Applies ToVisio Plan 2 Visio Professional 2024 Visio Standard 2024 Visio Professional 2021 Visio Standard 2021 Visio Professional 2019 Visio Standard 2019 Visio Professional 2016 Visio Standard 2016
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Place related shapes into containers to show relationships between shapes in a diagram.

Add a container

  1. Select Insert > Container, and choose a container style.

  2. Select the heading text, and type a descriptive title for the container.

  3. Drag shapes into the container.

    As you drag, you’ll see a highlight around the container when the shapes are connected to it.

Connect shapes to containers

  1. Select Home > Container.

  2. Drag a connector from the shape you want to the edge of the container shape you want.

    An outline indicates the shapes are connected.

Reposition the container

  1. To move shapes in a container, select the container and then select Pointer Tool.

  2. Drag the container where you want it to go on the drawing page.

Change the look of a container

With the container selected, select Format for these options -

  • To change the style, select Container Styles and choose a style.

  • To change the location of the heading, select Heading Style and choose a new style.

  • To change the distance between the container and the shapes, select Margins and choose a distance.

  • To resize the container to its minimum size, select Fit to Contents.

Prevent changes to a container

  1. Select the container.

  2. Select Format > Lock Container.

Remove a container

  1. Select the container you want to delete.

  2. Select Format > Disband Container.

    Note: Only the container is deleted. The shapes inside remain.

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