Why can't I resize shapes in Visio UML?

[Neil Mondal]

I am new to Visio, and am using Visio Professional 2003 v 11.3216.5606. I
first choose File - New - Software - UML Model Diagram (Metric) from the menu
bar and then choose a stencil of UML Activity (Metric). After I drag and drop
a 'State' or 'Action State' shape onto the sheet, I find that I cannot resize
the shape even after I uncheck its 'Protection' format property for the width
and height of the shape. Can anyone tell me why this might be the case?

 

[Chris Roth [ Visio MVP ]]

The shapes are intended to be used as part of a deeper UML solution, which
has code behind it. This code expects shapes to behave a certain way, and to
have certain attributes. If they are changed by the user too much, then the
UML solution can't function properly.

It's sometimes hard to know when shapes are just "pretty shapes" and when
they are "solution objects".

If you just need a "dumb shape" that looks like the UML shapes, sometimes
you can Copy, Paste Special - as metafile, then Shape > Operations > Convert
to group. You'll have a shape with all the elements of the original, and
none of the smarts and locks.

--

Hope this helps,

Chris Roth
Visio MVP

 

[Neil Mondal]

Thank you Chris
I suppose I will just use "dumb" shapes for now - but can you give me an
example of a shape that is used as part of a "deeper" UML solution (with code
behind it)? If you have (for example) a visio file you can send it to my work
email address at (e-mail address removed).
Regards
Neil

 

[Chris Roth [ Visio MVP ]]

That was the whole point - the shapes that you can't manipulate are those
shapes. I don't understand your request.

--

Hope this helps,

Chris Roth
Visio MVP

 

[George Ericson]

The size of the shape is (or should) be not relevant to the intelligence
behind UML shapes. There are plenty of reasons why UML shapes should be
resizable. The most important of which is to accomodate many associations.

While I'm on this, Association Class shapes are the worst offenders. The
visio implementation does not allow the association that is linked to the
association class to be manipulated like associations that are not part of
an association class. I asked for that to be fixed something like 5 years
ago. Still not.

G

 

[davidkayla]

I am also trying to resize a UML box as mine are appearing as long skinny
boxes that can go off the page. Surely there is some way to get more of a
squarish box rather than a long box that streches across the page? A resize
option should be a minimum requirement.

 

[Michel LAPLANE \(MVP\)]

Some UML shape are specially design to have default value in width an
height.
What you can do is modify the default value.

Select the UML shape (for example actor and open the shapesheet
"Window=>ShapeSheet".
Go to the user defined cells section.

Modify the User.DefaultWidth and the User.DefaultHeight as needed.

Of course you can modify the original UML Stencil.

 

[smcirish]

Mr. LaPlane,

Could you give more details on how to modify the original UML Stencil?

 

[Paul Herber]

Mr. LaPlane,

Could you give more details on how to modify the original UML Stencil?

First of all make a copy of the stencil (UMLSTR_M.VSS or UMLSTR_U.VSS)
in case it all goes wrong.
Now also copy the stencil to your My Shapes folder.
Start Visio
menu File -> My Shapes
and open the stencil
right-click on the stencil and select Edit Stencil
Double-click the Association Class
In the Master Explorer look in the Masters section until you find
"Class"
Right-click and choose Show Shapesheet
In the User-defined Cells section you will see

User.MinHeight and User.MinWidth
Change these values to your preferences

Or Change the formulae in User.Width and/or User.Height

Close the Shapesheet window, click the blue icon on the stencil to
save it.
Close Visio. Now copy your modified file back into the Visio stencils
folder.

 

[oddrun]

Hi,

The procedure given by Paul did not work in my Visio 2007 Norwegian version.
"Show shapesheet" on the UML class shape only gave the response "there is
none", apparently because this command is meant to show the user defined
shape data only. I was however allowed to edit the actual shape, and if there
is a way to add resize handles on the horizontal lines, I would be OK.

Anyway, I must say I question the declared dependency between the UML shapes
and the "code behind", it sounds rubbish to me - this clearly should not be
so!!! I have used other UML tools without such dependency, where the user was
allowed to resize shapes as need be.

In Visio the UML class shape can be resized only along one dimension, and
if, for instance, both package path and stereotype is included in the shape
name the shape become unacceptably long. If I shorten the shape manually the
text is divided on several lines, but the height of the shape stays the same,
so the text spills out of the box. Seriously, this is just not acceptable -
or have I missed something?


Paul Herber skrev:

 

[Paul Herber]

Hi,

The procedure given by Paul did not work in my Visio 2007 Norwegian version.
"Show shapesheet" on the UML class shape only gave the response "there is
none", apparently because this command is meant to show the user defined
shape data only.

Ah, no wrong menu. Shape Data != Shape Sheet.
Who had the brilliant idea to change the Custom Properties to Shape
Data?

No, you want the menu that is aslo on menu Windows -> Show ShapeSheet

Anyway, you could try my own UML shapes, address is in my sig below.