Many years ago, I wrote some VBA code to calculate the length of a multi-segment line in Visio, see Automating Area and Perimeter Length Shape Data , but Microsoft have since provided a handy ShapeSheet function, PATHLENGTH(…), to do the same without any VBA. The function is described on one of the pages in Visio ShapeSheet Functions O-R , but here is one way that it can be incorporated into a useful shape for, say, cabling or piping, and thus be available in Shape Reports. Moreover, the Shape Data can display the length of each of the segments in the line, in addition to the total length.
I chose to modify the Dynamic Connector master in this example, but it could be added to any 1D master shape.
I also chose to add in the ability to select the display units and the number of decimal places. The following images are of the ShapeSheet in both Value and Formula display modes.
User-defined Cells
| Name | Value | Prompt |
| ShowUnits | TRUE | “TRUE to Show Units, FALSE to Hide Units “ |
| FormatString | “0.”& REPT(“0”,Prop.DecimalPlaces)& IF(User.ShowUnits=1,” u”,””) | “The Format String for the length display” |
The REPT(…) function will simply repeat the “0” character as many times as defined by the value of Prop.DecimalPlaces
Shape Data
| Name | Label | Prompt | Type | Format | Value | Invisible |
| Length | “Length” | “The built-in units are inches” | 2 | “” | GUARD( PATHLENGTH(Geometry1.Path) ) | FALSE |
| TotalLength | “Total Length” | “The length in the selected units” | 0 | “” | GUARD( FORMATEX( Prop.Length, User.FormatString, “in”, Prop.DisplayUnits) ) | FALSE |
| DisplayUnits | “Display Units” | “Select a unit for the display” | 1 | “in;ft;yd;mm;cm;m” | INDEX(3,Prop.DisplayUnits.Format) | FALSE |
| DecimalPlaces | “Decimal Places” | “Select the number of decimal places” | 1 | “0;1;2;3;4;5;6;7;8;9” | INDEX(1,Prop.DecimalPlaces.Format) | FALSE |
| Segmentn | “Segment n Length” | “The length of segment n with the selected unit and decimal places” | 0 | “” | GUARD( FORMATEX( IF( ISERR(PATHLENGTH(Geometry1.Path,n)), 0, PATHLENGTH(Geometry1.Path,n) ), User.FormatString, “in”, Prop.DisplayUnits) ) | ISERR(PATHLENGTH(Geometry1.Path,n)) |
Where n is from 1 to as many as you expect to be the maximum number of segments.
The Length Shape Data row could be Invisible=TRUE.
The invisibility or each of the multiple Segmentn rows is controlled by checking if there is an error returned by the PATHLENGTH(…) function.
Actions
| Action | Menu |
| SETF(GetRef(User.ShowUnits),NOT(User.ShowUnits)) | IF(User.ShowUnits=1,”Hide &Units”,”Show &Units”) |
That is all that is required!
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Thanks for this example to make PATHLENGTH() work for my High Voltage line project!
A minor remark: PATHLENGTH() is not recalculated when you change the rounding of a line (e.g. the bending radius for a cable).
Work-around: change/add/delete a segment (or move a point of the path)
A question:
Can you specify in text how the contents of cell Controls.TextPosition.XBehavior looks like? The figures nor the tables show that information. I tried to figure it out, but my experience with controls is too limited, I am afraid…
Ah… I was using my own master (a HV cable), but should have used the Dynamic Connector master that was used in the example above.
In the Control section of my shape, I changed next cell:
Controls.TextPosition.Xbehavior=IF(OR(STRSAME(SHAPETEXT(TheText),””),HideText),5,0)
In the TextTransform section, I changed next cells:
TxtPinX=SETATREF(Controls.TextPosition)
TxtPinY=SETATREF(Controls.TextPosition.Y)
This works perfect for my master!
Thanks again for sharing your knowledge, David!
Regards – Evert
Ah… I was using my own master (a HV cable), but should have used the Dynamic Connector master that was used in the example above! That master comes with formulas that must be set when starting from scratch.
The answer to my question of February 12 is as follows:
1) Insert Prop.TotalLength as a Text Field
2) In the Control section, change next cells:
Controls.TextPosition.Xbehavior=IF(OR(STRSAME(SHAPETEXT(TheText),””),HideText),5,0)
3) In the TextTransform section, change next cells:
TxtPinX=SETATREF(Controls.TextPosition)
TxtPinY=SETATREF(Controls.TextPosition.Y)
Regards – Evert