About assigning columns in data files to shape data fields

You can assign columns from your data file as shape data fields for your organization chart shapes.

Data file columns

The Organization Chart Wizard uses columns (fields) from your data file to create shape data fields that will be associated with the shapes in the organization chart.

• Each row in the data file corresponds to one employee and, therefore, to one position box, or shape, in the organization chart.

• Columns in the data file, which you designate as shape data fields, become data fields associated with each shape in the chart.

• The value in the data file cell where an employee row intersects with a shape data field column is the value that the wizard puts into the shape data field associated with a specific organization chart shape.

For example, suppose that your data file contains a row for an employee named Ben Smith. Your data file also contains a column for Telephone Number. Ben's telephone number, as recorded in the cell where Ben's row intersects the Telephone Number column, is X521. If, in the wizard, you designate Telephone Number as a shape data field, the position box representing Ben Smith in the organization chart will include a Telephone Number shape data field, and the value in the field will be X521.

Displayed fields

Shape data fields are data fields where you can enter values associated with shapes.

For example, by default, organization chart shapes have these shape data fields: Department, Telephone, Name, Title, and E-mail. You can create additional fields as needed.

You can add values to shapes' shape data fields so that an organization chart becomes more than just a hierarchical description of your organization, but also functions as a source of data about positions and people.