Shape.CellsSRCExists for a cell in a section that does not exist

[Visisthebest]

If I check for a cell in a section that may not exist, is it better to:

1. Check if the section exists first.

2. Run CellsSRCExists right away without checking if the section exists.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/vba/api/visio.shape.cellssrcexists

[wapperdude]

I just check for cell existing.  The section existing could be true and the cell still not exist.  I don't recall running into issue of getting error for cell exists if the section doesn't.

[wapperdude]

Oh.  If I'm not mistaken, if a cell is added using code, but the section doesn't exist, Visio will create the section automatically.

[Visisthebest]

Oh.  If I'm not mistaken, if a cell is added using code, but the section doesn't exist, Visio will create the section automatically.

Thank you Wapperdude I did not know this, I always check if a section exists first then create it if needed!

[wapperdude]

Just confirmed.  What I have done in the past is the following to check if row is present, if not, create a named row, then set value in the row.  In this case, the value become No Formula  This works fine whether or not the User section is pre-existing.  If absent, Visio does indeed add it.

Code Select Expand


    If Not vShp.CellExistsU("User.From", False) Then
        vShp.AddNamedRow visSectionUser, "From", visdefault
    End If
    vShp.CellsU("User.From").FormulaU = ""


[Visisthebest]

There is certainly a difference with add-in behavior, if I set a non-existing User cell from a VSTO add-in I get an exception immediately.

[wapperdude]

Good to know. 

Was the shapesheet section already existing or not?

[Visisthebest]

Doesn't matter if the section exists but the cell doesn't, still an error. For an add-in it is better this way, because I might be misspelling a user cell name if it doesn't fail now it will fail later.

[wapperdude]

if I set a non-existing User cell from a VSTO add-in I get an exception immediately

I re-read the above quote.  Now I'm confused. What do you mean by "set".  I took that to mean create.  But your last post sounds like you're trying to enter a value into a non-existent cell.  That will indeed fail...every time...add-in or otherwise.  It is certainly not what the code snippet does.  Since, I'm sure that you know this, I'm not sure what you mean.   Help the boy! ( or old man 😃)

[Visisthebest]

Sorry a misunderstanding indeed, I thought you meant a cell that does not exist yet is added when writing a Formula or Result to it. That is why I was so surprised this works at all!

[wapperdude]

Ah!  Phew!  That's one thing I'm glad Visio doesn't do!!!  😅

[Visisthebest]

Well VisioGPT-5 will do this, in fact it will already have read your mind with the new Microsoft Surface-direct-brain-interface and added the shape cells you needed.

The future is bright

[wapperdude]

Uh huh.