Shape.SpatialRelation property (Visio)
Returns an integer that represents the spatial relationship of one shape to another shape. Both shapes must be on the same page or in the same master. Read-only.
Syntax
expression.SpatialRelation (OtherShape, Tolerance, Flags)
expression A variable that represents a Shape object.
Parameters
Name | Required/Optional | Data type | Description |
---|---|---|---|
OtherShape | Required | [IVSHAPE] | The other Shape object involved in the comparison. |
Tolerance | Required | Double | A distance in internal drawing units with respect to the coordinate space defined by the Shape object's parent. |
Flags | Required | Integer | Flags that influence the result. See Remarks for the values of this argument. |
Return value
Integer
Remarks
The integer returned can be any combination of the values defined in VisSpatialRelationCodes in the Visio type library. The SpatialRelation property returns zero (0) if the two shapes being compared are not in any of the relationships discussed in the table in the VisSpatialRelationCodes topic.
The Flags argument can be any combination of the values of the constants defined in the following table. These constants are declared in VisSpatialRelationFlags in the Visio type library. Use the NoShow cell to determine whether a Geometry section is hidden or visible. Hidden Geometry sections have a value of TRUE and visible Geometry sections have a value of FALSE in the NoShow cell.
Constant | Value | Description |
---|---|---|
visSpatialIncludeContainerShapes | &H80 | Include containers. By default, containers are not included. |
visSpatialIncludeDataGraphics | &H40 | Includes data graphic callout shapes and their sub-shapes. By default, data graphic callout shapes and their subshapes are not included. If the parent shape is itself a data graphic callout, searches are made between the parent shape's geometry and non-callout shapes, unless this flag is set. |
visSpatialIncludeGuides | &H2 | Considers a guide's Geometry section. By default, guides don't influence the result. |
visSpatialIncludeHidden | &H10 | Reserved for future use. Do not use. |
visSpatialIgnoreVisible | &H20 | Does not consider visible Geometry sections. By default, visible Geometry sections influence the result. |
Note
When it compares two shapes, the SpatialRelation property does not consider the width of a shape's line, shadows, line ends, control points, or connection points.
Example
This Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) example shows how to use the SpatialRelation property in an event handler for the ShapeAdded event to determine the spatial relationship between shapes.
Before adding the following code to your VBA project, make sure there is at least one shape on the drawing page. Then, after adding the code, add another shape to your drawing.
Public Sub Document_ShapeAdded(ByVal Shape As IVShape)
Dim vsoShapeOnPage As Visio.Shape
Dim intTolerance As Integer
Dim intReturnValue As VisSpatialRelationCodes
Dim intFlag As VisSpatialRelationFlags
Dim strReturn As String
On Error GoTo errHandler
'Initialize tolerance argument.
intTolerance = 0.25
'Initialize flags argument.
intFlag = visSpatialIncludeHidden
For Each vsoShapeOnPage In ActivePage.Shapes
'Get the spatial relationship.
intReturnValue = Shape.SpatialRelation(vsoShapeOnPage, _
intTolerance, intFlag)
'Convert return code to string value.
Select Case intReturnValue
Case VisSpatialRelationCodes.visSpatialContain
strReturn = "Contains"
Case VisSpatialRelationCodes.visSpatialContainedIn
strReturn = "is Contained in"
Case VisSpatialRelationCodes.visSpatialOverlap
strReturn = "overlaps"
Case VisSpatialRelationCodes.visSpatialTouching
strReturn = "is touching"
Case Else
strReturn = "has no relation with"
End Select
'Display relationship in the shape's text.
vsoShapeOnPage.Text = Shape.Name & " " & strReturn & " " & _
vsoShapeOnPage.Name
Next
errHandler:
End Sub
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