Can you save a modified Smart Art graphic to an Autotext entry?

[Lee]

Or "building block" if that is the more proper language for 2007. Reuse is
the goal, want to use things like "Continuous Picture List", change colors
beyond the default theme, add placeholders for text, etc. Then, have a group
of writers be able to insert and modify as needed.

 

[Jay Freedman]

Or "building block" if that is the more proper language for 2007. Reuse is
the goal, want to use things like "Continuous Picture List", change colors
beyond the default theme, add placeholders for text, etc. Then, have a group
of writers be able to insert and modify as needed.

Of course you can -- an AutoText entry can be almost anything you can put into a
document. Set up the art as you want it, select it, and press Alt+F3. Give it a
name, assign it to a gallery and category (the AutoText gallery is one choice),
and choose the template to save it in.

To distribute items to multiple users, it would be best to save them into a
template that you make specifically for this purpose and store in the folder

%appdata%\Microsoft\Document Building Blocks

It will be loaded alongside the Building Blocks.dotx template that comes with
Office. When you make changes to this extra template, distribute it to the other
writers to replace the older version.

 

[Lee]

Thanks very much for the quick response -- but I think I a running into the
"two different graphics engine" issue in 2007; I start with a SmartArt, and
add a number of text boxes and then cannot group unless the SmartArt becomes
a pic. I cannot use it as a pic (and copy as Autotext does not pic up text
boxes) because I want the authors to use the SmartArt as a base (with branded
colors) , and then enter their unique text as needed in the placeholders I
provide them.
Make sense?
If I am running around the wrong block let me know!
Best,
Lee

 

[Jay Freedman]

I don't think you're going to be able to do quite what you want.

The sticky point is the extra "placeholders". You're correct that you
can't group SmartArt and textboxes, or even select them all at the
same time, unless they're on a drawing canvas, which makes them
old-style graphics.

But SmartArt intrinsically contains text areas for users to fill in.
Is that not enough for your needs?

 

[Lee]

No, its not enough for this group's needs; they love the SmartArt as a base,
but want to be able to add to it, so a custom library of Client SmartArt so
to speak...with more text box entries based on the need... Building Blocks
cannot get me there either, correct?
thanks much
Lee