Drawing Visio diagram using MATLAB 2018b

I have been trying to draw an IO diagram in MS Visio using actxserver function of Matlab(2018b).

I am able to open Visio application and draw a rectangle with text in it using the folllowing code:

appVisio = actxserver('Visio.Application');

appVisio.Visible =1;

doc = appVisio.Documents.Add("Basic Diagram.vst");

pagObj = doc.Pages.Item(1);

stnObj=get(appVisio,'Documents','Basic Shapes.vss');

mast_circ = get(stnObj,'Masters','Rectangle');

pagObj.Drop(mast_circ, 5,5);

But I cannot get the position coordinates of rectangle drawn. If I would get the position coordinates of the rectangle drawn, I can draw the arrows to and from the rectangle showing the inputs and outputs of the block represented by the rectangle.

Note: I am using Microsoft VIsio 2007 and MATLAB 2018b

[Adam Danz]

With all the software out there that produces these types diagrams, what is the motivation to do this in matlab?

I've been using drawio for a few years. It's free, simple, and fairly flexible. I recommend using that.

Answer 1

[Luis]

I was looking for something similar, and came to this example

I wrote a similar example for matlab using the actxserver. To manage the coordinates, it computes the center and top of the page, and then adds shapes based on that origin. I hope it helps

clear;

% Application
appVisio = actxserver('Visio.Application');
appVisio.Visible =1;

% Document
doc = appVisio.Documents.Add("Basic Diagram.vst");

% Page
pg = doc.Pages.Item(1);

% Get the center, top of the page:
pg_cent = pg.PageSheet.CellsU("PageWidth").ResultIU / 2
pg_top = pg.PageSheet.CellsU("PageHeight").ResultIU - 1

% Stencil
stnBasic=appVisio.Documents.OpenEx('Basic Shapes.vss',false);
stnConn=appVisio.Documents.OpenEx('Connectors.vss',false);
stnFlow=appVisio.Documents.OpenEx('BASFLO_M.vssx',false);

% Masters for process and decission
mstProcess  = get(stnFlow,'Masters','Process');
mstDecision = get(stnFlow,'Masters','Decision');
conn        = get(stnConn,'Masters','Dynamic connector');

%% Example 1: Two elements, one connector
a=pg.Drop(mstProcess, pg_cent,pg_top); %inches from lower left corner
    a.Text = 'a';
b=pg.Drop(mstProcess, pg_cent,pg_top-1); 
    b.Text = 'b';
c=pg.Drop(conn, 0,0); 

% Glue to the right side:
c.CellsU('BeginX').GlueTo(a.CellsU('PinX'))
c.CellsU('EndX').GlueTo(b.CellsU('PinX'))

%% Example 2: several elements
dy = .75;

for i = 0:5
    new=pg.Drop(mstProcess, pg_cent+2,pg_top-i*dy); %inches from lower left corner
        new.Text = sprintf('%d',i);

    if i>0
        c=pg.Drop(conn, 0,0); 
        
        % Glue to the right side:
        c.CellsU('BeginX').GlueTo(last.CellsU('PinX'))
        c.CellsU('EndX').GlueTo(new.CellsU('PinX'))
    end

    last = new;
end