Displaying custom properties in a custom stencil

[Steve]

Hi,
I am drawing a block diagram of electrical components and I am developing a
library of the custom stencils. I want each stencil to store and display
various information about each component.

For example, I want the make a generic stencil of a component that consists
of a blank box and below it four text entries of its properties. The blank
box is there to allow me to add information such as pin labels, i/o groups,
etc. The component name, manufacturer, part number and location are
displayed below the blank box.

I want the 5 objects to be treated as one. When I place the object or
double click on it, I want a popup window to appear with the component
properties. I have seen similar behavior on a stencil called Revisions from
HarnWare. How do I do this? I need step by step instructions. I would be
happy to email anyone a drawing of what I want.

 

[Paul Herber]

Hi,
I am drawing a block diagram of electrical components and I am developing a
library of the custom stencils. I want each stencil to store and display
various information about each component.

For example, I want the make a generic stencil of a component that consists
of a blank box and below it four text entries of its properties. The blank
box is there to allow me to add information such as pin labels, i/o groups,
etc. The component name, manufacturer, part number and location are
displayed below the blank box.

I want the 5 objects to be treated as one. When I place the object or
double click on it, I want a popup window to appear with the component
properties. I have seen similar behavior on a stencil called Revisions from
HarnWare. How do I do this? I need step by step instructions. I would be
happy to email anyone a drawing of what I want.

I think you want to define a set of Custom Properties. Any shape/page
can have custom properties, and a dialog box can be displayed
showing/asking for these values when the shape is double clicked, when
the shape is dropped on the diagram, or at any time via the menus.

If you download the demo zip file at
http://www.electronics.sandrila.co.uk/
all the shapes have custom properties of a similar type to what you
want, Manufacturer, Part No., Value etc.

 

[Steve]

I appreciate the link but I want to learn how to do it and not purchase
another software package.

 

[Paul Herber]

I really wasn't suggesting you buy anything, Steve. I was offering the
sample file as something you could copy. Free.
But, how to create custom properties and what you can do with them is
too complex to describe here, look in the various Visio help files,
there are plenty of examples, search for "Visio custom properties",
also in the Visio SDK.

 

[Mark Nelson [MS]]

This is essentially the Data Graphics feature in Visio 2007 Professional if
you have that version. Right click on a shape and choose Data > Edit Data
Graphic. Then choose New Item and pick Text callout to display one of your
Shape Data (Custom Properties) fields.

--
Mark Nelson
Office Graphics - Visio
Microsoft Corporation

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.