Protect shapes is necessary for drawing flowchart, mind map and other business diagrams. Select a shape then specifies the characteristics of a selected shape that you want to lock (lock: A setting that limits the ways that users can change a shape. For example, a lock on a selection handle prevents the user from resizing a shape using the selection handle.).

Width

Lock the selected shape's width to prevent resizing. To lock a 1-D shape against rotation, you must lock its width.

Height

Lock the selected shape's height to prevent resizing.

Aspect ratio

( Ctrl + Shift + E )

Locks the ratio between a shape's height and width so that its proportions won't change when you resize it.

X position

Lock the x (horizontal) position of a shape so that it cannot be moved.

Y position

Lock the y (vertical) position of a shape so that it cannot be moved.

Rotation

Lock a shape so that you cannot rotate it by using the Rotation tool. You can still rotate a 1-D shape by dragging its endpoints. To lock a 1-D shape against rotation, you must lock its width.

Begin point

Lock the begin point of a 1-D shape to a specific location so that it cannot be moved.

End point

Lock the end point of a 1-D shape to a specific location so that it cannot be moved.

Edit Text

Lock the text in the shape so that it cannot be edited.

Format

Lock the formatting (line, fill, text, shadow, corner rounding, transparency) in the shape so that it cannot be edited.

From selection

Lock the shape so it cannot be selected.

Tips: To cancel the protection from selection, right-click the shape in the page, and then click Cancel Protect from Selection.

From deletion

Lock the shape so it cannot be deleted.

From group formatting

Lock the formatting (color, fill, line, and shadow) in sub-shapes so that they do not change if the grouped shape is formatted. You can still format a sub-shape by selecting it.

From theme

Lock the shape so that it does not change if a color theme is applied.