How to Create a Visio Stencil

Customize all of your stencils if you so choose.

Stencils, the basic components of flow charts within Microsoft's Visio, are used to connect different data types together. Creating a work flow can be a frustrating experience if the stencils at hand are not suited to the task. Microsoft Visio's stencil creation system makes it easy to create your own custom stencils in whatever form you'd like. These can truly range from the simple to the complex, and you can create as many as you need. Open your copy of Visio and get ready to create your first custom stencil.

Things You'll Need

• Microsoft Visio
• Microsoft Paint

Instructions

1. Click on "File" and in the box that drops down click on "Shapes." Click on "New Stencil."

2. Click on "Stencilx" in the shapes menu on the left-hand side of the screen. The exact name of the new stencil will depend on how many stencils are already open at the time. It will, however, always be the bottom stencil in the stack.

3. Click on "Insert" and then click on "Object" from the menu that drops down. Here choose from a number of design options for your new stencil.

4. Click on "Bitmap Image." A small space will open within your work space for you to draw the new stencil.

5. Hover your mouse cursor over the canvas that appears within the work window. Draw a custom stencil within the canvas by left-clicking and dragging the cursor over it until you have the desired shape. When completed, left-click outside the border of the canvas.

6. Left-click on the new stencil, and drag it to the "Shapes" area located on the left-hand side of the work space under "Stencilx." The software will then name your drawing "Master." Right click on this master stencil, and left click on 'Edit Master' and then on "Master Properties."

7. Delete "Master" from the "Name" dialog box, and name your stencil.

Tips & Warnings

• You can resize a custom stencil by left-clicking on it and hovering your mouse cursor over the green box representing the direction that you want to scale in. Left-click and drag until the stencil is the desired size.

References

• ZDNet: Create your own custom stencils
• Microsoft: Create a new stencil

Resources

• Vtc.com: Introducing Visio 2007