Modifying complex shapes

[PapaGeek]

Hello, as the previous poster stated, I'm glad I found this site.

My name says it all, I'm 63 and started programming computer in 1967!  But, in case that doesn't clarify the name, this will:

My question deals with making modifications to the Nassi-Schneiderman templates that I found on the net!  They are a great diagramming tool for structured programs.

Case in point.  The "Frame2" template is simply an outside rectangle with an inner rectangle that is about 3/8 inch smaller on all sides.  The outer rectangle has a thicker line than the inner rectangle and the area between the rectangles is filled in with a color.  After you drag the shape onto the drawing, you can resize it and the "border" remains the same width, it does not grow or shrink with the size of the outer rectangle.  IE if you double the size of the rectangle, the border width remains at 3/8 inch, it does not change to 3/4 inch.  The border has a small yellow dot in the lower left inner corner that allows you to change the width of the border if you want to.

OK, the questions.

Where can I find documentation on how to "link" rectangles together that way, ie, they don't grow the way tow boxes merely grouped would?

What is that yellow dot and how to I create a template with one.

I want to create an inner box that matches the inner border edge.  I did so, but when I make the shape larger, the inner box grows in proportion to the outer box, it is no longer attached to the inner box.

Basically, were can i find documentation on all the features of shapes that I can design?

Thanks in advance

Sandy

[aledlund]

Sandy,
the heart of all of this is in the 'shapesheet' and specifically how that shape has grouped several objects together. The free documentation is over here
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa245244(office.10).aspx

the two books I usually recommend for this type of work are

David Edson's
http://www.amazon.com/Professional-Development-Visio-2000-Other/dp/067231813X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1294084448&sr=8-1

and Graham Wideman's
http://www.amazon.com/Visio-2003-Developers-Survival-Pack/dp/1412011124/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1294084496&sr=8-1


al