How to Add More Text Blocks to a Visio Organization Chart
Question details
The user needs to add more independent text blocks to shapes in a Visio organization chart to replicate an older five-block layout.
- Product
- Microsoft Visio
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Designing an organization chart that requires displaying multiple independent data points on a single shape, specifically using corner text blocks.
- Observed behavior
- Newer Visio stencils default to only two text blocks and use property fields, lacking the five-block functionality of legacy templates.
Determine whether your design strictly requires visually distinct text blocks in the corners, or if adding more custom data fields to the default two blocks will suffice.
Use a Custom Shape or Legacy Stencil
Bypass the limitations of modern stencils by using older templates or building a custom five-block shape from scratch.
Modern Visio organization charts prioritize a themed design using only two main text blocks. To achieve the older look with a center block and four corner blocks, a custom layout is required.
Open Visio, go to the Basic Shapes menu, and drag a standard plain rectangle onto your canvas to serve as the main block.
Use the Text tool to draw five separate text boxes. Place one in the center and position the remaining four in the corners of your rectangle.
Select the rectangle and all five text boxes by dragging your cursor over them. Right-click the selection, select 'Group', and then choose 'Group' again to combine them into a single shape.
Drag your newly grouped shape into your 'My Shapes' stencil panel so you can reuse it throughout your organization chart.
Add Additional Fields via Display Options
If you do not strictly need independent, separated text boxes, you can force Visio to display extra custom properties inside the existing default blocks.
Create Flexible Organization Charts with WPS Office
If you find Visio's modern stencils too restrictive for custom text blocks, consider using WPS Office. With powerful built-in drawing tools, SmartArt, and flexible diagram templates, you can easily build highly customized organization charts without layout limitations.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office suite on your device.
- 2. Open a document or presentation: Launch WPS Writer or WPS Presentation and start a new blank document.
- 3. Insert shapes or SmartArt: Navigate to the 'Insert' tab and select 'SmartArt' to choose an organization chart template, or use 'Shapes' to draw and group custom text blocks freely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do newer Visio organization charts only have two text blocks?
Microsoft updated Visio's organization chart stencils to use a themed, modernized design that relies on two primary blocks (Block 1 and Block 2) and custom property fields, rather than scattered independent text boxes.
Can I link my custom multi-block Visio shape to an external data table?
Yes. Even if you use a custom grouped shape with multiple text boxes, you can still link it to external data sources like Excel using the Data Selector wizard in Visio.
How do I add a completely new custom property to a Visio shape?
Right-click the shape, select 'Data', and then choose 'Shape Data'. From there, you can define new field names and values, which can then be toggled on via the Org Chart Display Options.
