Applying Data to Shapes and Advanced Shape Styles in Visio

Name: Applying Data to Shapes and Advanced Shape Styles in Visio
Author: Elissa Smith

Learn how to edit data, create custom data sets for shapes, and apply advanced shape effects in Visio

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Course: On-Demand

Hello, welcome to Advanced Visio. In this lesson, we want to explore a concept in Microsoft Visio called shape data. Now shape data is the ability to actually have extra information stored about your shapes. It's especially useful in a situation like this where we have a network diagram view where an organization is keeping track of computer equipment. Now, you'll notice that here we just see laptops, servers and computers, but these pieces of equipment are physical and they cost a lot of money. This organization might really like to have specifics about each of these graphics that are on the page. To do this, there is a utility inside of Visio called shape data. But first of all, you have to turn it on. To turn shape data on, we're going to come to the data ribbon tab, which makes sense because we're talking about shape data, right? And then come over here to shape data window. Now, once this window is turned on, you'll see a task bar over on the right that opens up. Right now, I don't have any shape data, but if I select a shape that's when we'll be able to keep track of shape data. To do this, I'm going to come to the given shape, click on it, and now we'll see that, again, the shape data task pane now opens up. If I click in one of these fields, you'll see that it allows me to enter data about the shape into it. And notice that the shape data we're looking at here is about a PC. So again, shape data is the ability to capture important information for equipment and inventory that would be useful for an organization to store. And we'll see here, it even includes things like the location. So I can come in here and I can type in the location of this specific, again, piece of equipment, and even asset numbers and serial numbers. Now notice that if I click away from this, it stores it, but if I come to another computer equipment, then I get a whole other set of shape data that I can come in, type the information for it in, and enter it. So every shape on my drawing has the capacity to store shape data. Stay tuned, in the next lesson we're going to explore more assets of being able to, again, keep track of shape data within a Visio drawing. Thanks for watching.

Advanced Provider : Elissa Smith 10 Lessons · 26m in Arabic, German, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese

Course Description

Microsoft Visio is used to create many types of diagrams, such as flow charts, building plans, 3D maps, and org charts. One important feature of Visio is the ability to add information directly to shapes. This information is called shape data and is a convenient way to give details about your diagram. Visio also gives you the ability to create a variety of complex shapes, utilize preset and custom data values, and also add effects to shapes, making it possible to create advanced diagrams. This course gives an in-depth look into the complex shape styles and setting data for a given shape in Visio. It illustrates how to turn on and apply preset and custom data values to shapes, and how to set up shape data sets and fields. It also shows how to create more advanced shape styles by using quick shapes and fills, and how to apply different effects to shapes.

What You'll Learn

Turn on, access, and edit shape data within Visio diagrams
Create custom shape data sets and apply custom shape data fields
Add custom and advanced shapes to diagrams using quick shapes
Update shape fill styles and apply effects to shapes
Open and edit shape sheets to control shape properties
Update the style of shape borders for advanced diagrams

Key Takeaways

Shape data lets you add information directly to shapes as a convenient way to give details about a diagram in Visio.
Visio supports adding preset and custom data values to shapes and setting up shape data sets and fields.
More advanced shape styles can be created by using quick shapes, fills, and applying effects to shapes.
Microsoft Visio is used to create many types of diagrams, including flow charts, building plans, 3D maps, and org charts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this Visio course cover?

It gives an in-depth look into complex shape styles and setting data for a given shape in Visio, including turning on and applying preset and custom data values, setting up shape data sets and fields, creating advanced shape styles with quick shapes and fills, and applying effects to shapes.

What skills will I gain from this course?

The course builds skills in Microsoft Visio, the Data Palette, data visualization, shape optimization, visual modeling, and VISI (CAD/CAM Software).

What is shape data in Visio?

Shape data is information added directly to shapes, which is a convenient way to give details about your diagram.

What lessons are included in this course?

Lessons include Turning on Shape Data, Accessing and Docking Shape Data, Exploring Task Panes and Undocking Shape Data, Custom Shape Data Set, Creating and Applying Custom Shape Data Fields, Using Quick Shapes, Updating Shape Fill Style, Opening and Editing Shape Sheets, Applying Effects to Shapes, and Update Style of Shape Borders.