Visio Guy

Visio Discussions => General Visio => Topic started by: 2020Visio! on August 23, 2015, 07:55:50 PM

Title: Setting line styles for Autoconnect / Quick Shape behaviors
Post by: 2020Visio! on August 23, 2015, 07:55:50 PM
I really like to use the Autoconnect / Quick Shape feature of Visio. Is it possible to set the line styles (color/arrowheads) for the autoconnect / quick shape connectors when you add a shape and a connector is added?

Thank you so much for you help!

Jim
Title: Re: Setting line styles for Autoconnect / Quick Shape behaviors
Post by: Yacine on August 24, 2015, 06:05:32 AM
Visio uses the connector shown in the document stencil for autonnecting. You can format it to your needs.
Title: Re: Setting line styles for Autoconnect / Quick Shape behaviors
Post by: 2020Visio! on August 24, 2015, 09:11:50 AM
Hi Yacine,

Thank you will use this setting to get the lines to look right when autoconnecting. Was afraid this wasn't possible maybe.

How much control do we have over autoconnect? One thing we want to achieve is to have autoconnect work multiple times on one connector, where this connector should be able to have multiple shapes connected. Is this even possible with autoconnect? Now the option disappears after connecting one shape with autoconnect.
Title: Re: Setting line styles for Autoconnect / Quick Shape behaviors
Post by: Yacine on August 24, 2015, 07:34:47 PM
I guess this is only possible with simple connectors
Title: Re: Setting line styles for Autoconnect / Quick Shape behaviors
Post by: wapperdude on August 24, 2015, 07:49:19 PM
Autoconnect works so-so. It allows single exits per side.  To connect multiple shapes to one shape, you need to work backwards, i.e., from each shape back to the common.  I believe that ought to work.  I don't use the feature very much...more annoying than helpful.

Wapperdude
Title: Re: Setting line styles for Autoconnect / Quick Shape behaviors
Post by: 2020Visio! on August 24, 2015, 08:51:00 PM
Thank you wapperdude very useful information, the autoconnect / quick shapes are a bit of a dead end I now understand, very little options to customize and get them working well enough.

Jim
Title: Re: Setting line styles for Autoconnect / Quick Shape behaviors
Post by: wapperdude on August 24, 2015, 09:26:34 PM
Something to consider:  when you place any shape on a page, Visio makes a copy of it in the document stencil.  You can open the document stencil, and edit the shape, e.g., a connector.  Edit line weight, color, etc.  Save this master.  Now, when you place new connectors, including autoplace, these will reference the connector in the document stencil.  You can do the same for shapes too.

Wapperdude
Title: Re: Setting line styles for Autoconnect / Quick Shape behaviors
Post by: 2020Visio! on August 25, 2015, 01:09:36 PM
I apologize for this beginner's question, but where do I find the document stencil and know that I'm in the document stencil?

So if I format the connector(s) I find in the document stencil, that will be the template for the formatting of the connector lines that autoconnect creates on the page?

Thank you!

Jim
Title: Re: Setting line styles for Autoconnect / Quick Shape behaviors
Post by: 2020Visio! on August 25, 2015, 01:21:53 PM
Apologies for that question, overlooked a simple checkbox...

Please see the screenshot, a nice visual answer to this question!