Moving shapes with the Move Shapes add-in in Visio (304899)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office Visio Professional 2003
  • Microsoft Visio 2002 Professional
This article was previously published under Q304899

SUMMARY

In addition to the Size and Position window, Microsoft Visio includes a tool for moving shapes: the Move Shapes add-in. The main advantages of using the Move Shapes add-in over the Size and Position window are as follows:
  • You can move a copy of a shape rather than the original.
  • You can specify the distance moved as a function of the shape's current position rather than using page coordinates (the X and Y boxes).
  • You can specify the distance to move in polar coordinates, which moves a shape along an angle.

MORE INFORMATION

To use the Move Shapes add-in to move a shape in a diagram, follow the appropriate steps for your situation.

How to move a shape by using polar coordinates

  1. Select a shape.
  2. On the Tools menu, point to Macros, point to Visio Extras, and click Move Shapes.
  3. Click the Distance/Angle option.
  4. In the Distance box, type the radial distance you want to move the shape.
  5. In the Angle box, type the degrees for an angle along which you want to move the shape.

How to move a shape by using linear coordinates

  1. Select a shape.
  2. On the Tools menu, point to Macros, point to Visio Extras, and click Move Shapes.
  3. Select the Horizontal/Vertical option and then specify the horizontal and vertical distances you want the shape to move.
  4. Click the Duplicate check box if you want to move a copy of the selected shape and keep the original shape in its original position.
  5. To check the settings you've entered in the Move Shapes dialog box, click Apply and see where the shape moves.
  6. Click OK.

    If the shape doesn't move where you expect it to, press CTRL+Z to undo the results.

    NOTE: After you click OK, the next time you open the Move Shapes dialog box the values are reset. Visio does not retain the previous settings used.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/11/2006
Keywords:kbhowto KB304899
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