Resize a shape

You can easily resize shapes in your Visio drawing. Here's how.

Newer Versions Office 2007

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1. Select a shape.

2. Resize the shape as follows:

   • To resize a 2-dimensional (2-D) shape, such as a rectangle, drag a selection handle (a small square or circle, depending on the version of Visio that you're using) until the shape is the size you want. To resize the shape proportionally, drag a corner handle.

     Tip: Each 2-D shape has 8 selection handles. If you can't see all 8 of them, zoom in until they appear so you can resize the shape more accurately. (Press CTRL+SHIFT and click to zoom in. Press CTRL+SHIFT and right-click to zoom out.)

   • To resize a 1-dimensional (1-D) shape, such as a line, drag an endpoint to the length you want.

   • To resize a shape by typing a value, on the View tab, click Task Panes > Size & Position, and then in the Size & Position window, type new values in the Width, Height, or Length boxes.

   • To make several shapes the same size, select the shapes, click Task Panes > Size & Position, and then type new values in the Width, Height, or Length boxes.

Resize shapes based on text

Visio provides several shapes that are resized automatically based on their text. To use these shapes, on the Insert tab, click Callouts, and then choose from the callout shapes shown.

Resize a locked shape

Some shapes and layers might be locked so that they cannot be resized; however, you can unlock them.

• To unlock a shape, select the shape, and on the Developer tab, in the Shape Design group, click Protection, and then clear the appropriate check boxes.

  Note: The Developer tab does not appear by default. To add the Developer tab to the ribbon, click File > Options > Customize Ribbon. In the right pane, select the Developer check box, and then click OK.

• To unlock a layer, on the Home tab, in the Editing group, click Layers > Layer Properties, and then clear the check box in the Lock column by clicking the cell in the row for the layer that you want to unlock.

• Some shapes, like the shapes in the Database Model Diagram template, cannot be resized manually, even if the shapes are unlocked. You have to use a different shape if you want to one that you can resize manually.

1. Select a shape.

2. Resize the shape as follows:

   • To resize a 2-dimensional (2-D) shape, such as a rectangle, drag a selection handle until the shape is the size you want. To resize the shape proportionally, drag a corner handle.

     Tip: Each 2-D shape has 8 selection handles. If you can't see all 8 of them, zoom in until they appear so you can resize the shape more accurately. (Press CTRL+SHIFT and click to zoom in. Press CTRL+SHIFT and right-click to zoom out.)

   • To resize a 1-dimensional (1-D) shape, such as a line, drag an endpoint to the length you want.

   • To resize a shape by typing a value, on the View menu, click Size & Position Window, and then in the Size & Position window, type new values in the Width, Height, or Length boxes.

   • To make several shapes the same size, select the shapes and, in the Size & Position window, type new values in the Width, Height, or Length boxes.

Resize shapes based on text

Visio provides several shapes that are resized automatically based on their text. To use these shapes, on the File menu, point to Shapes, point to Visio Extras, and click Callouts.

Resize a locked shape

Some shapes and layers might be locked so that they cannot be resized; however, you can unlock them.

• To unlock a shape, select the shape, and on the Format menu, click Protection, and then clear the appropriate check boxes.

• To unlock a layer, on the View menu, click Layer Properties, and then clear the check box in the Lock column by clicking the cell in the row for the layer that you want to unlock.

• Some shapes, like the shapes in the Database Model Diagram template, cannot be resized manually, even if the shapes are unlocked. You have to use a different shape if you want to one that you can resize manually.