Title: Glue multiple rectangles
Post by: MarkL94 on March 16, 2023, 06:50:25 AM
Hi all,

I would like to glue multiple (about 5) rectangles to each other using connection points (only in y direction is sufficient). When rescaling or move one, I would like the others to move along.

So far, I've found an example in which the following steps were performed:

This is close to what I'm looking for. Because, if I rescale or move the initial shape, the other one follows. However, if I move the second shape, the glued connection gets broken. Can somebody pinpoint me the right direction?

Thank you in advance!
Title: Re: Glue multiple rectangles
Post by: Paul Herber on March 16, 2023, 08:12:17 AM
The trouble is that with the behaviour you want it would be impossible to ever separate the shapes once glued.
But there are two alternatives.
1. multiple geometry sections within one shape
2. a grouped shape

Option 2 is the most likely to be what you want.
Title: Re: Glue multiple rectangles
Post by: Surrogate on March 16, 2023, 08:12:33 AM
Quote from: MarkL94 on March 16, 2023, 06:50:25 AM
Copy the shape, and glue the new shape to the original using the connection point
What connection point type (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/client-developer/visio/typec-cell-connection-points-section) do you use for these points: same or differend for left and right size ?
(https://i.imgur.com/tM5AkjH.png)
Title: Re: Glue multiple rectangles
Post by: Surrogate on March 16, 2023, 08:30:20 AM
Visio have 3 types of connection points
(https://flylib.com/books/3/431/1/html/2/images/fig106_01.jpg)
Please read more about these types (https://flylib.com/books/en/3.431.1.30/1/)...
Title: Re: Glue multiple rectangles
Post by: MarkL94 on March 16, 2023, 08:40:37 AM
Quote from: Paul Herber on March 16, 2023, 08:12:17 AM
The trouble is that with the behaviour you want it would be impossible to ever separate the shapes once glued.
But there are two alternatives.
1. multiple geometry sections within one shape
2. a grouped shape

Option 2 is the most likely to be what you want.

Yes, indeed, that makes sense. That is basically what I want. I would separate the shape by deleting it.

Option 2 I think does not suite my problem indeed, as resizing one shape does not behave as I would like.

How would option 1 work? I've never worked with multiple geometry sections work?

Thank you all for your input!
Title: Re: Glue multiple rectangles
Post by: Surrogate on March 16, 2023, 08:47:29 AM
Quote from: MarkL94 on March 16, 2023, 06:50:25 AM
Make one of the two connection points an outward connection point
I'm sorry I didn't notice this!
Try make one side as outward and another side as inward...
Title: Re: Glue multiple rectangles
Post by: MarkL94 on March 16, 2023, 09:10:20 AM
No worries! As I indicated, this does not allow me to resize all shapes individually while the others follow. Thank you for the input though!
Title: Re: Glue multiple rectangles
Post by: Surrogate on March 16, 2023, 09:40:47 AM
Quote from: MarkL94 on March 16, 2023, 09:10:20 AMAs I indicated, this does not allow me to resize all shapes individually while the others follow
What about their pin positions ?
(https://i.imgur.com/17TtF9N.png)
Title: Re: Glue multiple rectangles
Post by: Surrogate on March 16, 2023, 12:10:03 PM
Mark, please try this document.
Shapes behave as intended ?
Title: Re: Glue multiple rectangles
Post by: MarkL94 on March 16, 2023, 12:52:02 PM
Quote from: Surrogate on March 16, 2023, 12:10:03 PM
Mark, please try this document.
Shapes behave as intended ?

Thank you for your effort! This is exactly what I currently have indeed. The unfortunate part is that, when moving or rescaling the object on the right, the rest of the objects remain in place. I'm looking for the behavior of the object on the left, but then for all objects glued to each other.

I appreciate your coorporation!
Title: Re: Glue multiple rectangles
Post by: Surrogate on March 16, 2023, 01:04:10 PM
In this video you can watch how I create it steps-by-step...
Title: Re: Glue multiple rectangles
Post by: Yacine on March 16, 2023, 01:44:31 PM
I don't know if I can dare to propose my old tool. Watch reply #2 of this post http://visguy.com/vgforum/index.php?topic=6914.msg38314#msg38314 (http://visguy.com/vgforum/index.php?topic=6914.msg38314#msg38314)
But I think that is overkill for your task.
Title: Re: Glue multiple rectangles
Post by: Surrogate on March 16, 2023, 02:08:01 PM
Quote from: MarkL94 on March 16, 2023, 12:52:02 PMwhen moving or rescaling the object on the right, the rest of the objects remain in place
Of course, if you move in the middle of the row there is a break in the chain.
In my case, you can resize the shape through the "Size and Position Window" without breaking the chain (see the last seconds of the video (https://youtu.be/9uPG2wU2-VA?t=138))