Shape Element

Top level element used to describe a shape.

The following attributes modify a shape.

Attribute	Description
Adj	Specifies an adjustment value used to define values for a formula.
AllowInCell	Determines whether a shape can be placed in a table.
AllowOverlap	Determines if a shape can overlap other shapes.
Alt	Defines alternative text to be displayed instead of a graphic.
BorderBottomColor	Bottom border color of an inline shape.
BorderLeftColor	Left border color of an inline shape.
BorderRightColor	Right border color of an inline shape.
BorderTopColor	Top border color of an inline shape.
Bullet	Determines whether a shape is a graphical bullet.
Button	Determines whether a shape will be processed as a button.
BWMode	Determines how a shape will render for black-and-white output devices.
BWNormal	Defines the black-and-white mode for normal black-and-white output devices.
BWPure	Defines the black-and-white mode for pure black-and-white output devices.
Class	Refers to a definition of a CSS style.
ConnectorType	Indicates the type of connector used for joining shapes.
CoordOrig	Specifies the coordinate unit origin of the rectangle that bounds a shape.
CoordSize	Specifies the horizontal and vertical units of the rectangle that bounds a shape.
DoubleClickNotify	Sends an event message when a shape is double-clicked.
FillColor	Defines the brush color that fills the closed path of a shape.
Filled	Determines whether the closed path will be filled.
Flip	Switches the orientation of a shape.
ForceDash	Determines whether a dashed outline is used to draw a shape when a shape has no line or fill.
Height	Specifies the height of the shape.
HR	Specifies that a shape is a horizontal rule.
HRAlign	Defines the alignment of a horizontal rule.
HRef	Defines a URL for a shape. When the shape is clicked, the browser will load the URL.
HRHeight	Defines the thickness of a horizontal rule.
HRNoShade	Determines whether a horizontal rule will be displayed with 3-D shading.
HRPct	Defines the length of a horizontal rule as a percentage of page width.
HRStd	Determines whether a shape is a standard horizontal rule.
HRWidth	Defines the length of a horizontal rule.
ID	Provides a unique identifier for an element.
Left	Determines the position of the shape relative to the element left of it in the document flow.
Margin-Bottom	Specifies the bottom edge of the shape's containing rectangle relative to the shape anchor.
Margin-Left	Specifies the left edge of the shape's containing rectangle relative to the shape anchor.
Margin-Right	Specifies the right edge of the shape's containing rectangle relative to the shape anchor.
Margin-Top	Specifies the top edge of the shape's containing rectangle relative to the shape anchor.
MSO-Position-Horizontal	Specifies the horizontal positioning data for objects in Microsoft Word.
MSO-Position-Horizontal-Relative	Specifies relative horizontal position data for objects in Microsoft Word.
MSO-Position-Vertical	Specifies the vertical position data for objects in Microsoft Word.
MSO-Position-Vertical-Relative	Specifies relative vertical position data for objects in Microsoft Word.
MSO-Wrap-Distance-Bottom	Defines the distance from the bottom side of the shape to the text that wraps around it.
MSO-Wrap-Distance-Left	Defines the distance from the left side of the shape to the text that wraps around it.
MSO-Wrap-Distance-Right	Defines the distance from the right side of the shape to the text that wraps around it.
MSO-Wrap-Distance-Top	Defines the distance from the shape top to the text that wraps around it.
MSO-Wrap-Edited	Determines whether the wrap coordinates were customized by the user.
MSO-Wrap-Mode	Defines the wrapping mode for text.
OLEIcon	Determines whether an OLE object will be displayed as an icon.
OnEd	Determines whether the extra handles of a shape are hidden.
OnMouseOver	Triggers a mouse event for a shape.
Path	Specifies the line that makes up the edges of a shape.
Position	Defines the type of positioning used to place an element.
PreferRelative	Determines whether the original size of an object is saved after reformatting.
Print	Determines whether the shape will be printed.
ReGroupID	Defines a previous group for a shape.
RelativePosition	Defines a relative position for an object.
Rotation	Defines the angle that a shape is rotated.
RuleInitiator	Determines whether a rules engine will be used.
RuleProxy	Determines whether a proxy for the rules engine will be used.
Spt	Defines a number used internally by Microsoft Office to identify types of shapes.
StrokeColor	Defines the brush color that strokes the path of a shape.
Stroked	Defines whether the path will be stroked.
StrokeWeight	Defines the brush thickness that strokes the path of a shape.
TableLimits	List of minimum height values for each row in a table.
TableProperties	Determines table properties.
Target	Defines a frame or window that a URL will be displayed in.
Title	Defines the text displayed when the mouse pointer moves over the shape.
Top	Defines the position of the shape relative to the element above it in the flow of the page.
Type	Defines a reference to the ID of a ShapeType element.
UserDrawn	Determines whether the user has added the shape to a master slide.
UserHidden	Determines whether a script anchor is hidden.
Visibility	Determines whether a shape is displayed.
Width	Defines the width of the shape.
WrapCoords	Defines the bounding polygon that surrounds a shape.
Z-Index	Determines the display order of overlapping shapes.

Remarks

This element may appear by itself or within a Group element.

The following is the minimum code needed to produce a shape. You must define the FillColor, Position, Top, Left, Width, Height and Path attributes or the shape will not be rendered.

   <v:shape
   fillcolor="green"
   style="position:relative;top:1;left:1;width:200;height:200"
   path = "m 1,1 l 1,200, 200,200, 200,1 x e">
   </v:shape>

In addition, you must put the following code in your HTML element of your web page to obtain the correct schemas for VML and Microsoft Office Extensions. If you are not using Office Extensions, you can omit the second schema.

xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml"
xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"

You must also have the following in your STYLE element to register the behavior of VML and Microsoft Office Extensions. If you are not using Office Extensions, you can omit the second behavior definition.

v\:* { behavior: url(#default#VML); }
o\:* { behavior: url(#default#VML); }

Valid Subelements

The following are subelements of Shape.

Element	Description
Callout	Defines a callout for a shape.
Extrusion	Defines an extrusion for a shape.
Fill	Defines a fill for a shape.
Formulas	Defines formulas for a shape.
Handles	Defines handles for a shape.
Imagedata	Defines image data for a shape.
Locks	Defines a lock for a shape.
Path	Defines a path for a shape.
Shadow	Defines a shadow for a shape.
Skew	Defines a skew for a shape.
Stroke	Defines a stroke for a shape.
TextBox	Defines a textbox for a shape.
TextPath	Defines a text path for a shape.

Other Elements

The following top-level elements work with Shape.

Element	Description
Group	Defines a group of shapes.
ShapeType	Defines a template for shapes.
VMLFrame	Defines a frame for an external shape.

Predefined Shapes

Predefined shapes are the same as normal shapes except that some of them have additional attributes. The following shapes are predefined.

Element	Description
Rect	Defines a rectangle for a shape.
RoundRect	Defines a round rect for a shape.
Line	Defines a line for a shape.
Polyline	Defines a polyline for a shape.
Oval	Defines an oval for a shape.
Image	Defines an image for a shape.
Curve	Defines a curve for a shape.
Arc	Defines an arc for a shape.

See Also

Data Types

Example

The following code comprises a sample VML Web page:

<HTML xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml"
xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office">
<HEAD>
<STYLE>
v\:* { behavior: url(#default#VML);}
o\:* { behavior: url(#default#VML);}
</STYLE>
<TITLE>VML Sample</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
   <v:shape
   fillcolor="green"
   style="position:relative;top:1;left:1;width:200;height:200"
   path = "m 1,1 l 1,200, 200,200, 200,1 x e">
   </v:shape>
</BODY>
</HTML>

Click here to see VML demos.