2003 insisting on using US Date Format

E

Epona

There I was, plodding along, setting up a flowchart. I was just about to hit
print, when I noticed that the dates were set to US format (which could have
caused real confusion, had it been yesterday or earlier!) My entire system
is set to UK - including the Office Global Language settings.

Is this a known issue with Visio - I seem to recall something similar with
FrontPage a couple of versions ago where it would only spell check in
American English (irrespective of what flavour of English the system was
using).

This doesn't reflect well on me when I'm trying to put together a
professional presentation.

What's the solution - if there is one? I beta tested Office 2003, but never
installed Visio (wish I had now!) Is this a Hercules beetle (aka a rather
huge bug) or is it simply a matter of changing a setting?

Running Windows XP Pro, if it matters.

Thanks
 
L

Lori Pearce \(MSFT\)

Visio 2002 and Visio 2003 allow a user to install US Units or Metric or
Both. I'm guessing you only installed US Units during install? If so, just
run the install again and add metric.

If that's not the problem, then Visio usually allows you to set up your date
format however you want. For instance, if you are using the Timeline
drawing type, you can select from many different date formats.

If you have used Insert Field to get dates on your flowchart, you can pick
from quite a few different date formats.

Hope this helps...if it doesn't, I'm sure someone else will add to it.
 
E

Epona

Lori said:
Visio 2002 and Visio 2003 allow a user to install US Units or Metric
or Both. I'm guessing you only installed US Units during install?
If so, just run the install again and add metric.

If that's not the problem, then Visio usually allows you to set up
your date format however you want. For instance, if you are using
the Timeline drawing type, you can select from many different date
formats.

If you have used Insert Field to get dates on your flowchart, you can
pick from quite a few different date formats.

Hope this helps...if it doesn't, I'm sure someone else will add to it.
Click to expand...

Whoops, should have said, I did a total installation - I have 2x250GB HDs so
I'm hardly going to skimp on installation!

The problem lies with the preset headers and title bars. Some don't appear
to allow any form of alteration (even if you turn off all protection) and I
have yet to find a way to set the date globally within the application. Take
the Horizon title block for example - even if I select the date, there is
nothing I can do with it - I cannot cut it, delete it or do anything with it
because there is still some invisible protection I cannot fathom out - this
automatic protection frustrates me - I'd just like to be able to set it
myself; I don't want to be told whether I want to alter it or not!

All I wish to be able to do is have more control over my presentations -
there are several borders and title boxes which do not allow you to change
the date - only the title - and I cannot find anywhere where I can "select
from many different date formats". Why can't it be like Word, where you are
able to enter the date in a format of your choosing?!

It's not asking too much is it?!
 
L

Lori Pearce \(MSFT\)

It's not too much to ask--I am now guessing that the shapes you are using
have hardcoded a certain date format.

Here's what I had to do to change the date format in the Title Block:

Select the title block on your page. Window->Show Shapesheet. Make sure
the "Protection" Section is showing (View->Sections and select Protection if
necessary). In that section you should see (hopefully) only one Lock that
is 1 and all the rest 0--it's Lock Group, set it to 0. Close the ShapeShee
Window.

At this point you can use the text tool to edit the text. If you just
select the Date, you can go to Insert->Field and change the date format.

Not easy is it?

If you want it to change on all future drawings you create--edit the shape
in the stencil. Pretty much the same procedure.
 
C

Cerridwen

Lori said:
It's not too much to ask--I am now guessing that the shapes you are
using have hardcoded a certain date format.

Here's what I had to do to change the date format in the Title Block:

Select the title block on your page. Window->Show Shapesheet. Make
sure the "Protection" Section is showing (View->Sections and select
Protection if necessary). In that section you should see (hopefully)
only one Lock that is 1 and all the rest 0--it's Lock Group, set it
to 0. Close the ShapeShee Window.

At this point you can use the text tool to edit the text. If you just
select the Date, you can go to Insert->Field and change the date
format.

Not easy is it?

If you want it to change on all future drawings you create--edit the
shape in the stencil. Pretty much the same procedure.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Lori - I don't mean to sound 'racist' but this is just typical - 80%
of MS's customer base live outside the US and 80% of that use something
other than a mm/dd/yyyy format. I will follow your directions and report
back - I've been having some other computer problems so I've not been able
to get back to you sooner. When you have a deadline you don't have time to
be fiddle faddling around trying to undo something that MS has buggered up;
this is the first time I've used Visio for anything and it's not exactly
favourable.

Warmest wishes
 
P

Paul Anderson [MSFT]

As you've indicated, Visio 2003 is not fully integrated with the Office Language Settings utility, so while some application behavior responds to your "English (U.K.)" setting the shipping content does not. (This is not a problem for localized versions of Visio 2003 since part of the localization process includes setting the appropriate Language ID's in templates and masters.

However, getting the results you desire is not quite as involved as Lori describes. Try this

1) Drag / Drop the Title or Border master (containing a date field) that you want on the page
2) While it's selected, go Format | Text (F11)
3) Expand the Language drop-down, and change it to "English (U.K.)" then OK the dialog

The date field will change to the English (U.K.) version of the pre-existing date format. (FYI - in the case of your original example - the date format used in the "Title block horizon" master actually produces the same result for English (U.S.) and English (U.K.).

Additionally, it's fairly easy to change the actual Format used to display the date field, not just the language. Continuing from the example above

4) Sub-select the sub-shape that contains the date field
5) Go Insert | Field. (Even though this sub-shape is protected, the Field dialog will reflect the current setting for this date field)
6) From this dialog, you can change the Language, Calendar, Format of the date field, or make it an entirely different text field type

I hope this helps somewhat
Pau

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights

----- Lori Pearce (MSFT) wrote: ----

It's not too much to ask--I am now guessing that the shapes you are usin
have hardcoded a certain date format

Here's what I had to do to change the date format in the Title Block

Select the title block on your page. Window->Show Shapesheet. Make sur
the "Protection" Section is showing (View->Sections and select Protection i
necessary). In that section you should see (hopefully) only one Lock tha
is 1 and all the rest 0--it's Lock Group, set it to 0. Close the ShapeShe
Window

At this point you can use the text tool to edit the text. If you jus
select the Date, you can go to Insert->Field and change the date format

Not easy is it

If you want it to change on all future drawings you create--edit the shap
in the stencil. Pretty much the same procedure
 
P

Paul Anderson

I assume you're talking about the new date-time formats? These are new to Visio 2003

Pau

----- John Marshall, MVP wrote: ----

So when did they slide that one in

John... Visio MV
 
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