How to create a new visio shape

[orit]

I have a photo of hardware device that we developed and I would like to
create from it a visio shape to be combined in network diagrams.
How to create the shape so it will behave as the ready to use shapes in the
built in stencils?

Thanks

 

[Mark Nelson [MS]]

Insert the photo into your diagram, then drag it over to the Shapes window.

 

[orit]

Thanks,
I want to create "high quality" easy to use shapes. for example:
How to create the connection points so the users will be able to connect the
shapes easily?
What else do I have to do in order the shapes will be as good as the built
in office visio shapes?

Thanks a lot

 

[Mark Nelson [MS]]

Ah yes, the list of what goes into a Visio shape. There is no concise list
that I know of. Here are the basic things to deal with:

Text - Use the Text Block tool to set up the size and position of the text
block
Formatting - Go to Format > Text, Format > Line and Format > Fill to set up
formatting properties
Connection Points - Use the Connection Point tool (under the Connector tool)
to add connection points
Protections - Go to Format > Protection and set anything you want to
restrict there

There are a hundred additional things you could do, but it really depends on
how you want to use the shapes. Also the ShapeSheet window exposes the full
set of properties that can be manipulated. If you are serious about shape
development, you should familiarize yourself with the Shapesheet.

Lots of information about creating shapes can be found online. Check out
http://msdn.microsoft.com/visio for information about the Visio SDK. There
is also a tool called ShapeStudio available for download that helps you
create shapes. It has lots of information and best practices built in, but
it takes a fair amount of work to set up and start making shapes.

--
Mark Nelson
Microsoft Corporation

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