2D line shape

[news.microsoft.com]

Hi,

If I draw a line and draw another line from the end of the first line, the
whole becomes instantly a 2D shape and the two lines themselves cannot be
extended individually. I am having trouble with that.

I often type in a cable number in a line and that number normally shows
right on top of the line. Now if I type a number with the two lines I
described above, the number appears in the middle of the new born 2D shape.

Is there a way to change lines separately from each other after they have
become a 2D shape ? Or is there a way to avoid them becoming a 2D shape ?

Thanks,

Arnold

 

[Randall Arnold]

The only way I know to do it is to draw the lines separately and then join
them by moving one later. If you start a second line at an endpoint of the
first line, Visio assumes you want a continuation and automatically creates
a polyline from the two individual lines. I don't know if there's an option
to prevent the behavior itself, but at least you can overcome it.

Randall Arnold

 

[Pemo]

Continuing a second line from an endpoint of a still-active previous line
will produce a poly-line as you describe.

To alter individual elements, use the "Pencil" tool - on the line tool
submenu. Its icon looks like a pencil. The endpoints and vertices change
to small green diamonds. Click on to the vertex you want to extend or move;
the mouse pointer changes to a 4-way arrowhead; use it to move the vertex in
question.

You use the pencil tool to re-shape any poly object. (It is the equivalent
of other software "Edit Points" function)

HTH

Pemo

 

[Arnold de Greef]

Thanks for your help Randall,
Ik wil use this workaround for it.
Arnold

 

[Arnold de Greef]

Thanks for your help,
I hope I get this right. I see what I can do with the pencil-tool, but it is
still getting a 2D 'poly-line' as you call it. Do you know if there is a way
to prevent that? I would really like to get separate lines that I can label
with text on these lines, without getting in the middle of the 2D figure. I
know that I can use lines from a different direction, but it would be nice
to go on on the last line end-point.
Arnold

 

[Pemo]

I hope I get this right. I see what I can do with the pencil-tool, but it is
still getting a 2D 'poly-line' as you call it. Do you know if there is a way
to prevent that? I would really like to get separate lines that I can label
with text on these lines, without getting in the middle of the 2D figure. I
know that I can use lines from a different direction, but it would be nice
to go on on the last line end-point.

Just draw separate lines; group if required. Grouping retains their
individuality within the group. Edit | Open Group to get into it to deal
with the separate lines.

Pemo

 

[John Marshall, MVP]

Once you start talking about multiple text boxes, you are talking about
multiple shapes. For a single shape to have multiple text boxes it has to be
a Group Shape. (Several shapes grouped together)

If the shape is 2-d, it can be changed to a 1-d shape by changing it's
behaviour.

John Visio MVP.