Visio2000: ShapeSheet: How to Use the GUARD Function (279414)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visio 2000 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Visio 2000 Professional Edition
  • Microsoft Visio 2000 Technical Edition
  • Microsoft Visio 2000 Enterprise Edition
This article was previously published under Q279414

SUMMARY

This article contains information about how to use the Guard function.

Every Microsoft Visio shape is described in its own ShapeSheet spreadsheet, which contains information about the shape's geometry and its other properties.

To display the ShapeSheet of a shape, select the shape, and then click Show ShapeSheet on the Window menu. You can also enable developer mode to have right-click access to the Show ShapeSheet command. To have right-click access to the Show ShapeSheet command, follow these steps:

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Advanced tab.
  2. Click to select the Run in developer mode check box.
  3. Click OK.
Right-click any shape, and note that the shortcut menu now contains the Show ShapeSheet command.

MORE INFORMATION

The GUARD function protects expression from deletion and change by actions performed in the drawing window (actions such as moving, sizing, grouping, or ungrouping shapes). The GUARD function can:

  • Protect a formula from changes when a shape is moved, resized, grouped, or ungrouped.
  • Protect an entire formula, not just part of it.
  • Allow you to change ShapeSheet cells from the menus.
The cells most often affected by the GUARD function are Width, Height, PinX, and PinY.

Guarding a formula in any cell prevents that cell's value from being changed by actions in the drawing window. However, one action in the drawing window can affect several cells, and each of these cells must be guarded if you want to prevent unexpected changes to the shape's appearance.

The GUARD function does not protect a formula if the cell or section is deleted or overwritten. For example, formatting cells are overwritten when a new style is set; therefore, guarding these formulas will not do any good.

Example

GUARD(TEXTWIDTH(theText) + 0.5 in)
This expression in the Width cell of a shape's Shape Transform section prevents the expression (TEXTWIDTH (theText) + 0.5 in) from being replaced with another value when the shape's width is changed in the drawing window. TheText is a cell that gets triggered when the associated shape's text composition changes.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:8/30/2002
Keywords:kbhowto KB279414
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.