Did it once but can't do it twice

[jcreek]

Sometime back I found what I call a measurement device. It told me how far
it is between two shapes. It has been long enough back that I forgot where
to find it. Could someone help me??
Thanks
Rod

 

[merlyn_dhc]

Hmm ... if you turn on

View --> Size and Position Window

You could use (XX)+(YY)=(ZZ) to find the distance. Maybe hold you over until you get your answer.

 

[philippe c]

Thanks for an easy question I can answer to.

Visio 2003.
Menu, File, Shapes, Visio Extras, Drawing Tool Shapes.

More elaborate answer :
Of course you could have searched for the shape "measure". But you may
encounter problems in this.
Many beginners would search in the Visio Help system, and not in the Shapes
window, Search for Shapes box. It would be great if I could give you
unambiguous instructions like : menu, Tools, Search for Shapes.
Secondly, when you have found the the shapes, you don't know in which
stencil to find them. There is a little known, well hidden feature : menu,
Tools, Options, Tab "Shape Search", Section "Results", check "By Group".
This will give you the name of the stencil in the results pane. Even without
the name of the folder the stencil is in, the stencil will be easy to find,
as they are sorted alphabetically.

 

[philippe c]

And to thank me, play
http://starling.rinet.ru/music/soft.htm
Soft Machine, Track 10 : "We did it again"

One of my favourite songs.

 

[philippe c]

I cannot explain it better than them :

Looking for the perfect shape?
http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/visio/HA011111431033.aspx?pid=CL100636311033

 

[jcreek]

I should have told you that I am useing Visio 2007. I went to
Menu-File-Shapes-Visio Extras- and Drawing Tools Shapes in not one of my
choices. Will try the way tonight
Thanks
Rod

 

[philippe c]

Here it is allready tonight, and at home I have Visio 2007.
It does not make any difference between versions 2003 and 2007.
Maybe some files have been deleted ?

 

[jcreek]

Yes night does come quickly. I don't know that any file were deleted. Are
you saying to unistall and reinstall Visio again?

 

[Michael]

Try doing a repair of your Visio installation. Help>>Office Diagnostics

 

[jcreek]

i did the Diagmostics test and it repaired one problem for me. I also
searched the Shapes and found a measureing device that will work for me but
it is in "inches". Anyone know how to change it to "feet and inches"??
Thanks
Rod

 

[philippe c]

I don't know in which folder the stencil files reside.
Normally there should be 31 shapes in the concerned stencil (metric).
The imperial shapes are in another stencil.
Your interest is in :
- measure tool
- horizontal measure
- vertical measure

This drawing tool stencil is too little known, as it is under "Advanced",
and many people are frightened by that word.

By the way, monday morning is service temporaril unavailable day at Microsoft.

 

[Paul Herber]

I should have told you that I am useing Visio 2007. I went to
Menu-File-Shapes-Visio Extras- and Drawing Tools Shapes in not one of my
choices. Will try the way tonight

Are you using Visio Standard or Professional?
Those shapes are only in Professional.

 

[jcreek]

the standard version is all I have ever had. So the measuring device is some
where on the Standard version.
Thanks
Rod

 

[Paul Herber]

the standard version is all I have ever had. So the measuring device is some
where on the Standard version.

There is also a similar shape in the Walls, Doors and Windows stencil
available in Standard (in the Building Plan stencils section).

 

[philippe c]

Beautiful shapes, that give Visio a place in our hearts.

 

[jcreek]

Paul you found what I hav e been looking for. It is the "controller
dimension" in the Walls, Doors, and Windows stencil.
Thanks for the help
Rod