Creating Tables and Lists

When you want to organize text into rows and columns or lists, you can manually format it using tabs or use one of several built-in shapes scattered among various stencils. Figure 4-12 shows a few examples of what's possible. If you just want several rows of aligned text without fancy borders or titles, it's probably quickest to tab between columns as you type. If you're looking for the type of nicely formatted tables that you can create in Word, your best bet is to use a table or chart shape from one of the stencils in the Charts and Graphs template.

Figure 4-12: You can create a variety of preformatted tables with Visio 2007 shapes or create bulleted lists and other columns of tabbed text simply by typing.

As for formatting lists, Visio 2007 includes a Bullets button on the Format Text toolbar that works like its cousin in Word to quickly create bulleted lists. However, Visio 2007 does not offer a method for generating numbered lists automatically. The following sections tell you how to create tables and lists using different procedures.

Tabbing to Create Tables and Lists

The manual method of aligning text in tables and lists is to set tab stops, and then type text with tab characters between columns. Setting tabs in Visio 2007 works in more or less the same way as it does in other Office applications. The difference is that shape size can affect the margins of your text, which in turn affects where tabs align. Try to avoid resizing shapes after you've set tabs; it can make all your hard work look a bit strange.

Because text always appears in a shape, you need to consider the margins of the text block and perhaps also the shape's size when you set tabs. You set tab stops based on the text block width. The "ruler" you work with is in effect the width of the text block, and the zero point is the text block's left edge. This makes setting tabs in Visio 2007 quite different from tabs in a word processing program. For example, a tab stop at 0.5 inches is measured from the left edge of the text block-not the edge of the shape, not the edge of the page, and not from the 0-inch mark on the drawing page ruler.

It's easiest to figure out where to set tab stops if you first move the ruler's zero point to the left edge of the shape, as Figure 4-13 shows. The zero point is where 0 appears on the ruler, and typically it's the edge of the page, but you can move it to any position you like to make alignment and tabbing easier.

Figure 4-13: Tabs and margins for a shape's text are measured from the left edge of the text block.

You can specify tab alignment as centered, left-aligned, or right-aligned, and you can align columns of numbers by their decimal points. You can set up to 10 tab stops for a text block. These tab stops apply to entire paragraphs, not to selected text within a paragraph. This configuration makes Visio 2007 a little less flexible than Word 2007, but then, Visio 2007 wasn't designed to replace your word processor.

Note 

To set the ruler zero point, hold down the Ctrl key, and then drag the vertical ruler to the left edge of the shape. Visio 2007 marks the horizontal ruler's zero at that point.

For conceptual Visio 2007 diagrams such as flowcharts and timelines, the rulers are marked in inches, just like the rulers in Word. However, Visio 2007 drawings can be made to scale, such as a floor plan or office layout, in which case the rulers might display feet, meters, or some other unit of measure. When you work in the Text dialog box to set tabs, you set tabs based on the position of text on the page regardless of the drawing scale. In this matter, Visio 2007 does work like Word 2007.

To set tab stops for a shape's text, follow these steps:

1. Select the text you want as follows:

   • If you want to set tabs for one paragraph of a shape, click the Text tool, and then select the paragraph.

     

   • If you want to set tabs for one shape in a group, use the Text tool to place the insertion point in the shape.

     

   • Otherwise, select a shape.

     

2. To move the ruler's zero point, hold down the Ctrl key, and then drag the vertical ruler to the left edge of the shape or text block.

   The zero point of the horizontal ruler is reset to the left edge of the text block.

3. Choose Format, Text, and then click the Paragraph tab.

   

4. In the Alignment box, select Left. In the Indentation boxes, set Before Text, After Text, and First Line to 0 in.

5. Click the Tabs tab, and then drag the Text dialog box so that you can see the text block.

   

6. In the Tab Stop Position box, click the up or down arrows to set the first tab stop.

   Because you moved the zero point, you can set tab stops in the Tab Stop Position box as the distance from zero.

7. Under Alignment, select an option, and then click Add.

   Repeat steps 6 and 7 for each tab in your table. Or to set tab stops at regular intervals, in the Default Tab Stops box, enter the spacing you want between tab stops, and then click Add to set incremental tabs at the default spacing.

8. Click OK in the Text dialog box.

   Visio 2007 aligns the tabs at the tab stops you specified. You may change the tabs by repeating steps 2 through 8 above.

Inside Out 

Inside tab settings

Working with tabs in a scaled drawing is a little confusing. The units you see on the rulers do not reflect the units you must use in the Text dialog box to set tabs. For tab settings, enter unscaled measurements.

Using Prebuilt Shapes to Create Tables

Visio 2007 includes several prebuilt table shapes in different solutions that you can use to format rows and columns of text, as Figure 4-14 shows. Although you won't find a Convert Text To Table command like the one in Word, you can use one of several table shapes that are already formatted. You just add the text. These shapes even work with a diagram's color schemes. The table shapes in Visio 2007 were designed for the Charts and Graphs solution, but they work just as well in other diagram types. Don't let the stencil name fool you. For example, you might be creating a network diagram, but you can still use the shapes on the Charting Shapes stencil to quickly assemble a table or grid-like form.

Figure 4-14: You can create tables like these using Visio 2007 shapes.

To create tables like those shown in Figure 4-14, you can use the following built-in shapes and tools:

• Grid, Row Header, and Column Header shapes on the Charting Shapes stencil (Charts and Graphs solution) You can specify the number of rows and columns you want in the table or grid. The Row Header and Column Header shapes drag into place.

  

• Feature Comparison and Feature On/Off shapes on the Charting Shapes stencil (Charts and Graphs solution) Although designed for marketing diagrams that compare products, the shapes work for any yes-no type of table. You can also type in the cells rather than using the Feature On/Off shape.

Follow these steps to create a table:

1. Open the stencil containing the table shape you want: Click the Shapes button on the Standard toolbar, select Business, select Charts And Graphs, and then select Charting Shapes.

   Visio 2007 adds the stencil to your drawing.

2. Drag the Grid shape from the stencil to the location on the page you want. The Shape data dialog box appears.

   

3. Click the arrows to enter the number of rows and columns you want.

   You can always add rows and columns to your table later.

4. Click OK.

5. If you want to change the cell width, you can grab a grid handle and expand or shrink the grid.

   Visio 2007 adds a table with your specifications to the drawing page.

6. If you want to use angled column labels, drag the Column Header shape from the Charting Shapes stencil into position over the first table column. Repeat this task for each column, and resize as necessary to fit the column.

7. If you want to have separate row labels, drag the Row Header shape from the Charting Shapes stencil into position to the left of the first row. Repeat for each row, and resize as necessary to fit the row.

8. To add text, click a row header, column header, or table cell (you must subselect a table cell), and then type.

Editing Table Shapes

When you use the Grid or Feature Comparison shape, the resulting table is actually a group. Because of this, tables are a little strange to work with at times. They are designed so that you click a cell, and then start typing. When you want to move the entire table, however, you must be careful not to select individual cells. The easiest thing to do is cancel all selections on the page (click a clear area), and then drag the table. Don't click to select it first; just drag.

To adjust the width of a column, you must select all the cells in the column (either hold down the Shift key and select each cell in turn or use the Multiple Select tool on the Pointer tool drop down menu) and resize them as a group. You may also select the entire table and resize it with its control handles.

Figure 4-15: To adjust the width of a column in your table, select all the cells in the column.

Unlike column width, row height responds to your text's requirements automatically. Simply type the amount of text you want. Visio 2007 sizes the row to accommodate your text.

To add rows or columns to your table, right-click the table, and choose Set Grid, and then choose the total number of rows you want, as Figure 4-16 shows.

Figure 4-16: When you right-click a table shape, you can select Set Grid to display the Shape Data dialog box.

Formatting Table Shapes

You can format table shapes pretty much as you'd expect. Select the shapes you want to format, and then choose an option. It's probably best to either hold down the Shift key and select each in turn or use the Multiple Select tool on the Pointer tool drop down menu.

Table shapes work with Visio 2007 themes. Applying a new theme to your diagram (using Format, Themes, and then selecting a theme), the table, row header, and column header shapes are formatted with the new fill color. You can override the color scheme color by selecting the table or individual rows in it, and then choosing a new fill color.

Creating Bulleted and Numbered Lists

A bulleted list is just a list of text in which every line is set off with a symbol called a bullet. The easiest way to create a bulleted list is to select a shape with text and then click the Bullets button on the Format Text toolbar, as Figure 4-17 shows. The default bullet symbol is a dot, but you can specify different characters such as check boxes, check marks, or diamonds. Visio 2007 remembers the bullet character you selected, and the next time you click the Bullets button, the same symbol is applied.

Figure 4-17: You can quickly format lists with a bullet character by using the Bullets button on the Format Text toolbar.

The Bullets button uses the default paragraph and tab settings to create hanging indents with the currently selected bullet symbol. If you're using a small font or typing inside a small shape, the space between the bullet symbol and your text might look too wide, but you can adjust the settings in the Text dialog box. When you select a shape and then click the Bullets button on the Format Text toolbar (View, Toolbars, Format Text), Visio 2007 makes every line that ends with a soft or hard return into bullet text. A hard return results when you press the Enter key; a soft return happens when you hold down the Ctrl key while pressing Enter to make a line break rather than a paragraph break. If you want only certain text to become bullets, use the Text tool to select the text you want, rather than selecting the entire shape.

You can specify a character to use for the bullet symbol. Visio 2007 uses the font applied to the rest of the text. When you use one of Visio's built-in bullets, you can change the text font without affecting the bullet character. When you change font size, however, bullet size also changes.

To create and format a bulleted list, follow these steps:

1. Select a shape with text, or click the Text tool, and then select a portion of text to make into a bulleted list.

2. Click the Bullets button on the Format Text toolbar.

   Visio 2007 creates a bulleted list using the default paragraph settings.

3. To use a different bullet symbol, select Format, Text, and then click the Bullets tab.

   

4. Select an option or type a character in the Custom box to use for the bullet symbol.

5. To adjust the spacing between bullet symbols and the list text, click the Paragraph tab.

6. If the space between the symbol and text is too wide, type a smaller value in the First box for the Indentation settings.

   The value in the First box sets the hanging indent for the list, so it's a negative number. For example, type -0.25 in. to indent the bullet character 0.25 inches to the left of the left margin.

7. If you change the First indentation value, click the Tabs tab, and then set a tab at the new position.

   For example, in the Tab Stop Position box, type 0.25 in., and then click Add.

8. Click Apply, and then view the results on the drawing page. Move the Text dialog box to the side if necessary.

9. Make additional adjustments to the indentations or tab stops if necessary. Click OK when you're satisfied with the results.

Note 

Rather than typing and then formatting your text as a bulleted list, you can set up the formatting first. To do this, click in a shape where you want to start a list, click the Bullets button on the Format Text toolbar, and then type the list items.

Creating Lists with Custom Bullet Symbols

It's possible to use a custom bullet in one font and a different font for the rest of the text. To do so, select Format Text, and click on the Bullets tab. In the Bullet characters window, type the character that you wish to use as a bullet. In the Font window, choose the font that you want from the drop-down window.

Creating Numbered Lists

Visio 2007, unlike Word, does not provide a way to number lists automatically. You have to type your text and the numbers and set tab stops with hanging indents. The process is admittedly tedious, especially when you've become accustomed to automatically numbered lists in other programs.

Note 

It is possible to cheat. You can create a numbered list in Word, copy it, and then paste it into a Visio 2007 shape. In fact, with few exceptions, that is the most efficient way to make a numbered list.

Follow these steps to create a numbered list in Visio 2007:

1. Use the Text tool to type a number, press Tab, and then type your text.

   Don't worry about the formatting yet. For example, type 1 (or 1., if you prefer), press Tab, type your text, and then press Enter. Repeat this process for each numbered line of text.

2. After you've typed your list, choose Format, Text, and then click the Paragraph tab.

3. In the Alignment box, click Left.

4. In the Before Text box, type the left margin for the text (not the number).

   For example, type 0.5 in. to indent the text 0.5 inches from the left edge of the text block. Make sure the Before Text value provides enough space for the number and tab.

5. In the Before box, type a negative value to set a hanging indent from the left margin.

   For example, type -0.5 in. This creates the hanging indent for the number.

6. Click the Tabs tab, and then add a tab stop at the left margin position.

   For example, type 0.5 in. in the Tab Stop Position box, and then click Add. The value for the Tab Stop Position box should match the value for Before Text in step 4.

7. Click Apply, and then verify that the numbers are aligned correctly. To close the Text dialog box, click OK.

Inside Out 

Defining a numbered list style

If you create numbered lists frequently, consider creating a style that contains the settings you want. To set such a style, first make sure you are in Developer Mode (choose Tools, Options, select the Advanced tab and turn on the Run In Developer Mode checkbox). Then select the shape containing a numbered list, and then select Format, Define Styles. In the Define Styles dialog box, click <New Style> in the Name list and type a new name for the style. Click Add. Clear the Line and Fill check boxes to make sure the style applies only the text formats. Then click OK. Visio 2007 uses the text settings of your selected shape as the basis for the new style. For details about styles, see the section titled "Creating and Editing Styles" in Chapter 23, "Defining Styles, Patterns, and Colors."