Org Chart Template Help

[BeachDog2600]

Hello,

I'm currently using Microsoft® Visio® Plan 2 MSO (Version 2402 Build 16.0.17328.20550) 32-bit and have been encountering several issues. I would greatly appreciate any assistance from this community.

I'm working on an Org Chart and keep facing the following error: "Shape protection, container, and/or layer properties prevent complete execution of this command." Here's what I'm trying to achieve:

-Organizational Layout: I love the "Arrange Subordinates" function in the Org Chart template. However, I need a modification where employees directly reporting to a manager should be grouped into a single column. For example, if a manager has three direct reports and two supervisors, the chart currently creates five columns (one for each report and two for the supervisors). I'd like to combine the direct reports into a single column to save space.
-Shape and Text Box Adjustments: I want to be able to adjust the shapes and have the text boxes within them automatically resize to match the width of the shape (e.g., if the shape width is 2 inches, then the text boxes should also be 2 inches wide). Ideally, I'd like to define a new master setting so all new shapes adhere to these specifications.
-No Photos in Shapes: I want the shapes to exclude any photos.
-Multiple Employees in Shapes: I need to include multiple employees within a single shape. For instance, if three sales associates report to the same supervisor, their names should all appear within the shape, with the title at the bottom.
-Custom Color Palette: I would like to define and use a color palette that matches our company's brand colors.
-Division Titles: I want a shape at the top of each division to list the title of the division.

While I've managed to figure out some aspects on my own, I often encounter the "Shape protection, container, and/or layer properties prevent complete execution of this command" error. We currently have an Org Chart created in an older version of Visio (not using the Org Chart template), which is challenging to modify. If there's a way to integrate the "Arrange Subordinates" functionality into that chart, it might resolve many of our issues.

I'm not very familiar with macros, so if that's a potential solution, I'd need guidance on how to implement it.

Thank you so much for your time and assistance!

[wapperdude]

What comes to mind...
Open old Visio chart with your current version.  Save this using new file format, e.g. vsdx rather than vsd.  Close the new file.  Don't think you need to exit Visio.  Reopen the new file.  You ought to be able to arrange subordinates.

[Nikolay]

"Shape protection, container, and/or layer properties prevent complete execution of this command" is a message you typically get if you try to break free from the protection that was set by shape developer to ensure shape consistency.

Org Chart shapes are supposed to be edited using Org Chart functions (available on the "Org Chart" tab)

[BeachDog2600]

Good Afternoon,

I apologize for not responding sooner, but I went in and tried to update the file format to vsdx instead of vsd and unfortunately I still wasn't able to create subordinates or arrange subordinates. I also noticed that I can make some edits under the "Org Chart" tab, but I was hoping to have more flexibility than what it provides (as some shapes will include more employees compared to other shapes).

I've attached an example of what I would like to achieve and I would ideally like a better way to sort and arrange subordinates.

I've also included the properties for each file and the ribbon that's available to me in each file (I went into Options and made sure it was selected to show all available tabs).

Thank you so much for your help!

[Nikolay]

Yes, I understand the idea now, looking at your example, but I don't think this is feasible with Visio Org Chart.
Visio Org Chart supports a number of different layouts, but the layout you are looking for is unfortunately not one of them.

[BeachDog2600]

So I think I found a solution that would work, but I'm still struggling to figure out the following:

-Shape and Text Box Adjustments: I want to be able to adjust the shapes and have the text boxes within them automatically resize to match the width of the shape (e.g., if the shape width is 2 inches, then the text boxes should also be 2 inches wide).

I figured out how to unlock the text boxes, but I can't figure out how to apply it to all shapes. Is it possible I could use a macro to do it or define a new master setting? I tried editing or making new master shapes, but it's not letting me change much.

Each shape has two text boxes, NameText and apparently the other text box properties are under Text Transform.

-No Photos in Shapes: I want the shapes to exclude any photos.

-Custom Color Palette: I would like to define and use a color palette that matches our company's brand colors.

Thank you so much for any assistance you can provide!

[wapperdude]

Several things...
  > 1)  to control text box width, select shape containing the text, open shapesheet.  If not displayed, add Text Transform section.  In the Txtwidth cell, enter "=width", without the quotes.  You may want to add Guard() function.  That's it.

  > 2) if you're changing Visio Org Chart shape, there's a good chance this formula will eventually get clobbered by the built-in, underlying code.  Guard() won't help.

  > 3) Yes.  This could be automated with code.  But, might be easy enough without code.  Go to the Doc Stencil.  There you'll find the resident masters.  Edit these instead of each shape and then apply.  All shapes that refer to a particular master will be updated. 

  > 4) Shapes that have no master will be unaffected and need to be done individually.  However, it would be possible to create a master for common shapes.  Then, select all of these common shapes and replace with new master.  Then, go to 3).

[Nikolay]

From what it looks you don't need Org Chart template at all. You can just build your own shapes for your diagram to your taste. What is the benefit if you use zero features of the OrgChart, but just keep struggling with the built-in behaviors?

I.e. what part of the OrgChart feature in Visio do you actually use?

[BeachDog2600]

I'm trying to use the Org Chart template because of the "Arrange Subordinates" feature. That makes it so much easier to keep things organized, but if there is a way to accomplish that outside of the Org Chart template then I'd be all for it 😁

[Nikolay]

Looks like a macro that would arrange subordinates the way you would like them to be may be much easier to write, tbf

[wapperdude]

@Nikolay:  Perhaps not that easy to write...the VBA statements, in and of themselves, are straightforward, but there are, perhaps, multiple difficulties, especially for inexperienced coder.

1) defining the placement algorithm. That may be a challenge by itself.
2) will management allow external macro?  Presumably in-house is OK.  But, to farm it out???
3) deciding how to code the algorithm.
4) error catching and whatever user does...

Perhaps a possible, alternative approach is to develop custom shapes fully compatible with Visio Org Chart module which won't suffer value/formula changes from said module???  Just a thought.

[Nikolay]

To be honest, I still think that creating a OrgChart-compatible shapes much more difficult than aligning own shapes as displayed in the "Org Chart Example" PDF file above. Also, it's not only about shapes, the layout as well...

The layout in PDF looks all custom - one would need to turn Visio inside out to make it layout shapes like that
Just my vision...

[wapperdude]

I suspect that is ultimately true...creating / modifying shapes to look as desired and be compatible with Visio's Org chart scheme may be very difficult too.  The built-in code isn't designed to allow cuztimzation.  Neither are the shapes, per se.

But some limited alterations are possible.  See this video:  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fqLz1qSNIEs