Is there a function in visio 2010 that allows you to format the size of the text box or shape? Similar to the one in excel where you can format the size and height of the cell? I am working on formatting an org chart at work with tonnes of text boxes was hoping there was an easier option than manually formatting there size so they are all even.

The shape was (theoretically) developed to label in the counterclockwise direction, as you would in Cartesian coordinates. Remember algebra, geometry and calculus?

But an angle doesn’t really have a direction. You don’t need to flip anything, nor unlock any protection (which was set by the shape designer on purpose!) You just have to switch the sides where you attach the dimension line handles.

Continuing with the clock metaphor…say you want to label from 3:00 to 4:00–a 30-deg sweep. Right now you are putting the base handles from the center to 3:00, then dragging the control handle to 4:00. This gives you the large outer angle (330 deg) instead of the inner angle.

Instead, place the base handles from the center to 4:00, then drag the control handle to the 3:00 position. You’ll have your 30 deg angle then!

In the Dimensioning – engineering (Metric) folder and selecting the “angle centre”. I can not flip over the shape despite performing the un-protect function to allow the numbers (in degrees) to increase from left to right, like the time on a clock. 0 degrees at the top and increasing in value in a clockwise direction. Why on earth Visio performs the motion in a counterclockwise direction is a mystery to me.

I’ve added code formatting above, so it might work better for you.

Yes, just paste the code at the bottom of the ThisDocument code page or any other module in the VBA editor. Put your cursor inside of the Sub, then hit F5 to run.

Make sure you’ve got shapes selected in the Visio drawing window.

Thanks for your help, I must confess to being a novice at VBA and macros! however I tried running your code (it adds it to the bottom of an existing macro?) but I get the error: unexpected end of file. what have I done wrong?

You’ll need a bit of code to make that happen. You can use the built-in VBA

Sub SetManyFormulas

  '// Select a bunch of shapes, then run this procedure.

  Dim shp As Visio.Shape
  For Each shp In Visio.ActiveWindow.Selection

    shp.Cells("TxtAngle").FormulaForceU = "-Angle"

  Next shp

End Sub

G.

You need some indirection to get this to happen.

On the page, how about something like this:

Prop.A = “Item A”
Prop.B = “Item B”
Prop.Display = …item a or item b…

On your shape:

Insert > Field > Custom Formula = ThePage!Prop.Display.

Now when you set Prop.Display on the page, your shapes will update.

I have a question that maybe you can help me with:
I have some shapes with a couple of Custom Properties (say PropA and PropB) and i am displaying PropA (using Insert/Field/Custom Properties).
Is there any way i can switch to PropB based on some page-level variable? For example, i change the value of the variable from “A” to “B” and all the shapes in the page display the text on PropB instead of PropA.
I can’t find any way to access the displayed text on the shapes…

- Gonçalo