Change Background color of Text Blocks in Org Chart Shapes -visio

[MikeZ]

Part 1:
I am trying to change the background color of the Text Blocks in individual
Org Chart shapes. I can change the text color by going into Org Chart /
Options, but this only allows me to change the text color and it effects
every shape, not just one.

Part 2:
Since the grouped shape has only one Text Block (1), and I need to highlight
the Name and Title fields with different colors, I was thinking about adding
custom text blocks to the Master Shape to replace the Name and Title.

Any suggestions on how to perform either of the above?

 

[John Goldsmith \(Visio MVP\)]

Hello Mike,

As you point out, the basic Org chart shape is a grouped shape made up of a
parent and four child shapes. The child shapes are the holders for the four
outer text fields (Blocks 2 to 5), while the parent group shape holds the
text for the centered field (Block 1).

You should be able to sub-select the outer text field shapes (if they
contain any text) and then choose a new text background colour via Format /
Text... / Text Block tab. The same applies to the main centered text
although you'll only need to select the main shape for this one.

Regarding you second question, yes I would definitely edit the master shape,
but just change the formulae that postions the sub-shapes. Ie maybe add a
User or Shape Data cell called something like User.IsCustomText (to hold a
boolean value) and then wrap the existing sub-shapes' PinX/Y formulae in
your own If statement based on the True/False User.IsCustomText. You could
also set the HideText cell (Misc section) of the group shape to be based on
the same User cell.

This is all untested of course so you may want to watch out for anything the
addon overwrites.

Hope that helps.

Best regards

John


John Goldsmith (Visio MVP)
www.visualSignals.typepad.co.uk
www.visualSignals.co.uk

 

[MikeZ]

Great suggestions, but management would like to see the whole text box filled
with a background color and not just the tiny portion of text. It is a bit
more visually impactful and easier to see where the change occurs in a larger
organization chart. When I try FORMAT / FILL..., the color change doesn't
stick or gets overwritten by the master. Any suggestion for filling in the
entire sub-shape?

With regard to the adding shapes, can you please tell me where to find the
formula that positions the sub-shapes?

Thanks again!

 

[Paul Herber]

Part 1:
I am trying to change the background color of the Text Blocks in individual
Org Chart shapes. I can change the text color by going into Org Chart /
Options, but this only allows me to change the text color and it effects
every shape, not just one.

Part 2:
Since the grouped shape has only one Text Block (1), and I need to highlight
the Name and Title fields with different colors, I was thinking about adding
custom text blocks to the Master Shape to replace the Name and Title.

Any suggestions on how to perform either of the above?

The problem with the text blocks is that they don't have an area that
can be filled, but this can be fixed. It'll take a few minutes for
each shape in a document.
Drop the shape on a diagram, open the Document Stencil and edit the
shape. You will see that the shape is a group containing 4 sub shapes,
edit each one in turn using the shape sheet.
select the subshape in the master explorer, add a geometry section
with the folowing lines:
1 MoveTo Width*0 Height*0
2. LineTo Width*1 Height*0
3. LineTo Width*1 Height*1
4. LineTo Width*0 Height*1
5. LineTo Geometry1.X1 Geometry1.Y1
and set the section NoFill to false
now set the fill colour.
In some cases you might need to use the TextWidth and Textheight
instead of Width and height.