Quick Links ▼

Bookmark page

Printable version

Customer: Sign in
Delegate: Sign in
Trainer: Log in

Forum home » Delegate support and help forum » Microsoft Visio Training and help » Menu-Shape-Actions

	98.1 % recommend us
	More live stats...

The UK's most regular
instructor-led training courses.

Training information:

Active questions
Advanced/consultancy questions
Today's questions
Unanswered questions

Menu-Shape-Actions

Resolved · Urgent Priority · Version 2007

Reply Tue 27 Sep 2011, 21:15Delegate Michael said...

Michael has attended:
No courses

Menu-Shape-Actions

** Intro:
I have been volunteered to complete a year long project of using Visio to display our corporate infrastructure. My knowledge base is 2 months of intense OJT.

** Question:
I have recently come across some shapes that have right-click options I want to add to my newly created shapes. This questions how to add 'Actions' to the Menu Bar - Shapes pull down and how to add additional right-click options to shapes.

** Situation:
With a newly created shape highlighted, I select the MENU BAR, SHAPE and the bottom of the Shape pull down options is 'Center Drawing'.

With a found shape highlighted, I select the MENU BAR, SHAPE and the bottom of the Shape pull down options is 'Actions'.
-
I noticed the difference when right-clicking the found shapes and seeing 'Show Label' or 'Hide Label at the top and 'Properties' at the bottom. The label selection brings up the Shape Name and Properties brings up the Shape Data.
-
I have searched and experimented until I am blue in the face to discover how to add Actions to the MENU BAR, SHAPES pull down options and as well as add these Actions to the right-click of a shape. ...Note; When selecting the 'Actions' option under SHAPE it shows the same options found when right-clicking the shape, I think they are linked.

Thank you very much for your assistance.

For upcoming training course dates see: Pricing & availability

Reply Wed 28 Sep 2011, 10:51Trainer Ruth said...

RE: Menu-Shape-Actions

Hello Michael,

From what you have told me I am guessing that you are using Visio 2007 which has new diagrams & functionality such as Adding Data to Shapes not previously available. These shapes will have Actions associated with them by their very nature and therefore Actions will be shown on the Shapes menu and on the Contextual menu (right click).

Other shapes on certain Stencils will have Actions which are limited to just Properties for that shape whereas basic shapes will have no actions at all (hence Centre Drawing being the last menu option).

If you need a shape with actions, I would suggest that you customise a shape which already has the inherent qualities you require and make it a new Master Shape by dragging it to a Stencil created for the purpose.

I hope this is helpful.

Kind regards,

Ruth

Tue 4 Oct 2011: Automatically marked as resolved.

Visio articles

· Moving And Aligning Shapes In Visio
· Become An Expert Navigator In Visio
· Seeing Your Business In A New Light
· Using The Templates In Visio 2010
· Visio - Pointing Your Business In The Right Direction

Please browse our web site to find out more about
visio courses for beginners and other Microsoft training courses.

Visio tip:

Creating an organisation chart in Visio using Excel data

A quick and easy way to create an organisation chart by importing names and titles stored in list format in an Excel spreadsheet into Visio.

1. Select File, New, Organization Chart.

2. Start the Organization Chart Wizard.

3. At the first step of the wizard, select the 'Information that I enter using the wizard' option, and click Next.

4. At the second step of the wizard, select Excel, then type the name of the file.

5. Select Browse to choose the location you wish to save the file to, click Save, and then click Next.

6. Click OK - a Microsoft Office Excel workbook will open with column headings already entered for you.

7. Replace the sample text with the text you wish to appear in your organisation chart. By holding your cursor over each column heading, you should be able to view data entry tips.

8. Save the Excel file, then close Excel.

9. Proceed through the remaining steps in the wizard to create your organization chart from the data you entered into the Excel file.

Visio's organisation chart wizard will also recognise the following file formats (besides .xls):

- Microsoft Exchange Server Directory (Microsoft Exchange e-mail Address Book).

- Tab- or Comma-delimited text (.txt).

- Org Plus (.txt).

- Microsoft Office Access (.mdb) or any other file format for a database created in an Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)-compliant database application.

View all Visio hints and tips