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Shape Element (VML)

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This topic describes VML, a feature that is deprecated as of Windows Internet Explorer 9. Webpages and applications that rely on VML should be migrated to SVG or other widely supported standards.

Note

As of December 2011, this topic has been archived. As a result, it is no longer actively maintained. For more information, see Archived Content. For information, recommendations, and guidance regarding the current version of Windows Internet Explorer, see Internet Explorer Developer Center.

 

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); display:inline-block}
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

VML 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>