Build your diagrams faster with AutoConnect

The AutoConnect feature in Microsoft Office Visio 2007 takes much of the work out of building diagrams. By using AutoConnect, you can quickly add, connect, distribute, and align a whole series of shapes, like those in a flowchart, with only a few clicks.

What do you want to do?

Use AutoConnect to quickly add shapes to the page

Turn AutoConnect on or off

Use AutoConnect to quickly add shapes to the page

1. Select a shape in the Shapes window.

2. Rest the pointer over a shape on the drawing page.

3. Click the blue connection arrow on the side of the shape that you want to connect to.

   Visio automatically adds and connects the shape and aligns it for you.

4. Repeat step 3 as many times as you want to quickly add and connect a series of shapes.

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Turn AutoConnect on or off

You can turn the AutoConnect feature on or off in all Visio drawings or in only the active drawing.

Turn AutoConnect on or off in all Visio drawings

1. On the Tools menu, click Options.

2. Click the General tab.

3. Under Drawing window options, select the Enable AutoConnect check box to turn on AutoConnect. Clear the check box to turn off AutoConnect.

Turn AutoConnect on or off in the active drawing

On the Standard toolbar, click the AutoConnect tool.

Note: If clicking the AutoConnect tool does not turn on AutoConnect, make sure the Enable AutoConnect check box is selected in the Options dialog box.

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