# IT:AD:Visio:HowTo #



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Visio is an old program (about 20 years old now), and because it was designed with old metaphors, etc. feels 'different' than more modern applications.

You need help...


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## Notes ##

The following are instructions on accomplishing common actions with an unintuitive, out-of-date interface.



### Shapes ###

##### Rounded Corners #####

Not all shapes allow you to modify the Rectangle's rounded corners. Consider sticking with a plain Rectangle (not Square), which does allow for this.

##### Shape Fill Gradients #####

Select the object
Select Format/Fill
Apply a background color
Select a Fill Pattern that is a gradient (tip: not intuitive because only the top visible patterns are hatches...)
Then the Fill Color because enabled.
Set that.
Done.



### Connectors ###

##### Moving Text on a Connector #####

Change the Selector from the default Selector to a Text Block. 

Then you can move the Block of the Text.


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### Text in General ###

##### Text Formatting #####

Text Tips: [http://www.visguy.com/2009/05/06/top-twelve-text-tips/](http://www.visguy.com/2009/05/06/top-twelve-text-tips/)



### Organisation ###

##### Layers ####

If there is one feature where Visio has the advantage over [[IT/AD/Draw.IO/]] is the ability to define layers.

Move Shapes (and their Connectors) to new Layers:

    Select Shape/Format/Layer...

To Turn off/on/color a layer to see how things are shaping up:

    Menu/View/Layer Properties...