Toolbars in Visio

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Toolbars in Visio

The toolbars at the top of the screen are size sensitive, meaning that as a window decreases in size certain tool buttons disappear in order to save space. If a particular tool button cannot be found on the toolbar, try resizing the window. If the tool button is till not visible, try selecting Toolbars from the View menu to display a toolbar set that is hidden.

The Standard, Shape and Text toolbars displayed in a "full-screen" mode display all the toolbar icons in each toolbar.

The same toolbars active, but displayed in a Visio window reduced to half-screen size displays a reduced icon set.

If the tool button still cannot be found, check to make sure that the correct windows have focus. To focus on a window, left click once on the title bar at the top of the window.

Visio offers seven customizable toolbar sets depending on where you are in the program and what windows have focus. For example, when no documents are opened a toolbar with a small number of tools is present, but when a drawing document is opened and the drawing window has focus a different toolbar with many tools appears. Similarly, different toolbars appear when a stencil window is in focus, a ShapeSheet is being edited, a stencil icon is being edited, the print preview mode is activated and when text is being written or edited.

Stencil toolbar
Window > Show Master Shapes diplays the master shapes window and loads the Stencil toolbar

The ShapeSheet requires it's own special toolbar items. This toolbar set displays when you open the ShapeSheet window (Window > Show ShapeSheet)

This toolbar provides appropriate tools for the print preview window

This toolbar is displayed in Visio when there is no document open

Visio 4.5 users
To make accessing Visio commands easier, Visio version 4.5 provides "button flavor", or style and display options to the end-user. Using the View/Toolbars menu item, users can customize the appearance of the Visio environment.

Style Options

No Toolbar – turns off all toolbars

Microsoft Office – Formats toolbars and buttons to have a Microsoft Office "look and feel"

Lotus SmartSuite – Formats toolbars and buttons to have a Lotus SmartSuite "look and feel"

The "flavors' option was removed in Visio 5.0 in favor of a consistent Microsoft-style interface.

Display Options

Large Buttons – Uses large icons for buttons (also decreases the amount of buttons available)

Raised Buttons – Available only with Microsoft Office-style buttons. Changes button appearance from flat (Office 97) to raised button (Office pre-97)

Show ScreenTips – Displays ToolTips when you pass the cursor over buttons

Summary

Toolbars are "size-sensitive"
Visio 4.5 users can access different toolbar flavors
There are 7 Customizable Toolbar sets
No Document
Drawing
Stencil
ShapeSheet
Icon
Print Preview
Text

The Visio Basics tutorial is based on training material devised, created and delivered by Visimation.

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