How do I stop two connected lines creating a shape?

[Bruce]

When I draw two or more lines that connect MS Visio creates a shape. If I
want to amend one of the lines I can't. There is no way to separate the lines
again and I have to delete the whole shape and start again. Ungroup is not
available. I have looked at Snap and Glue but nothing is relevant. I can't
find anything in Options.
I have tried every combination of words to find some help but nothing refers
to this perverse behaviour. Why does MS think I always want to create a
shape? All I want to do is join two lines but continue to work with them
separately if I need to.
I don't remember original Visio ever doing this unless I specifically used
the Group function. It's almost as bad as removing Duplicate from the right
click menu. Ctrl+D drives me mad.

 

[John... Visio MVP]

When I draw two or more lines that connect MS Visio creates a shape. If I
want to amend one of the lines I can't. There is no way to separate the
lines
again and I have to delete the whole shape and start again. Ungroup is not
available. I have looked at Snap and Glue but nothing is relevant. I can't
find anything in Options.
I have tried every combination of words to find some help but nothing
refers
to this perverse behaviour. Why does MS think I always want to create a
shape? All I want to do is join two lines but continue to work with them
separately if I need to.
I don't remember original Visio ever doing this unless I specifically used
the Group function. It's almost as bad as removing Duplicate from the
right
click menu. Ctrl+D drives me mad.

Sounds like you are ising the line draw tool and you end up creating a
single shape. So there would be nothing to ungroup.

How are you creating the lines?

John... Visio MVP

 

[philippe c]

Bruce,
thanks for pointing out things we did not notice before.
That behaviour is by design, and the question is how to change it.
An easy workaround is to draw not connected lines and to move them
afterwards together, with the "glue to geometry" on.
Or use the Ctrl + D = duplicate

You seem worthy to read the hard to find "Developing Microsoft Visio
Solutions" =
http://msdn.microsoft.com/nl-be/library/aa200952(en-us,office.10).aspx

Tell us if you find something, or if you see the light.

Maybe Visio made connectors to solve your problem. Won't connectors do the
job ?

 

[Bruce]

John
I am using Visio 2003 and the line tool. I left click, drag and release to
draw the first line. I then click on the terminal and drag off in a different
direction/angle. When I release Viso immediately creates a shape from the two
lines, with a rectangular boundary the size of the shorter line.
It is not always convenient to draw two separate lines and then move and
connect. Why should I have to? My reference point for the second line is the
terminal of the first line in terms of direction and length. Establishing the
terminal for the first line invariably determines the spatial characteristics
of the second line.
Setting out to create a shape or setting out to create two lines with a
common point should be a user choice.
Once I have created a shape I can do nothing individual to the attributes
for either line. I may wish to change the weight, pattern or colour but I
cannot. So I have to cut and re-commence.

 

[Brendon]

I found this "feature" is very annoying too.
Try not to start the second line form the end of first line. Start the
second line from the other end and connect to the end of the first line.