Get the Super-smart Visio Divided Box Shape!
Visio Guy reader Sim sent me a request a few months ago for a Divided Box Shape. You know, title at the top, description in the bottom portion.
I’ve built lots of variations of this shape over the years, but I thought I’d do a super-duper, ultra-mega version this time. And I even threw in auto-numbering!
We see divided box shapes all over the place. Data-base diagrams, UML and class-hierarchy diagrams. Heck, even our Post-Its take on this form: Big title at the top, smaller description below. Here’s another example you might recognize:
To edit the title, simply select the shape and start typing. To edit the description in the lower rectangle, sub-select it, then start typing. You can also use the F2 key to edit already-existing text, instead of overwriting it.
And here is the full anatomy of today’s Super-smart Divided Box Shape:
click to view larger image
As you can see from that diagram, this shape has a ton of features. Here’s a quick list of them in text form:
- Auto numbering on copy
- Specify current number via Shape Data field
- Format number to include leading place holders, like: 001, 002, 003
- Add a prefix to each number, like: step 01, step 02, step 03
- Turn off auto-numbering
- Hide the number sub-shape
- Change corner rounding with control handle
- Change height of title space using control handle
- Height of box and title space automatically change to accommodate all text if shape made narrower
Now let’s take a closer look at what you can do with this baby…
Well done
How did you implement the number bubble positioning? I’m working on a shape and need to do something similar, i.e. have something that can be positioned in a finite set of places.
Hi OMZ,
Some hints for the bubble positioning: the PinX and PinY of the bubble sub-shape are linked to a control handle in the group. The control handle has the BOUND function in it’s X and Y position cells.
If you use Visio 2007 and have applied Data Graphics, you’ll notice that they can be repositioned using a control handle too. You can look at the formulas, and the help for BOUND to get an idea for how it all works.
Great shape! Thanks Visio Guy!
Your welcome, JCS!