How to make sure newly created connectors are straight

microsoft-visiomicrosoft-visio-2010microsoft-visio-2013

I'm creating a Visio Flowchart diagram. I want all connectors by default to be "Straight". Is there any way to set a default style for newly created connectors? Currently all my connectors are always drawn "Right Angle" initially.

Note that I'd prefer any solution to work for both drawing a connector with the corresponding Tool, and for drawing a connector through the smart interface when hovering a process block.

Things I've tried:

  • CTRL + A → Design Ribbon → Layout subribbon → Connectors → Straight. This will not be persisted for new connectors.
  • Going through all the options under: Design Ribbon → Variants (the caret for a pullout menu) → Connectors. This is only for the style of connector, it seems.
  • Selecting various different Themes. Haven't found one that has Straight connectors by default.
  • Opening Page Setup → Layout and Routing. There is in fact an option [Routing → Appearance] there which can be set to "Straight" vs "Curved", but in this dropdown "Straight" actually means "Right Angle".

To put it in a picture, here's what happens now:

drawing a connector giving default Right Angles

And here's what I want to happen:

a straight connector

Best Answer

It looks like this has been a common question for ages ;). You can change default connector style by editing "Dynamic Connector" master in the document stencil (in your case, set it to be "straight").

To do this:

  1. Open the "Shapes" sidebar
  2. Hit the flyout icon next to "More Shapes" and select "Show Document Stencil"
  3. At the bottom a new panel shows which contains "Dynamic connector": right click it, and under "Edit Master" select "Edit Master Shape"
  4. Select the connector on your screen (should be a line with one right angle)
  5. Use the ribbon (Design > Layout > Connectors) to set it to "Straight"
  6. Close the window top left with the [X], and choose "Update the connector and all of its instances"

New connectors will now default be routed as straight connectors.

Here are some other sources that tell a similar story:

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