Before I start in with specific tips, I’m going to start with some Visio basics. A few shortcut keys that make your life a lot easier.
Control and drag a shape
This is going to copy the shape you have selected. Need a second anything? Hold down control and drag the new one where you need it.
Shift and drag a shape
Similar to control, this one drags the shape in-line with the original position. All you’re doing here is dragging straight up or straight across.
Control, shift and drag a shape
Now, the fun starts. You need a duplicated shape. But, you want it lined up with the previous shape (either vertically or horizontally). Think a row of checkboxes on a UI or a row of bookshelves in a room plan (more on room plans later).
Control, shift and drag a shape. Then, F4
If I do anything in a day a hundred times, this might be it. This does everything that control+shift+drag does. But, every click of the F4 magically repeats the process again (from the last shape added). Need 10 boxes in a row? Yes, you could put 10 boxes down on the page, align them, and distribute them. Isn’t F4 more fun?
I am in AWE of your Visio Wisdom!
Comment by Kate Trgovac — 18 March 2007 @ 10:56 pm
When I Ctrl.-Shift my cursor turns into a magnifying glass and I get a zoom feature. Is there any way to change this?
thanks, Roy
Comment by Roy Zornow — 12 June 2007 @ 4:07 pm
Roy – I can see how you’d get into that problem. The action is to hold down ALT and drag the shape. While you’re still holding onto the shape if you press Shift, it’ll line up with the previous shape.
Shift+Control sure is useful in other situations though. Sorry that I wasn’t completely clear there.
Comment by Joanna — 12 June 2007 @ 4:15 pm
Thanks Joanna, the HOLD-PRESS method works.
I am addicted to using my scroll-wheel for zoom.
Also enjoying Ctrl-1 and Ctrl-2 for chaning cursor to a text entry point.
My tip of the day is Shift-F4 to launch the page explorer when someone dumps a multi-multipage file on you.
Love your site.
— Roy
Comment by Roy Zornow — 13 June 2007 @ 1:46 pm