When precision counts, you can use the new Measure tool shape in Visio 2003 Professional to control the exact placement of a shape relative to other shapes on the drawing page.

For example, you can place a Chair shape exactly two feet from another Chair shape in an office layout. Or you can place a Process shape exactly one-half inch from a Decision shape in a flowchart.

Later, you can type a value in the Measure Tape shape to reposition the shapes precisely and automatically.

You can find the Measure tool shape on the Drawing Tool Shapes stencil. Some templates open the Drawing Tool Shapes stencil automatically, but if the one you're using doesn't, you can open it directly.

To use the Measure tool shape

1. On the File menu, point to Shapes, point to Visio Extras, and then click Drawing Tool Shapes.
2. From Drawing Tool Shapes, drag the Measure tool shape onto the drawing page.
3. Glue each endpoint of the Measure tool shape to guides or selection handles on other shapes.

   The Measure tool shape shows the exact distance between its two endpoints.

   Note that if the Measure tool shape won't glue to a shape, click Snap & Glue on the Tools menu, and then make sure that the Shape handles and Shape geometry check boxes are selected under Glue to.

4. To precisely move a guide or shape to which the Measure tool shape is glued, select the Measure tool shape, type a new value, and then click away from the shape.

The Drawing Tool Shapes stencil also includes a Horizontal measure and a Vertical measure shape. These shapes work just like the Measure tool shape, except that the Horizontal measure shape shows the horizontal distance between its two endpoints, while the Vertical measure shape shows the vertical distance between its two endpoints.