Joining connectors

[Rod]

Hi,
I am trying to create an electrical diagram of which each connector
represents a physical wire. The diagram requires the wires to follow
particular paths. At the moment I am having to use multiple connectors to
create a single 'wire' as single connectors don't seem to have enough bends
in them, and I cannot get them to follow any sort of custom pathway that
involves 3 or more bends. Is there any way of adding bends?
Or, can I join mulitple connectors end-to-end to create a single one?

The reason I ask is when I add new components, it takes hours to re-route
all the different connectors!
Thanks!

 

[filip c]

Interesting, as I am also in the electricity business.

Right click on the shape, it does not offer to add control points.
Shapesheet, I add a controls row, but if it is possible, it is too
complicated for me.

Why don't you use the Free form tool ?

 

[Chris Roth [Visio MVP]]

Hi Rod,

When you select a connector, note the little green handle in the middle
of each leg.

If you hold down the Shift key while dragging this handle, you will get
extra legs that might help you.

If you hold down the Ctrl key while dragging this handle, you will get a
new point, which will allow non-rectilinear bends.

This might get you a bit further along...\

--
Hope this helps,

Chris Roth
Visio MVP


Visio Guy: Smart Graphics for Visual People

Articles: http://www.visguy.com
Shapes: http://www.visguy.com/shapes
Dev: http://www.visguy.com/category/development/
Forum: http://www.viguy.com/vgforum

 

[Paul Herber]

On Mon, 23 Mar 2009 03:41:01 -0700, filip c <philippe

Interesting, as I am also in the electricity business.

Right click on the shape, it does not offer to add control points.
Shapesheet, I add a controls row, but if it is possible, it is too
complicated for me.

Why don't you use the Free form tool ?

What are you referring to, Philippe? Control points can be added to a
shape using the shapesheet.

 

[philippe c]

Paul,
I am too short in my sentences. I can add a control point in the SS, but
making it do something is too difficult.

Chris,
great. How did I dare not knowing or forgetting this one !

The MS website is again often out of order today.

 

[Rod]

My god, it was so simple!! Thanks Chris!! Exactly what I needed.

 

[philippe c]

Chris,

It does not seem to work with curved conectors.
I work in Visio 2003, and I have tried it under Visio 2007. But the
connectors haven't changed anyway between those versions of Visio.

The default Right-Angle connector has
Endpoint, Midpoint, Corner, Midpoint, Endpoint.
Moving a midpoint, without using digitus 5 makes a midpoint, corner,
midpoint corner on one side. Don't let's get fractal.

Moving a midpoint, with the Ctrl-key down, adds two midpoints, one on each
side, and the moved midpoint becomes a corner. I dfon't see how this could
become curved. I even tried setting all Snap and Glue off.

Moving a midpoint with the Shift key down, adds Midpoint, Corner, Midpoint,
Corner on one side and the same on the other side.
Some people, like I would call this a zig-zag. I don't know how
snowboarders call it.

When I right click the fractaled connector and make it Curved I only have
three control points to bend it. I can only at maximum make a figure eight
with it. Not very much if you prefer to lay the electrical cables under the
doors.

The freeform tool has the disadvantage that it cannot have jumpers.