Know how: Merge Master Shapes

Two old, decaying shapes are joined together to create a shiny new one.

If you migrate older process models to a new viflow version, you will find several master shapes with the same appearance in the stencil. Even if these shapes are visually indistinguishable from one another, they are technically different objects. However, they fulfill the same function. These duplicate objects can be merged into a single viflow object using the Merge Master Shapes function.

This process cannot be undone, so we would like to show you how best to use this function.

1. Create the "Master Shape Usage" report

Before merging the master shapes, you should make sure you have an overview of all existing shapes in the process model. Here you can check which shapes are suitable for merging.

To do this, click on Master Shapes Usage in the Reports tab. In the report, you can see which master shape is used in which process.

Screenshot of duplicate shapes in the viflow stencil.
Redundant master shapes in the viflow stencil.
Animation of how to open the "Master Shape Usage" report in viflow.
Open the "Master Shape Usage" report in viflow.

 

2. Merge Master Shapes

Attention: Only replace customized or special shapes (e.g. from viflow 6) with current viflow shapes if you are absolutely sure that these original shapes will no longer be needed in the future (they will be removed from the template) AND that they should no longer appear in the existing graphics (they will be deleted from the graphics).

  1. Click on File. The Information entry opens automatically.
  2. Click on the Merge Master Shapes button. The window of the same name opens. The first two entries cannot be replaced or merged. All other shapes are not protected.
Animaton how to open the "Merge Master Shapes" function.
Open the "Merge Master Shapes" function.
  1. If you move the mouse over a shape, details about it are displayed.
  2. Click with the right mouse button to get a selection of options with which the shape can be replaced. Alternatively, you can also assign the shapes via drag-and-drop. Drag the redundant shape into the Assign and replace column.
Animation on how to assign master shapes for merging.
Assign master shapes for merging.
  1. Confirm with OK. All assigned shapes are merged and replaced.

 

The "Others" tab

The shapes displayed here have no viflow functionality and are only graphic elements, text fields or images. There are no connections to the viflow process model file. These shapes can be replaced by others, but never by viflow objects (processes, information, areas).

 

The "Others" tab in the Merge Master Shapes window.
The "Others" tab in the Merge Master Shapes window.

Delete assignments

To remove the assignments from the Assign and replace column on the right, click on the delete icon that appears when you move the mouse pointer over the shape or select Remove assignment from the context menu.

Amimation how to delete assignment of shapes in the Merge Master Shapes window.
Delete assignment of shapes in the Merge Master Shapes window.

 

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