Positioning Visio Shape Text Block with a Control Handle

I was recently asked how a control handle can be added to a Visio shape so that it can be used to re-position the text block. Fortunately, it is extremely easy to setup, and requires just two formulas to be updated in the ShapeSheet. This is a great use of the SETATREF(…) function.

This short video shows how easy this is to do in Visio. Of course, you do need to be in Developer mode to be able to open the ShapeSheet.

The TxtPinX and TextPinY cell formulas could also have had the formulas =Controls.Row_1 and =Controls.Row_2, but the Text Block tool would break these, unless the formulas were surrounded with a GUARD(…) function. The SETATREF(…) example looks simpler to me.

Of course, you are not limited to just one Text Block, but any more than one needs to be part of another shape. This short video shows how you need to make the shape a group shape, and then insert other shapes inside of it. Then these shapes or their Text Blocks can be moved with a Control Handle on the parent shape. Alternatively, you can use one of the Insert/Diagram Parts/Callout shapes and insert a formula like =CALLOUTTARGETREF()!Prop.MyProp :

You can use desktop Visio to design these shapes, and then Visio for the web can use them. The ShapeSheet fomulas still work there!

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