Export All Pages in Document
Every once in a while, a question comes along in the newsgroups that just screams at me; “WRITE SOME SAMPLE CODE!” Now I can’t describe exactly which types of questions speak to me in this way. Perhaps they’re questions I’ve heard time and again? Or they involve a fascinating graphical problem? Or is it just that I can actually finish them in one evening’s work?Whatever the reason, the latest question is; “How do I export all of the pages in a Visio document to image files?”
Well, the simple answer is to use the Page.Export function, and simply give the name of an image file as an argument.
For instance: To do all the pages in a document simply requires a loop through each Page object in Document.Pages. To do all the pages in a document simply requires a loop through each Page object in Document.Pages.
But that’s only half the answer.
The big bone about programatically exporting images in Visio is that you can’t programmatically control the resolution of the output. I believe this is because the export filters (originally?) came from third parties, and didn’t necessarily have automation interfaces. But all is not entirely lost. If you manually export an image, you’ll see this dialog:
You can set various options for the export, including the resolution, which is what most folks want to do. This seems all well and good, except for the fact that you can’t get at it programmatically, and even worse, Visio forgets your settings every time you close Visio.With all these limitations in mind, it seems like we’re left with no choice but a work-around that looks like this:
1. Manually export an image using SaveAs.
2. Set the resolution in the dialog.
3. Before shutting Visio down, run any automation code to export multiple images.
And that is exactly what the VBA code in the companion download file does.
Note: Visio 2010 has expanded the API for exporting images from Visio. Among the new features is programmatic control over export resolution. See: New Visio 2010 API for Configuring Raster Export
When your run the sub ExportAllPages either via the VBA interface, or by clicking on the big button sitting at the bottom of Page-1, you’ll see a funny dialog that lets you choose your export image type: .bmp, .gif, .jpg, .png or .tif.
Once you’ve selected an image type, you’ll be presented with the SaveAs dialog:
This is your big chance to choose your export settings. In the File name field, type in an image file name such as test.gif, test.bmp, test.png, etc. (but not test.vsd!) Just make sure the extension on your dummy file matches the extension you picked in the first dialog!
After you’ve done this, the code will take over and export every page in your document to the image type you’ve selected. The files will be in the same directory as the .vsd file, and will be prefixed with the number of the page: 001, 002, 003, etc.
For those who just want to get the loop going, here’s a simpler version of the export code, without all the dialogs:
Public Sub
Dim i As Integer
Dim formatExtension As String formatExtension = ".gif" '...or .bmp, .jpg, .png, .tif
'// Init folder, doc and counter:
folder = ThisDocument.Path
Set doc = Visio.ActiveDocument
i = 1
'// Loop through pages:
For Each pg In doc.Pages
'// Setup the filename:
filename = Format(i, "000") & " " & pg.Name
'// Append '(bkgnd)' to background pages:
If (pg.Background) Then filename = filename & " (bkgnd)"
'// Add the extension:
filename = filename & formatExtension
'// Save it:
Call pg.Export(folder & filename)
i = i + 1
Next
End Sub
This is great!
Quality little bit of code. Spot on. Saved me 30 x “Save As…” boredom (plus future occasions of the same task). Cheers. Bobby.
Excellent Script!
Quick tip.
Make sure this vsd file is saved to a real place on the harddrive, not a temp folder.
Also, even better if its in the same folder as the other VSD you’re processing.
How can I modify this to save a selected drawing to a specific path and as a png file.
thanks
Durzo
Hi Durzo,
Just change a few lines, for example:
Dim formatExtension As String formatExtension = “.png”
folder = “C:\DurzosExports”
– Chris
Dumb question:
When I click the “Export All Pages” button in “Export All Pages.vsd, it exports only the Export All Pages” image.
How do I tell it to export all the pages in MY document?
Thank you,
Rick
Hi Rick,
Make the document you want to export the “active” document. Ie: give it focus and minimize the “exporter”.
Then, go into the VBA project and look for ThisDocument.ExportAllPages. Place your cursor somewhere in this procedure, then press F5 to run it.
The code gets the ActiveDocument and exports that. When you press the button, then the exporter document is always active, so if using the button, you’re kind of stuck.
But when running from the code window, any document can be active, so this is more flexible.
Visio Guy, you are the BOMB!!! Thanks for saving me time and pain. May Karma repay you.
Hello,
Please tell me more detail about how can I create the button Export all in my new Visiso document and insert the VB code?
I tried to copy the button in demo file (Export All Pages.vsd) to my Visio file, but nothing happen when clicking on it.
Thank you.
Hi Mana,
Just copying the button doesn’t copy all the code behind it. You probably just end up with another button that is linked to nothing.
Here’s roughly how to hook a button to VBA code. After adding a button to a Visio page:
1. Right click the button
2. Choose CommandButton Object > View Code
3. In the VBA editor that appears, add the code from this article either by referencing sub ExportAllPages, or copying the code and pasting it into the Button’s procedure.
Looks like Visio 2010 has more API hooks for configuring export formats:
New Visio 2010 API for Configuring Raster Export
Thanks jabbett,
Yup, Visio 2010 finally has added some control over export resolution!
Thank you Visio Guy!
Some small issues:
formatExtension = “.gif” ‘…or .bmp, .jpg, .png, .tif
=>
formatExtension = “.gif”
‘//…or .bmp, .jpg, .png, .tif
Set doc = Visio.ActiveDocument i = 1
=>
Set doc = Visio.ActiveDocument
i = 1
Hi Mana,
Fixed the second typo, not sure what your first comment was about…those are just comments!
Mana’s first comment was in essence this:
Change this:
Dim formatExtension As String formatExtension = ".gif" '...or .bmp, .jpg, .png, .tif
to this:
Dim formatExtension As String
formatExtension = ".gif"
'//…or .bmp, .jpg, .png, .tif
Many thanks for this. Your comment from April 10 2009 was essential to understand how to get this to work, so that should probably be in the main body of the article – don’t overestimate our level of knowledge!
Also the export falls over if you have any disallowed characters in your page names – I had colons and it took me a while to figure out that I needed to remove them.
Thanks again
Thanks Rob,
TODO: replace characters from page names that will be illegal in file names.
This is definitly great. Have you tried publishing web pages by looping through the pages? Is this possible?
thank you
Hello,
I am running the code and it is only exporting 8 sheets (my document has over 60 sheets which is why this macro would be ÜBER helpful!!)
any help?
thx
Hi RO,
I wonder if the export is taking too long and VBA is tripping over itself?
Maybe try adding a DoEvents call after pg.Export, or put a breakpoint there and keep F5-ing to it to see if you get further than 8 pages (ie: give the system time to catch up)
@Pam,
Yes, you could loop through pages and publish as web, but Visio’s Save As Web Page functionality automatically creates a mini-web-site with all of the pages in a document for you!
You sir, are the man! Your nifty bit of code saved me hours and hours of work, thank you so much.
If you are ever in Washington, DC please shoot me an email so that I may buy you all the drinks.
Eternal Gratitude,
Ken