How to combine multiple shapes into one

[Jennifer]

I have a complex shape involving a lot of little pieces. I would like to convert into a single shape that cannot even be uncombined.

I have used Groups, but they don't work so well in this instance because the composite shape will be combined with other composite shapes. Occasionally, I ungroup it by mistake and don't notice it until I have passed the Undo limit. Then I have an hour of work to reconstruct it.

I have tried all of the Shape operations (I think): Union, Combine, Join. None of them preserves the appearance.

Is there a way to do this?

I have uploaded two files. One if a jpg of the composite shape. The other is a Visio doc containing the shape.

[wapperdude]

The most straight forward is the following:
1.  Group the shape.
2.  Open the group shapesheet.  Protection section.  Set the LockGroup entry to 1.  This should protect the submembers from editting actions, such as deletion.
3.  Optional step / or alternative to step 2:  Select the group, mouse right click>Format>Behavior, the select Group only.

HTH
Wapperdude

[Jennifer]

Thanks.

Both of those methods seem to work. Is there any difference in how they function?

Can I repeat this technique in layers? That is, the grid is made up of little boxes. Each one has two solid and three dotted lines creating 6 smaller cells. These are then arranged in a 4 x 7 array making up the complete grid.

Can I first "group & lock" the smaller boxes, then make up the larger grid and "group & lock" again?

[Jennifer]

The most straight forward is the following:
1.  Group the shape.
2.  Open the group shapesheet.  Protection section.  Set the LockGroup entry to 1.  This should protect the submembers from editting actions, such as deletion.
3.  Optional step / or alternative to step 2:  Select the group, mouse right click>Format>Behavior, the select Group only.

After a little more testing, it looks like I am not getting the LockGroup working right. Part of the problem is that I am not sure which shape the shapesheet applies to. In any case, after setting LockGroup=1, I am still able to delete individual components and ungroup it

The second method seems to work perfectly. And in combination with selected Protection settings, I can do what ti need to do.

Thanks

[wapperdude]

The answer to the last question is yes.  There is some minor penalty with multiple groupings (don't remember exactly what--but something to do with memory size for the shape), but, you probably won't notice.

I'm not sure of all the differences between the two techniques.  Having to go into the shapesheet is a little more effort, so, that probably is more beneficial in keeping other users from ungrouping the shapes.  For your personal use, the right click context menu approach is probably easier if you need to group/ungroup frequently.

The shapesheet method assumed that that you selected all of the shapes and grouped them.  Then, with the new group selected, open its shapesheet.  After the protection is set, you should be able to still select the sub shapes, but, if you try to delete something, Visio will warn that deletion is not allowed.

[Jennifer]

The shapesheet method assumed that that you selected all of the shapes and grouped them.  Then, with the new group selected, open its shapesheet.  After the protection is set, you should be able to still select the sub shapes, but, if you try to delete something, Visio will warn that deletion is not allowed.

I think I got the shapesheet to work, but it does not provide anything close to full protection. The only protection the LockGroup setting offers is against ungrouping. I can still delete the group and I can still select and edit/delete internal components.

If I set all of the Protection settings to "1", then I cannot delete elements, but I can still move them around.

Is there no way to permanently convert the collection of shapes into a single indivisible shape?

Anyway, the Behavior methjod is working. Thanks for that.

[Jennifer]

Here's a summary of what I learned in case anyone else is following this thread.

I could not get the shapesheet method to work. This method involves the Behavior and Protection options from the right-click menu.

My goal is to convert a collection of shapes into a single entity that I can move around and replicate, but cannot edit in any manner whatsoever -- neither the collection as a whole nor the individual components.

This is a two-step procedure. The first part protects the group components. The second protects the group itself.

Step 1: Protect the components:

• Group the shape.
• Select the group| Right click | Format | Behavior | Selection | Group only.

This protects the components, but does not protect the group itself from ungrouping, reshaping, or even deleting.

Step 2: Protect the group

• Right-Click | Format | Protection.
• Click All to check boxes.
• Uncheck X, Y, & From selection.

Thanks, wapperdude, for your help.

[Jennifer]

One interesting note. If I have a set of shapes or groups (more than one) that are protected from deletion and I make them into a group, I can then delete the group.

[Jennifer]

I just ran into another little problem. I created the composite grid shape as described above. If I then drag another shape on top of the grid shape, it will glue itself to some of the components. If I then move the added shape, it will drag the glued shapes along with it distorting the grid.

I have attached a Visio document illustrating the problem.

How can I protect the grid shape so that nothing can glue itself to any of its internal components.

[wapperdude]

Select your grouped shape and open shapesheet.  Scroll down to Group Properties section.  Set DontMoveChildren to TRUE.

Wapperdude