Today, we continue with the movie-trilogy theme, but concentrate on advanced tips for importing and working with multiple shapes automatically.
This is the third and final piece in our trilogy of articles on Visio data graphics and data-linking.
Smart graphics for visual people
Today, we continue with the movie-trilogy theme, but concentrate on advanced tips for importing and working with multiple shapes automatically.
This is the third and final piece in our trilogy of articles on Visio data graphics and data-linking.
Today we’re going to talk about adorning Visio shapes with data graphics, and the extreme flexibility that Visio data graphics offer.
This is slightly different than what we discussed previously in Trilogy-meter Data Graphics Part I. In that article, we linked data to shapes that were built specifically to be info-graphics.
This time around, we’ll apply info-graphics to shapes that already exist…and we’ll stay out of the ShapeSheet while we are doing it!
Today, Visio Guy will show you how to create a three-bar SmartShape and link it to data using Visio 2007 Professional’s brilliant “Link Data to Shapes” feature.
We’ll cover the intricacies of creating a shape that visually reacts to data, and show you how to link instances of this shape to actual rows of data in an Excel spreadsheet!
This is the first in a three-part series on data graphics and data linking, so read-on, and stay tuned!
You might already know that you can create Visio shapes by using already-existing images, bitmaps and photos.
But making good-looking drawings that use images takes more than just a download here and an import there.
You want your images to look and behave more like genuine Visio shapes. To get this job done right, you’ll need a few more tips and tricks, so read on!
[Read more…] about Create Clean & Tidy Visio Shapes Using Images With Transparent Backgrounds
I think the time is overdue for another “vanity” Visio network shape.
And since Amazon.com has been making a lot of noise lately about its new Kindle 2 book reader, I’ve been inspired to oblige.
This version of the Kindle looks a lot more attractive than its predecessor, so I thought I’d preserve it for eternity in the form of a Visio network shape!
I’ve seen much buzz lately regarding breadcrumb shapes in Visio.
Evidently a lot of folks are using Visio for IA and wireframes. Yup, you can lay-out and design web-sites with good ol’ Visio!
So I decided to create a Visio Breadcrumbs Shape to help web-site designers more quickly finish their prototypes. This shape incorporates some smart-behavior that should save you a lot of time!
[Read more…] about Design Web Pages With This Visio Breadcrumbs Shape
Today we’ll continue our discussion of title block topics by talking about how to control the location of text chunks in a shape’s text block.
Sure, Visio text has tabs, which we’ll put to use. But in the wrong hands and on the wrong shapes, tabs can blow up in your face!
But never fear, for today we introduce the concept of Smart Tabs. Smart tabs are tabs that organize your text properly, even when your shape changes size!
People really get excited about Visio when they see that SmartShapes can react visually to changing conditions.
Whether you change size or position, data stored with the shape, select a context menu item or double-click, a Visio shape can be built to show that something has changed.
A classic example of this is a simple rectangle that changes color when you extend it beyond a certain length…
They’re back!
The terrible towels will wave in Dallas on February 6th.
Oh well. Kudos to Green Bay!
Happy Inauguration Day 2009, to everyone who finds it happy!
And to those who don’t find it particularly happy…well you find something to be positive about.
Which brings me to the point of this article: a bit of Visio inauguration-day humor!
[Read more…] about Visio SmartShape for Inauguration Day 2009