Linking a Visio drawing/shapes to Access database?

[honorbum]

I'm trying to link Visio shapes to an Access database so a process flowchart will be drawn based on the database fields. Is this possible?

 

[rvnguy]

honorbum,

Yes, I suppose this could be possible but I can't envision what you are intending to accomplish.

You can link the Visio to Access, that is possible. But I am failing to see how access will be instructed to assemble these objects into a process flow chart.

Do you know how this will be done?

Or is this what you are asking how to accomplish?

You could produce the "Process Flow Chart" completely in Visio, but there must be some functionality that you envision from access that I am not aware of.

Hope you might clarify this.

rvnguy
"I know everything..I just can't remember it all

 

[honorbum]

That's what I am asking, is it possible? I can link shapes to the database (which I haven't figured out what the benefit of that is) but I cannot get the records from the database to populate the shapes or maybe they don't and I'm asking the impossible...

 

[rvnguy]

honorbum,

Hold one....you can not create a "circular" reference.

You either link the shape to access or you link access data to a the shape. I am most positive that if you try both with the same shape it is circular. Kinda chicken or egg. One has to exist independantly, either the shape or the data.

If you want to create a flow diag in Visio and represent(link) access data to the shapes in visio. This can be done.

If you want to create shapes in visio and then in access link to this shape for the purpose of having access create a flow diagram, then I do not know how to accomplish this as access is a DB & not a diagramming application.

There might be others that know more than I that could do this though.

Guess that I am still not clear of precisely what you are attempting to do.

rvnguy
"I know everything..I just can't remember it all

 

[honorbum]

I appreciate your input.

 

[ronams]

I have successfully used the org chart wizard to create parent child relationships with shapes. It initially uses org chart type shapes, but then I go back and do a search and replace shapes of different kinds (for you step, decision, etc) based on a field in the database called (type). I also add lots of custom properties into my shapes that are stored in the access data base. I create shapes that are groups of shapes and the sub shapes allow me to position the custom property text into these sub shapes which allow you to position your text very specifically. It is a bit of a kluge, but I also load all the data for the access data base (or excel, which I used initially), from a word outline. The outline mode allows me to create a simple parent child relationship that constructs all the connections. It sounds abit awkward, but I use it often and am spending some effort to make a seamless Visual basic version of it. I also take advantage of the layout actions that exist in the visio menus to help move the shapes from the org chart layout to the one that i use.