"connectors" option in AutoShape

[beastman]

I am unable to light up the "connectors" option in AutoShapes. All the other
options - Lines, Basic Shapes, Block Arrows, Flowchart, etc - are available
to me. How can I access this function?

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

In Word 2002 and 2003, connectors are available only in a drawing canvas.

 

[beastman]

OK I got the "connectors" option to light up (by going to
Tools>Options>General then UNclicking - ?!?!- "Automatically create drawing
canvas when inserting autoshapes". However, I'm very limited in how much I
can play with the dimensions of the connector, esp. the elbow connector.
It's not at all as easy to customize as the Power Point connector function.
I.e., the blue dots don't appear and I can't move the elbow around once the
two ends are locked in place.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

If you'll put all your AutoShapes and connectors in a drawing canvas, you'll
find they work much better.

 

[beastman]

Sorry but I have a dumb question: What do you mean by "put all your
AutoShapes and connectors in a drawing canvas"? If you mean create a huge
rectangle (e.g.) AutoShape that extends almost out to the edges of the
margins of the paper and then put my AutoShapes and connectors within that
rectangle......well, it doesn't work any better.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

No, I mean (now that you've disabled the automatic drawing canvas) use
Insert | Picture | New Drawing to insert a drawing canvas in the document
and create your drawing there. The drawing canvas can be wrapped or inline
and can be sized as desired. You can use the cropping tools to change the
size of the canvas without affecting its contents, or you can use the sizing
handles to resize the canvas and all its contents simultaneously.

 

[beastman]

That did it.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.

No, I mean (now that you've disabled the automatic drawing canvas) use
Insert | Picture | New Drawing to insert a drawing canvas in the document
and create your drawing there. The drawing canvas can be wrapped or inline
and can be sized as desired. You can use the cropping tools to change the
size of the canvas without affecting its contents, or you can use the sizing
handles to resize the canvas and all its contents simultaneously.