Copyright: Copyright (C) 1993-1997 Visio Corporation
Citation: Visio 5.0 Help, Copyright (C) 1993-1997 Visio Corporation


Using the Array Shapes tool

In technical drawings you create, you may often need to arrange multiple copies of the same shape at regular intervals. For example, an auditorium design might include dozens of rows of seats, or an engineering diagram might show rivets on a metal plate. The Array Shapes tool automates the process of placing multiple instances of the same shape at regular orthogonal intervals.

To use the Array Shapes tool:

1.	On the drawing page, select the shape you want to duplicate.

2.	Choose Tools > Array Shapes.

3.	In the Layout box, specify the number of columns and rows in the array.

4.	Choose whether to place the specified space between the edges or between the centers of the shapes.

5.	In the Spacing box, specify the amount of space used to separate the shapes horizontally and vertically.

You can specify whether the space is between the centers of the shapes or between the edges of the shapes. To reverse the direction of the array, type a negative value for the vertical (or horizontal) direction.

6.	Click OK to create the shape array.

TIP  You can check Reference Primary Shape's Size & Position to make global changes to your array by editing the primary or top left shape. For example, you can resize or rotate the primary shape to resize or rotate all the shapes in the array. Or you can change the spacing between shapes in the array by dragging the vertical or horizontal guide this option automatically adds to the array.

DIALOG BOX OPTIONS

Layout  Specifies the number of rows and columns you want in the shape array.

Spacing  Defines the separation value for both horizontal and vertical space between shapes, and applies the values between shape centers or geometry edges.

Reference Primary Shape's Size & Position  Specifies whether to base the position of the array shapes on the original shape's position. (Array shapes are always the same size as the original shape.)


Array Shapes command
Array Shapes

  Related Topics

Tools menu

Runs the Array Shapes tool, which creates and arranges multiple copies of a shape at regular intervals. You can specify the number of rows and columns in the array, and the amount of space between each shape geometry or shape center.

DIALOG BOX OPTIONS

Layout  Specifies the number of rows and columns you want in the shape array.

Spacing  Defines the separation value for both horizontal and vertical space between shapes, and applies the values between shape centers or geometry edges.

Reference Primary Shape's Size & Position  Specifies whether to base the position of the array shapes on the original shape's position. (Array shapes are always the same size as the original shape.)