Shape Text Behavior: How can I edit a grouped shapes text box?

[m***@gmail.com]

I have a stencil with shapes which are groups with polygons and a text
box. I didn't create the stencil but I would like to make some
changes.

If I double click on the existing shapes, I can edit the shapes text.
If I ungroup the shape and make edits, I can no longer double click on
the shape to edit the text.

Research has me delving into the mysteries of the shapesheet... and
there are some "user-created cells" which exist on the old shapes but
do not on my new shape... User.HasText, User.SoISH, and some others.

I would like to be able to place a text box in my shape which behaves
the same as the old shape, but even creating these user defined cells
does nothing for me. This seems like a relatively simple thing to do,
and something you would want in most shapes... but the mojo to do this
eludes me.

If you could point me in the right direction I would be greatly
appreciative.

I use Visio 2003, and I have placed an example stencil in vss and vsx
format on mediafire for inspection to illustrate my point. the "Works"
shape functions as I want, double clicking edits the text. The
"Doesn't Work" shape illustrates the current bane of my existence.

Download the stencils here http://www.mediafire.com/?7ubety9vdvs

Thanks in advance for ANY help.

[David Parker]

OK, you basically destroyed some of the shape's behaviour when you ungrouped
it.

The Commserve shape is the top level group shape in the one that Works, but
it is only a member shape in the one that Doesn't Work

The Commserve shape is the one with all the Custom Properties/Shape Data and
User-cells too. What you are doing in the one that Doesn't Work is editing
the text of the top level group shape - a shape that you created when you
re-grouped them all. The text that you want to edit is part of the
Commserve shape. Note that the Text Transform section contains formulae
that link the text block position to the Control handle.

The old Developing Microsoft Visio Solutions book is a good place to start,
eg http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa200971(office.10).aspx

Post by m***@gmail.com
I have a stencil with shapes which are groups with polygons and a text
box. I didn't create the stencil but I would like to make some
changes.
If I double click on the existing shapes, I can edit the shapes text.
If I ungroup the shape and make edits, I can no longer double click on
the shape to edit the text.
Research has me delving into the mysteries of the shapesheet... and
there are some "user-created cells" which exist on the old shapes but
do not on my new shape... User.HasText, User.SoISH, and some others.
I would like to be able to place a text box in my shape which behaves
the same as the old shape, but even creating these user defined cells
does nothing for me. This seems like a relatively simple thing to do,
and something you would want in most shapes... but the mojo to do this
eludes me.
If you could point me in the right direction I would be greatly
appreciative.
I use Visio 2003, and I have placed an example stencil in vss and vsx
format on mediafire for inspection to illustrate my point. the "Works"
shape functions as I want, double clicking edits the text. The
"Doesn't Work" shape illustrates the current bane of my existence.
Download the stencils here http://www.mediafire.com/?7ubety9vdvs
Thanks in advance for ANY help.

[m***@gmail.com]

Post by David Parker
OK, you basically destroyed some of the shape's behaviour when you ungrouped
it.
The Commserve shape is the top level group shape in the one that Works, but
it is only a member shape in the one that Doesn't Work
The Commserve shape is the one with all the Custom Properties/Shape Data and
User-cells too. What you are doing in the one that Doesn't Work is editing
the text of the top level group shape - a shape that you created when you
re-grouped them all. The text that you want to edit is part of the
Commserve shape. Note that the Text Transform section contains formulae
that link the text block position to the Control handle.
The old Developing Microsoft Visio Solutions book is a good place to start,
eghttp://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa200971(office.10).aspx

Post by m***@gmail.com
I have a stencil with shapes which are groups with polygons and a text
box. I didn't create the stencil but I would like to make some
changes.
If I double click on the existing shapes, I can edit the shapes text.
If I ungroup the shape and make edits, I can no longer double click on
the shape to edit the text.
Research has me delving into the mysteries of the shapesheet... and
there are some "user-created cells" which exist on the old shapes but
do not on my new shape... User.HasText, User.SoISH, and some others.
I would like to be able to place a text box in my shape which behaves
the same as the old shape, but even creating these user defined cells
does nothing for me. This seems like a relatively simple thing to do,
and something you would want in most shapes... but the mojo to do this
eludes me.
If you could point me in the right direction I would be greatly
appreciative.
I use Visio 2003, and I have placed an example stencil in vss and vsx
format on mediafire for inspection to illustrate my point. the "Works"
shape functions as I want, double clicking edits the text. The
"Doesn't Work" shape illustrates the current bane of my existence.
Download the stencils herehttp://www.mediafire.com/?7ubety9vdvs
Thanks in advance for ANY help.

Thank you for this. I had no idea there was a difference between
"merged" and "grouped" shapes. Your link was spot on.

[m***@gmail.com]

Post by David Parker
OK, you basically destroyed some of the shape's behaviour when you ungrouped
it.
The Commserve shape is the top level group shape in the one that Works, but
it is only a member shape in the one that Doesn't Work
The Commserve shape is the one with all the Custom Properties/Shape Data and
User-cells too. What you are doing in the one that Doesn't Work is editing
the text of the top level group shape - a shape that you created when you
re-grouped them all. The text that you want to edit is part of the
Commserve shape. Note that the Text Transform section contains formulae
that link the text block position to the Control handle.
The old Developing Microsoft Visio Solutions book is a good place to start,
eghttp://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa200971(office.10).aspx

Post by m***@gmail.com
I have a stencil with shapes which are groups with polygons and a text
box. I didn't create the stencil but I would like to make some
changes.
If I double click on the existing shapes, I can edit the shapes text.
If I ungroup the shape and make edits, I can no longer double click on
the shape to edit the text.
Research has me delving into the mysteries of the shapesheet... and
there are some "user-created cells" which exist on the old shapes but
do not on my new shape... User.HasText, User.SoISH, and some others.
I would like to be able to place a text box in my shape which behaves
the same as the old shape, but even creating these user defined cells
does nothing for me. This seems like a relatively simple thing to do,
and something you would want in most shapes... but the mojo to do this
eludes me.
If you could point me in the right direction I would be greatly
appreciative.
I use Visio 2003, and I have placed an example stencil in vss and vsx
format on mediafire for inspection to illustrate my point. the "Works"
shape functions as I want, double clicking edits the text. The
"Doesn't Work" shape illustrates the current bane of my existence.
Download the stencils herehttp://www.mediafire.com/?7ubety9vdvs
Thanks in advance for ANY help.

Initially I thought this was what I was looking for, but implementing
the knowledge gleaned from your link, proved more difficult.
Specifically, how can I edit a grouped shape WITHOUT destroying the
custom properties, and the text box behavior? I would like to add
another shape to this 'master; shape, but I can only do so by
destroying my shapesheet properties.

[Paul Herber]

Post by m***@gmail.com
Initially I thought this was what I was looking for, but implementing
the knowledge gleaned from your link, proved more difficult.
Specifically, how can I edit a grouped shape WITHOUT destroying the
custom properties, and the text box behavior? I would like to add
another shape to this 'master; shape, but I can only do so by
destroying my shapesheet properties.

You should never need to ungoup a shape.
If you are editing a shape that is already on your drawing page then
use menu View -> Drawing Explorer Window and you will find your shape
on the Foreground Pages section. You can edit grouped shapes from
there.
To add a shape to a group just select the group and the new shape and
use menu Shape -> Grouping -> Add to Group.

[m***@gmail.com]

On Nov 12, 12:21 pm, Paul Herber

Post by Paul Herber

Post by m***@gmail.com
Initially I thought this was what I was looking for, but implementing
the knowledge gleaned from your link, proved more difficult.
Specifically, how can I edit a grouped shape WITHOUT destroying the
custom properties, and the text box behavior? I would like to add
another shape to this 'master; shape, but I can only do so by
destroying my shapesheet properties.

You should never need to ungoup a shape.
If you are editing a shape that is already on your drawing page then
use menu View -> Drawing Explorer Window and you will find your shape
on the Foreground Pages section. You can edit grouped shapes from
there.
To add a shape to a group just select the group and the new shape and
use menu Shape -> Grouping -> Add to Group.
--
Regards, Paul Herber, Sandrila Ltd.
DFD for Visio http://www.gane-sarson.sandrila.co.uk/

This did the trick. If anyone is interested:

I took my original grouped shape and placed it on the drawing by
dragging it from my stencil.
Then I took my desired additional grouped shape and placed where I
wanted it. The two shapes now overlapped where I wanted.
Then I drew a box around both groups, and chose Shape->Grouping->Add
to Group and created a new group.
Finally, I dragged the newly modified shape back to my stencil. QED.

Thanks for your help.

[Paul Herber]

Post by m***@gmail.com
On Nov 12, 12:21 pm, Paul Herber

Post by Paul Herber

Post by m***@gmail.com
Initially I thought this was what I was looking for, but implementing
the knowledge gleaned from your link, proved more difficult.
Specifically, how can I edit a grouped shape WITHOUT destroying the
custom properties, and the text box behavior? I would like to add
another shape to this 'master; shape, but I can only do so by
destroying my shapesheet properties.

You should never need to ungoup a shape.
If you are editing a shape that is already on your drawing page then
use menu View -> Drawing Explorer Window and you will find your shape
on the Foreground Pages section. You can edit grouped shapes from
there.
To add a shape to a group just select the group and the new shape and
use menu Shape -> Grouping -> Add to Group.

I took my original grouped shape and placed it on the drawing by
dragging it from my stencil.
Then I took my desired additional grouped shape and placed where I
wanted it. The two shapes now overlapped where I wanted.
Then I drew a box around both groups, and chose Shape->Grouping->Add
to Group and created a new group.
Finally, I dragged the newly modified shape back to my stencil. QED.
Thanks for your help.

Marvellous. However, you can do the same thing while editing the
master in the stencil. With some shapes putting them on a page can
change their properties. So you could copy your new shape, put the
stencil into edit mode, edit your master shape, paste the new shape
onto the master's pagesheet and then do the grouping.
P.S. when you say "I drew a box around both groups" what you mean is
to use the mouse to select all the shapes required to make the group,
not physically draw a box around the shapes.