Connector jumps in multiple layers

[Anders]

We have a drawing with several layers (two in fact, one Connector layer and
one Deleted layer). When a shape is deleted it is removed from the Connector
layer to the Deleted layer.

We have a gap jump style on the drawing.

The problem is that when two connector are crossed and the connector not
having the gap is deleted, the other connector still has its gap.

Illustration...

Before deletion (two L-shaped connectors):

|
| |
| |
--------------
|
|_____

After deletion of rightmost connector:

|
|
|

|
|_____

The gap is still present even though the deleted connector is moved to the
invisible Deleted layer.

Is it possible not to keep the gaps for the connectors that are kept in the
Connectors layer?

 

[WapperDude]

The gaps can be managed. In general, the line jump control is a global page
property, not a line by line selection. But, the line jump application has
various settings, e.g., last route. By selecting this option, then, before
you hide a connector line, first re-draw it. The line will inherit the
"gap", in your case. So, hiding it will also hide the gap.

HTH
Wapperdude

 

[Anders]

Which line inherits the gap (left or right). I want to hide the line without
the gap, keeping the line with the gap (but where the gap no longer should be
visible).

 

[WapperDude]

Understood. The idea of setting the jump option to last routed, and then
deleting the line you want to hide and redrawing it, is to make it the last
routed. That means it gets the gap. So, lines crossing it, will not. Thus,
when you hide it, the crossing lines will not show gaps where it was.

This is not a perfect solution, but, workable in the context of Visio
restrictions. It's inconvenient to redraw the line and then hide it. Plus,
any line drawn later, and crossing where the hidden line is, will, you
guessed it, have gaps.

The only "fool proof" approach is to use a drawing technique which allows no
4-way connections, only 3-way connections. Then, you don't use any jumps
whatsoever. Thus, it doesn't matter if you hide a line or not. Well, that's
probably true 95% of the time. There will be instances when hiding a line
will dis-connect lines that were connected to it. However, to convert to the
no 4-way philosophy means a lot of re-work! Yuk!

Wapperdude

 

[WapperDude]

I just saw a nice solution to this problem in the Visio Guy forum. There are
two approaches, one uses layers and one does not. Let me give the simpler
1st, which is without layers. In either case, you will want to edit the
dynamic connector in the Document Stencil. To open the Document stencil, go
to the menu bar > click the shapes icon, scroll to the bottom, select
Document stencil. Double click the Dyunamic connector to edit it. Select
the connector shape in the new window, right click, select shapesheet.

Scroll down to the Shape Layout section. Edit the entry for
ConLineJumpCode, such that it becomes: If(LinePattern=0,2,0). Close
shapesheet. Close new dyn conn window, apply to update. Now, select a line
you want to hide, change it's Line Weight to No Line, and it should disappear
and leave no phantom gaps.

Now, if you want to use layers, it is just a little more tricky. Assume you
have a layer, say HideConn, that is non-visible. Select one of your lines,
assign it to HideConn. Right click, and open the shapesheet. Scroll down to
the Layer Membership and note the quoted number. You will need this, with
the quotes.

Back to the Doc Stencil, dyn conn, shapesheet. Change the If statement
above to be IF(FIND("2",LayerMember),2,0), where the "2" is the number you
previously found. Close shapesheet, dyn conn as before. Now, if you assign
a connector to the HideConn layer ONLY, if will disappear and leave no
phantom gaps.

HTH
Wapperdude

 

[Anders]

Setting the formula for ConLineJumpCode in the connectors master worked as a
charm.

Thanks for the awesome help!
/Anders