Making a shape set a file path to a session variable

It is possible to change a shape into a control that opens a dialog box where you can select a file. The session variable will then be populated with the path to that file.

To configure this, specify the following shape data on the shape:

• SetVar: Set this shape data field to the name of the variable.

• Source: Set this shape data field to OpenFileDialog.

• SetVarOptions: This shape data field allows you to specify the following options, using a pipe character ("|") as separator:

  • By default, the shape will be displayed as a button. However, if you want it to be displayed the same way in Visual Overview as in Visio, set this shape data field to Control=Shape.
  • To resolve a mapped network drive to the correct network location (e.g., to resolve T:\MyLocation to \\NetworkLocation\User\MyLocation), specify the option ResolveToUNC.

For example, to create a button that opens a dialog box to populate the “Path” variable with the selected file path, specify the following shape data:

Shape data field	Value
SetVar	Path
Source	OpenFileDialog