Delete Multiple Connection Points

[Mike S]

I have a drawing with shapes that have many connection points. I would like
to select and delete most of the connection points on each shape. The ones I
will save may vary from shape to shape. I can shift+Click to select multiple
connection points using the connection pont tool, but this is tedious, as the
shapes have dozens of connection points. Is there any to quickly select
multiple conneciton ponts? (The way you can use the Pointer tool to lasso
multiple shapes) Alternately, is there a way to select multiple rows in the
shapesheet to delete them that way?

 

[John Goldsmith]

Hello Mike,

As far as I'm aware there is no way to 'select all connection points',
although I can see this would be useful functionality. So here's a
workaround that might help your work a little less painful:

1) Select your shape.

2) Right-click and select 'Show ShapeSheet' (if you don't see it, check the
'Run in developer mode' tick box under the Tools / Options... / Advanced
tab).

3) A new window will open showing the properties behind your shape and this
is divided into Sections, Rows and Cells. Locate the 'Connection Points'
section and select the first cell (X1).

4) As you do this you'll notice a black square around the respective
connection point in the drawing window and you can then right click the cell
and select either 'Delete Section' or 'Delete Row'.

You can navigate the ShapeSheet rows with the arrow keys, but I'm guessing
that it's going to be easier to delete the entire section of a dozen or so
connection points and then add two back in the traditional way, than the
slightly fiddly mouse selection method.

As a side note, I'm afraid you can't multiple select ShapeSheet rows either
as you can in Excel. However, you can add a button to the ShapeSheet
toolbar, which might make things a bit quicker:

1) Ensure the ShapeSheet window is the active window and right-click on one
of the existing toolbar buttons and select 'Customize...'

2) In the dialog, click the Commands tab and select 'ShapeSheet' from the
left hand listbox.

3) Select the 'Delete Row' item in the right hand listbox and drag and drop
it where ever you want it appear in the toolbar.

4) Close the dialog and you're done.

Anyway, not as quick as 'select all...' but hopefully a slightly faster
alternative for you.

Best regards

John


John Goldsmith
www.visualSignals.co.uk

 

[Paul Herber]

I have a drawing with shapes that have many connection points. I would like
to select and delete most of the connection points on each shape. The ones I
will save may vary from shape to shape. I can shift+Click to select multiple
connection points using the connection pont tool, but this is tedious, as the
shapes have dozens of connection points. Is there any to quickly select
multiple conneciton ponts? (The way you can use the Pointer tool to lasso
multiple shapes) Alternately, is there a way to select multiple rows in the
shapesheet to delete them that way?

As far as I know there is no way to do this.

Sounds like a good idea though, I shall add a suitable facility to my
Visio Utilities tool.

 

[Mike S]

That's a great idea! Not exactly what I had in mind, but saves me a lot of
time over manually selecting connection points.

Thanks!

 

[Mike S]

Wow Paul, What a great utility! I am thrilled by having contributed an idea
to improve it.