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Visio Discussions => Shapes & Templates => Topic started by: Dusty_Rhodes on February 18, 2019, 09:22:52 AM

Title: Outline/Halo around shapes
Post by: Dusty_Rhodes on February 18, 2019, 09:22:52 AM
Hello,

I am making a flow diagram for a process flow for a few components. The problem i have is that i would like to have an outline/halo aroun every shape and connection line.  Currently i am drawing this manually by hand. This takes forever and is very tricky to get the outline equaly wide around every object. Is there no quick way of getting an outline drawn automatcily around selected shapes and connections ?
Title: Re: Outline/Halo around shapes
Post by: Paul Herber on February 18, 2019, 09:36:12 AM
Which version of Visio do you have? Visio 2016 onwards has a "glow" effect which looks halo-like.
Title: Re: Outline/Halo around shapes
Post by: Dusty_Rhodes on February 18, 2019, 10:25:11 AM
I am running visio online plan 2. I am not looking for a "Halo Glow" what i am mostly interested i is getting the outline that looks something like the attachment (note it is drawn quick now so it is not symetrical) but the idea is to get an outline around the item.
Title: Re: Outline/Halo around shapes
Post by: Paul Herber on February 18, 2019, 11:56:57 AM
I think the only way to create this would be to have a geometry section added to the shape. Each shape would be a special case, there is no automatic way of doing this.
Title: Re: Outline/Halo around shapes
Post by: vojo on February 18, 2019, 02:54:52 PM
I tend to agree with Paul unless the outline has no "air" gaps between part and outline.
If latter, could copy shape and grow it by *1.1 in X and Y, paint all black or whatever
Title: Re: Outline/Halo around shapes
Post by: vojo on February 18, 2019, 02:56:39 PM
wait....i guess you could do this

White air gap = shape *1.1. in X and Y and paint white
Blackout line = orginal shape *1.15 in X and Y paint black

Black farthest back
white next
then shape
Title: Re: Outline/Halo around shapes
Post by: wapperdude on February 18, 2019, 03:33:44 PM
You don't need to do the extra "white" shape Vojo suggests unless you really want a solid white border between the shape and the "glow".   (Although, that might look cool.)  Rather, as Paul suggests, create a 2nd geometry section and set the geometry.nofill cell = true.

There might be easier way to generate the outline.  Use the offset operation.  It is on the Developer tab, I believe, under the "Operations" heading for the "Shapes" partition....if memory serves correctly. 

Basically, select your shape, select Offset operation, enter distance from shape, and the operation will generate two outline tracking.  One around the outside and one around the inside of the shape.  Delete those 2nd one. 

Note, this is a tracing, so the outline will follow the actual contour.  If you want a more "rectilinear" outline, you would need to edit the outline shape.  When satisfied, group them. 

Might be easier then generating the 2nd geometry manual entry method.
Title: Re: Outline/Halo around shapes
Post by: Yacine on February 18, 2019, 06:38:53 PM
Don't forget Visio's built-in offset tool.
We played with it here: http://visguy.com/vgforum/index.php?topic=6283.0
Title: Re: Outline/Halo around shapes
Post by: wapperdude on February 18, 2019, 07:22:36 PM
Yep.  That's what I was talking about.
Title: Re: Outline/Halo around shapes
Post by: Yacine on February 18, 2019, 09:09:37 PM
Sorry, late hour induced dyslexia.
Title: Re: Outline/Halo around shapes
Post by: wapperdude on February 18, 2019, 09:30:13 PM
But you found the link!!!