Preventing changes to shape attributes in Visio (like width or height) and locking shapes from being selected are handy ways to prevent changes to your drawings. The following list specifies the characteristics of a selected shape that you can lock using the Protection dialog box.
Width
Locks the selected shape's width to prevent resizing. To lock a 1-D shape against rotation, you must lock its width.
Height
Locks the selected shape's height to prevent resizing.
Aspect ratio
Locks the ratio between a shape's height and width so that its proportions won't change when you resize it.
X position
Locks the x (horizontal) position of a shape so that it cannot be moved.
Y position
Locks the y (vertical) position of a shape so that it cannot be moved.
Rotation
Locks a shape so that you cannot rotate it by using the Rotation tool. You can still rotate a 1-D shape by dragging its endpoints. To lock a 1-D shape against rotation, you must lock its width.
Begin point
Locks the begin point of a 1-D shape to a specific location so that it cannot be moved.
End point
Locks the end point of a 1-D shape to a specific location so that it cannot be moved.
Text
Locks the text in the shape so that it cannot be edited.
Format
Locks the formatting (line, fill, text, shadow, corner rounding, transparency) in the shape so that it cannot be edited.
From selection
Locks the shape so it cannot be selected. For this setting to take effect, you must also select Shapes in the Protect Document dialog box.
To display the Protect Document dialog box, on the View menu, click Drawing Explorer Window. Right-click the icon for the drawing file, and then click Protect Document.
From deletion
Locks the shape so it cannot be deleted.
From group formatting
Locks the formatting (color, fill, line, and shadow) in sub-shapes so that they do not change if the grouped shape is formatted. You can still format a sub-shape by selecting it.
From theme colors
Locks the shape so that it does not change if a color theme is applied.
From theme effects
Locks the shape so that it does not change if an effects theme is applied.
From theme connectors
Locks the shape so that it does not change if theme connectors are applied. Note, Visio 2013 and higher.
From theme fonts
Locks the shape so that it does not change if theme fonts are applied. Note, Visio 2013 and higher.
From theme index
Locks the shape so that it does not change if a theme index is applied. Note, Visio 2013 and higher.
All
Locks all options under Protect.
Note: The Protection section in the ShapeSheet spreadsheet includes protection options not available in the Protection dialog box, such as locking against cropping, editing with any drawing tool, text editing and formatting, group editing, and recalculation of height and width when you size the shape.
None
Unlocks all options under Protect.
To learn more about preventing or allowing changes to shapes in Visio, see Prevent or allow changes to shapes.
