Visio5: Using the SmartShape Wizard to Create a Hidden Note or a Built-in Connector Removes Custom Commands from the Shape's Shortcut Menu (254616)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visio Standard 5.0
  • Microsoft Visio Professional 5.0
  • Microsoft Visio Technical 5.0
  • Microsoft Visio Enterprise 5.0
This article was previously published under Q254616

SYMPTOMS

The SmartShape Wizard removes shape-specific commands from a shape's shortcut menu if you use it to add either a hidden note or a built-in connector to the shape.

The most common command the SmartShape Wizard removes is the Properties command. However, the wizard also removes shortcut commands that perform custom operations, such as changing the shape's appearance or configuration.

RESOLUTION

Currently, the only way to restore the shortcut menu commands is to add them manually in the shape's ShapeSheet window.

NOTE: If you are not familiar with the ShapeSheet window and are uncomfortable with working with formulas in spreadsheets, you may want to read the Visio Help topic titled "ShapeSheet window" and related topics before trying to follow these steps.

To manually add a Properties command to the shortcut menu:

  1. Select the shape, and then on the Window menu, click Show ShapeSheet to open its ShapeSheet window.
  2. Scroll to the Actions section. If it is not visible, right-click the ShapeSheet window and, on the shortcut menu, click View Sections.
  3. In the Sections dialog box, click to select the Actions check box, and then click OK.
  4. Right-click one of the cells in the Action section, and then click Insert Row After.
  5. In the Action cell of the row that you just added, type DOCMD(1312), and then press ENTER.
  6. In the Menu cell, type Properties, and then press ENTER.
  7. In the Prompt cell, type Set the custom properties of the selected shape.
You do not need to change the data in the Checked and Disabled cells.

If the wizard removed a shape-specific command other than Properties from the shortcut menu, you can restore it by using a new instance of the shape as a guide.

To use a new instance as a guide:

  1. Drag a new instance of the shape that you modified to the drawing page.
  2. Open the new shape's ShapeSheet window and scroll to the Actions section.
The cells in the Actions section of this new instance contain the information that you need to create the shortcut menu item for the modified shape. Simply enter the same information in the modified shape's ShapeSheet window.

TIP: You can use the Action dialog box to add some shortcut menu commands quickly without having to open the ShapeSheet window. For complete instructions:

  1. With Visio running, click Help, and then click Visio Help.
  2. In the Help Topics dialog box, click the Index tab, and then type ShapeSheet spreadsheets: adding commands to shortcut menus in the box provided.
  3. Click Display.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/25/2003
Keywords:kbdta kbprb KB254616
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.