1. Expertly position, stack, and group shapes Expertly position shapes One of the main reasons you create diagrams is that they’re much more efficient at communicating information than using a bunch of text. But some diagrams fail because the position of their shapes is sloppy. It’s amazing how orderly shapes make things easier to see and understand. Positioning shapes on the page expertly and neatly not only will make your diagrams look good but also will clearly communicate the information within them.

2. Expertly position, stack, and group shapes Use AutoConnect arrows You want neatly placed shapes. But most of the time you want them connected to other shapes too. One way to accomplish both is to use the AutoConnect arrows. Make sure AutoConnect is on by clicking the AutoConnect button. How do they work? In a stencil, select the shape you want.

3. Expertly position, stack, and group shapes Use AutoConnect arrows You want neatly placed shapes. But most of the time you want them connected to other shapes too. One way to accomplish both is to use the AutoConnect arrows. Rest your pointer over the shape you want to connect to, and then click a blue AutoConnect arrow. How do they work? A new shape is added, connected, and positioned neatly on the page.

4. Expertly position, stack, and group shapes Use the grid and the rulers AutoConnect is great, but there will be times when you want to simply put something in place yourself. And you may not want to connect anything yet. So another way to neatly arrange shapes is to arrange them by using the grid and the rulers. When you position shapes on the page—or first add shapes to the page—use the grid lines to keep them straight. Keep an eye on the grid to make sure your shapes are evenly spaced.

5. Expertly position, stack, and group shapes Use the grid and the rulers The rulers are also invaluable. These numbers are especially important if you’re creating a detailed office layout or building plan that will control physical measurements. By default, shapes snap to the grid lines and the measurement lines on the rulers. This behavior makes it much easier to position shapes. Use them to see the exact distance between shapes or to determine just how big a certain shape is.

6. Expertly position, stack, and group shapes Follow the guides Even more visible than the grid lines are the guides: vertical or horizontal lines that you can place on a page to keep things orderly. You drag them from a ruler, and by default they appear blue, as in the illustration. Guides help you organize your diagrams according to their content. And guides don’t show up on printed diagrams; they’re your secret.

7. Expertly position, stack, and group shapes Open the Size & Position window Sometimes using a mouse to position or size a shape can be difficult or imprecise. Say you’re working on an office layout: you’ll want a desk to be positioned just so. But what if Visio snaps it to a location you don’t want? Or what if you can’t seem to let go of the mouse button at the right time? The cure for these woes is the Size & Position window, and it is found on the View menu.

8. Expertly position, stack, and group shapes Open the Size & Position window The location of a shape is stated in terms of X and Y coordinates. The X coordinate is the position on the horizontal ruler at the top of the page. The Y coordinate is the position on the vertical ruler at the left of the page. The point where these meet is the shape’s pin. For most shapes, the pin is the center of the shape.

9. Expertly position, stack, and group shapes Open the Size & Position window The location of a shape is stated in terms of X and Y coordinates. To move the shape, type in new numbers for the coordinates. The shape will automatically shift to that exact location. To size the shape, type new numbers for width and height. The shape edges change to those exact dimensions, while the shape pin stays where it was.

10. Expertly position, stack, and group shapes Command shapes to align themselves Grid, rulers, and guides are great when you create a diagram in a planned, organized way. But sometimes you may prefer to work freely and spontaneously, saving the organization for the end. While you’re working freehand or when you’re finished, you can tidy up your diagram by using the Align shapes command on the Shape menu.

11. Expertly position, stack, and group shapes Command shapes to align themselves Grid, rulers, and guides are great when you create a diagram in a planned, organized way. Select the shape you want the others to line up with, and then click the alignment option you want. In the example here, a vertical alignment button got these shapes in line. It’s like a sheepdog for shapes.

12. Expertly position, stack, and group shapes Distribute shapes evenly You can use the grid, rulers, and guides to position shapes one by one, but what if you’ve got dozens of shapes in your diagram? The Distribute Shapes command on the Shape menu turns odd distances into even ones. It’ll get you home in time for dinner.

13. Expertly position, stack, and group shapes Distribute shapes evenly Say you’ve got the shapes you want on the page, but one is too close to another, and another is too far away. The ideal arrangement is equal amounts of space between shapes. You can do this in three steps, without any fussy mouse work. Just select three or more shapes, click the Distribute Shapes command, and choose a distribution option. In this example, a horizontal distribution button evened things out.

14. Expertly position, stack, and group shapes Rotate shapes Sometimes a shape is placed, sized, and spaced right but still needs one good turn. To rotate 2-D shapes, you use the rotation handle. Just click and drag that handle to the new position. To rotate 1-D shapes, you click and drag either the beginning point or the ending point, swinging the shape around to where you want it.

15. Expertly position, stack, and group shapes Flip shapes Sometimes you need to rotate a shape not by turning it around, but by turning it over to create a mirror- image reversed version. This is called flipping a shape. Just like a pancake. When you flip a shape horizontally, the flip action occurs from side to side. When you flip a shape vertically, the flip action occurs from top to bottom. You can flip shapes horizontally or vertically.