Visio5: Cannot Change Flowchart Shape by Right-Clicking (286369)

SYMPTOMS

After you create a flowchart with the Basic Flowchart solution in Microsoft Visio, you may want to change a flowchart shape by right-clicking it, so that you do not have to delete the old shape and create a new one. However, most of the shapes from the Basic Flowchart Shapes stencil in Visio do not allow this change behavior. This may differ from other flowchart programs, which allow this behavior for most or all shapes.

CAUSE

The Flowchart Shapes shape on the Flowchart stencil (Basic Flowchart Shapes.VSS) is the only flowchart shape that can use right-click change behavior. None of the other flowchart shapes from this stencil have this functionality.

RESOLUTION

If you want to change shapes other than the Flowchart Shapes, you must replace the shapes, their formatting, and their contents.

To have the greatest flexibility for change, use the Flowchart Shapes shape to create your flowchart. After you drag the Flowchart Shapes shape onto the page, you can use either of the following methods to change the shape's appearance.

Method 1: Use the Shortcut Menu

Select a Flowchart Shapes shape that is currently on the drawing page.
Right-click the Flowchart Shapes shape, and then click one of the four shape choices on the shortcut menu:
- Process
- Decision
- Document
- Data
Your choice appears immediately on the drawing.

Method 2: Use the Shape Menu

Select a Flowchart Shapes shape that is currently on the drawing page.
On the Shape menu, point to Action, and then click one of the four shape choices:
- Process
- Decision
- Document
- Data
Your choice appears immediately on the drawing.