visio 2007 connecting shapes in flowchartsa

8/10/2019 Visio 2007 Connecting Shapes in Flowchartsa

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Adapted from Microsoft Help and How-to Janet W. Lee [email protected] 8-7771 Page 1 of 5

Many types of Microsoft Office Visio diagrams depict related ideas, relationships, or sequences by showing shapes

that are connected with lines. For example, a flowchart shows each of the steps in a process as a series of shapes

connected by lines. Organization charts show employee relationships as a hierarchy of shapes connected by lines.

Network diagrams use lines to show equipment connected to hubs. This tutorial shows you how to connect shapes in

a flowchart.

Flowcharts visually represent processes

Flowcharts are the ideal diagrams for visually representing business processes in Microsoft Office Visio 2007. For

example, if you need to show the flow of a custom-order process through various departments within your

organization, you can use a flowchart. Visio includes several different flowchart templates; however, the most

common type of flowchart uses simple shapes to represent the basic elements in a business process, as shown in

the following table.

TIP As you drag a flowchart shape onto the drawing page, a dynamic gridappears as a dotted line through the

shape to show you how to align it with respect to the shapes already on the page.

Visio makes it easy to connect the shapes in these diagrams by using connectors1-D shapes (usually lines or

arrows) that connect 2-D shapes, such as the process shapes in a flowchart. If you rearrange the connected 2-D

shapes, the connectors stay attached to the shapes and reroute for you, so you dont waste time redrawing lines. In

Shape name Shape What it represents

Process Steps in a business process

Decision Decisions in a business process

Document Steps that result in or require documentation

Data Steps that require data


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some diagrams, such as flowcharts, you can even drag a 2-D shape between two connected shapes, and Visio

reroutes the connector and connects all three shapes.

Visio 2007 makes connecting shapes even easier by adding a new feature: AutoConnect. With AutoConnect, Visio

does all the connection work for you. Just drag shapes onto the drawing page, and Visio connects, aligns, and evenly

distributes the shapes for you.

You add connectors between these flowchart shapes to show relationships between them and the sequence of steps

in a process. Flowchart connectors are usually lines with arrowheads that can include text to clarify the process being

depicted. When Visio adds a connector (or you add one yourself), the endpoints of the connector glueto the shapes

it connectsthat is, Visio creates a bond that wont break unless you move a connector endpoint or delete the

connector. When you select a connector that is glued to a shape, the connectors endpoints turn red, indicating that

the connector will be rerouted when you move the connected shapes.

The method you use to connect shapes in a flowchart determines how the connectors reroute and how much control

you have over where connectors are attached to shapes. If you simply connect one shape to another without

specifying a point of connection, you dont have any control over how the connectors reroute, which is preferable for

many diagram types. However, when you need total control over your shape connections, you can connect shapes

using connection pointsspecific points on a shape represented by a blue symbol. That way, the connector stays

connected to those specific points, regardless of where you move the shapes.

Visio provides several methods for connecting shapes. Each method offers different levels of control, and some are

more suited for particular drawing types, as shown in the following table. When you work with Visio, you typically use

a combination of these methods when creating your diagrams.


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Connection

Method

How To Use It When To Use It

AutoConnect

shapes bydragging a shapeonto the drawingpage.

Drag a shape onto another

shape on the drawing page,and when blue arrows appeararound the shape on thedrawing page, position theshape over one of the arrows.

Use this method when you want Visio to

connect, align, and evenly distributes theshapes for youall in one step.

Example diagram types: Any diagram thatshows relationships, such as basic flowcharts,cross-functional flowcharts, or audit diagrams.

Level of control: When you dont care exactlywhere two shapes connect to each other, howthe connectors reroute, and the exact positionof the connected shapes.

AutoConnectshapes by clicking

a shape on astencil.

Click a shape on a stencil, andthen position the pointer over

a shape on the drawing page.When blue arrows appeararound the shape on thedrawing page, click one ofthem.

Use this method when you want Visio toautomatically connect shapes for you and youwant to rapidly connect multiple shapes.


Level of control: When you dont care exactlywhere two shapes connect to each other, how

the connectors reroute, and the exact position

of the connected shapes.

AutoConnectneighboringshapes that arealready on thedrawing page

Pause the pointer over ashape on the drawing page,and when blue arrows appeararound the shape, move thepointer over the blue arrowclosest to the neighboringshape to which you want toconnect. The blue arrow turnsdark blue, a red box appears

around the neighboring shapeto which you can connect,and a Connect to NeighboringShape ScreenTip appears.Click the blue arrow toconnect the two shapes.

Use this method when you want to connectneighboring shapes that are already on thedrawing page.

Example diagram types: Any diagram that

shows relationships, such as basic flowcharts,cross-functional flowcharts, or audit diagrams.

Level of control: When you dont care exactly

how the connectors reroute.


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Method


Connect shapes

as you drag themonto the pageusing theConnector tool.

Click the Connector tool, and

then drag shapes onto thedrawing page. Each newshape is connected to theselected shape on the drawingpage.

Use this method when you want to connect

new shapes to the selected shape on thedrawing page.


Level of control: When you dont care exactlywhere two shapes connect to each other andhow the connectors reroute, but you do wantto precisely position the connected shapes.

Connect shapesalready on the

drawing pageusing theConnector tool.

Position the pointer over ashape on the drawing page,

and then drag to anothershape to draw a connectorbetween the two shapes. Or,position the pointer over ashapes connection point, andthen drag to another shapesconnection point to draw aconnector between twoshapes.

Use this method when you want to connectshapes that are already on the drawing page.

Example diagram types: Basic flowcharts anddata flow diagrams.

Level of control: This method gives you controlover the precise point of connection betweentwo shapes, if you connect the shapes usingtheir connection points.

Connect shapesthat are alreadyon the drawingpage using theConnect Shapescommand.

Hold down the Shift key,select all the shapes you wantto connect, in the order youwant to connect them, andthen on the Shapemenu,click Connect Shapes.

Use this method when you want to connectshapes that are already on the drawing pagein a specific order.

Example diagram types: Any diagram thatshows relationships, such as basic flowcharts,cross-functional flowcharts, audit diagrams,fault-tree analysis diagrams, and work flowdiagrams.

Level of control: When you dont care exactlywhere two shapes connect to each other orhow the connectors reroute.


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Connection

Method


Connect shapes

already on thedrawing page byusing a connectorfrom a stencil

Drag a connector from a

stencil onto the drawing page,position one endpoint on aconnection point on oneshape, and then position theother endpoint on the

connection point on the othershape.

Use this method in diagrams that use specific

types of connectorsfor example, a 3-D arrowin block or ITIL diagram and networkequipment in racks.

Example diagram types: Basic, block,brainstorming, cause and effect, charts andgraphs, ITIL, network diagrams, and valuestream maps.

Level of control: This method gives you controlover the precise point of connection betweentwo shapes.

As you become more familiar with flowcharts, keep in mind that the techniques you use to connect flowchart shapes

apply to other types of diagrams as well. As you modify shape connections and arrange connected shapes, you can

take advantage of several layout tools that help you evenly distribute, align, and position shapes. You can even

change the orientation of all the connected shapes in a diagram; for example, you can change the layout in a

flowchart from top to bottom and from left to right.

visio 2007 connecting shapes in flowchartsa

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