I have a document with several complex objects created from jpg and png image files. If I store them all in their full resolution, the Visio document gets huge (200+mb and growing). My solution so far has been to compress them, but then the visual resolution suffers.
Is there a way that I can have a single master copy of an object (shape) and then be able to use it on multiple pages by just linking to it with a minimal increase in document size?
Ideally, I'd like to put these master objects in a separate file or library and link to them form there.
Thanks
That is exactly what a stencil is for. When a shape is dropped from the stencil onto a page then a copy of the shape is placed into what is called the Document Stencil, i.e. a local copy of what is in the stencil. Extra instances of the same shape then take up very little extra space.
Quote from: Paul Herber on January 19, 2018, 11:50:11 AM
That is exactly what a stencil is for. When a shape is dropped from the stencil onto a page then a copy of the shape is placed into what is called the Document Stencil, i.e. a local copy of what is in the stencil. Extra instances of the same shape then take up very little extra space.
Perfect, thanks. In researching stencils, I got a little confused about the difference between a stencil and a template. It appears that both are stored in separate files (.vst and .vss). If I want to put a complex shape (or collection of shapes) somewhere so that any Visio document can access them, is that a stencil or a template?
Can you provide a brief summary or a pointer to a really good tutorial?
Stencil
Template is for environment settings like mm vs inches...or....say you wanted a unique background page for every foregnd page
when you pull a shape from a stencil...it goes like this
<my special>stencil ==> document stencil ===>presentation on screen
change <my special >stencil....all uses going forward catch changes....NO uses prior to change has any awareness of changes
change doc stencil...all shapes in the current drawing is change....<my special> stencil does not change nor the use of shapes in any other document.
OK, thanks. I'm reading up on stencils.
One quick question. Suppose I have an "object" that consists of 20-30 clipart images, such as a lake, some boats, some picnic tables, and some people. I want to use the composite "object" containing all 30 images as a unit. What's the best way to store it as a stencil:
- As a disparate collection?
- As a group, with whatever group setting I need, like no ability to select individual elements?
- As a single graphic object created by saving the collection as a jpg or png file and then copying it back into Visio?
I am having a little trouble working with stencils. Can someone help me whatever it is that I am doing wrong?
Q1 How can I rename a stencil?
I created a new stencil by clicking on the New Stencil icon in the Stencil section of the Developer tab. I got a stencil named Stencil13.
Q2 Where should new custom (personal) stencils be stored?
With Stencil13 visible, I see a little diskette icon. If I click on it, I get a Save As dialog, but the folder is the one where the Visio document is stored. If I save it there, then it is not available to other Visio documents. If I resave it, but navigate to \My Shapes,
Shouldn't it be in \My Documents\My shapes?
Thanks
See https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Create-save-and-share-custom-stencils-a4c2235c-677d-4117-9673-1fef0a0ee22f (https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Create-save-and-share-custom-stencils-a4c2235c-677d-4117-9673-1fef0a0ee22f)
There is a default location for stencils, as described in the above link....unless it's been modified.
This link talks about the file paths: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/825364/how-to-specify-an-additional-location-for-storing-stencils-in-visio-20 (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/825364/how-to-specify-an-additional-location-for-storing-stencils-in-visio-20)
Wapperdude