Visio database links

[Sparky]

I wish to use Visio for process mapping and maintain the created
process tasks in a database.

I have managed to link a "process" shape on a stencil so that it will
is linked to an access database and that the 2 -way update between the
shape and the shape works, I did this using the database wizard .
However...I would like the shape text i.e. the process step name to be
the key in the database I can't see how to get this to work, I can
only make custom properties keys. This seems strange I am sure I am
missing somthing obvious.

Is it possible to seacrh through the external data which is connected
through the data link to shapes option... I'm not sure how useful this
view on external data is unless yoiu can search and then link.

any thoughts

Simon

 

[David Parker]

You need to make the text display a custom property, if you always edit in
the custom property window/dialog
Use Insert / Field, but best to enhance with GUARD() to prevent accidental
editing

 

[Sparky]

You need to make the text display a custom property, if you always edit in
the custom property window/dialog
Use Insert / Field, but best to enhance with GUARD() to prevent accidental
editing

Many thanks I had tried the insert field approach... it seems a bit
clunky to have to use the properties dialog rather than just typing in
the shape text - I didn't know about the guard() function

Is the best approach to have a formula/VBA so that when the shape
text is changed it updates a custom property..

Any thoughts..

Simon

 

[David Parker]

I usually like to take the custom properties dialog approach because the
text can display multiple fields and other text, so if you were just to edit
the text, then which custom property should be updated?

If you really want the text to always drive the contents of a custom
property then just enter the formula
=GUARD(SHAPETEXT(TheText))
in the custom property value cell (this needs to be done in the ShapeSheet
of the Master shape)

This will prevent the user from accidently overwriting the formula.

 

[Sparky]

I usually like to take the custom properties dialog approach because the
text can display multiple fields and other text, so if you were just to edit
the text, then which custom property should be updated?

If you really want the text to always drive the contents of a custom
property then just enter the formula
=GUARD(SHAPETEXT(TheText))
in the custom property value cell (this needs to be done in the ShapeSheet
of the Master shape)

This will prevent the user from accidently overwriting the formula.

David

that's very helpful... I'll have a look at both options. Any thoughts
on the use of the external data view in Visio 2007...and whether that
can be searched?

Simon

 

[David Parker]

Do you want to search the cached DataRecordsets or search the document that
has shapes with shapes data in them?
I have a general function in my book for the latter.

 

[Sparky]

David

I guess what I'd like to be able to do is.. search through the
datarecordset.. what looks frustrating is that the basic package just
about does all I need without resorting to coding.


Simon

p.s. I'll be buying the book anyway..

 

[David Parker]

I have written a blog entry to show how you can search for values in a
DataRecordset using VBA:

http://bvisual.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!3350D61BC93733A9!231.entry