Surface the Shape Id better

Started by gwideman, January 05, 2012, 10:40:21 PM

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gwideman

There are many cases in ShapeSheet expressions where it's necessary to use the Sheet.123 id to refer to another shape.

However, so far as I'm aware, the Sheet Id of the currently selected shape is not visible anywhere except for the (Visio 2010)
Developer tab > Shape Name dialog,
which is modal and thoroughly inconvenient to invoke every time it's needed. 

Here are places where Sheet Id should or could appear:

1. In the title bar of the shape sheet window. Currently the sheet-id-based name is replaced by the shape Name if one has been set.

2.  In the Size and Position panel.  Maybe only when in Developer mode, if there's a concern that this clutters the panel.

Also regarding Size and Position:  The shape name and sheet id should have their own slots so they are easy to read and don't get truncated.  Alternatively, leave the shape name in the title bar, but put it first, with "Size and Position" moved to the right, following the same principle as Windows application titlebars.

3. In the Drawing Explorer, maybe in brackets after the shape Name.

-- Graham


Paul Herber

Quote from: gwideman on January 05, 2012, 10:40:21 PM
Also regarding Size and Position:  The shape name and sheet id should have their own slots so they are easy to read and don't get truncated.  Alternatively, leave the shape name in the title bar, but put it first, with "Size and Position" moved to the right, following the same principle as Windows application titlebars.

Also in windows like the Size & Position window all you see is a value for, say, Width. Often it can be very important that a formula in such cells is not overwritten (yes, I know about GUARD()) but maybe the window could allow the formula to be edited, or at a very minimum give some indication the the shown value is derived froma formula and might not be such a good idea to just overwrite it.
Electronic and Electrical engineering, business and software stencils for Visio -

https://www.paulherber.co.uk/

gwideman

+1 on better indication in Size and Position.  In my view, either Size and Position should behave like a mini ShapeSheet (allow editing formula) or it should refuse to edit a cell that contains a formula.  At the very least it should indicate that a value is currently set by formula.

wapperdude

Perhaps grayed out???  That could show the presence of the guard function and / or any equation.  But being able to edit the equation would be so very convenient!

Wapperdude
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