Mark,
Since providing the above info the other day, I've been thinking about writing the code for #2 -- to copy the shape data automatically -- but just haven't gotten around to it.
Then tonight I remembered a handy set of Visio utilities that I've used before. Turns out that the author recently added exactly what you need:
http://www.visio-utilities
One of the newest features copies shape data. I just tried it and it works fine.
The utilities are fully functional for 30 days, then only cost approx. $29 if you decide to keep them.
Scott
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by: scottPosted on 2008-01-23 at 20:19:26ID: 20730563
Let me answer your last question first -- one useful website for Visio add-ins for network and data center diagrams is http://visiotoolbox.com. wnloads.as px? resourc eid=3#atdi mgtop
In particular, look at the partner product descriptions that apply to network diagrams on this page:
http://visiotoolbox.com/do
You may need to register to see the good stuff, but if you already have a Microsoft LiveID (previously called a Microsoft Passport), you're all set.
Also, a web search of something like
visio network diagram
will turn up a surprising amount of useful stuff.
As far as transferring shape data from Visio network shapes to your own Macromedia drawings, I don't know of a click-and-drag way to do that. There are two options to accomplish this that occur to me at the moment -- in either case, you'll only need to do it once for each of your custom shapes. After that, you can drag your data-enhanced shapes onto a stencil (an existing one or a new one). Then when you drag one of your shapes from the stencil onto a drawing page, each instance will have your data fields.
The two techniques for getting shape data into your shapes:
1) Do it manually: right-click the shape, select Data, then Shape Data...; answer yes when asked whether you want to add data to the shape and replicate the fields you like from the standard Visio shapes.
2) Write VBA macro code to accomplish it.
If you only have a few shapes and there are only a handful of data items per shape, #1 is probably just as fast. If there are lots of shapes and fields, #2 is might be the better choice.