MICROSOFT

VISIO
WHAT IS VISIO?
Microsoft Visio is software for drawing a variety of diagrams. These
include flowcharts, org charts, building plans, floor plans, data flow
diagrams, process flow diagrams, business process modeling , swim lane
diagrams, 3D maps, and many more. It’s a Microsoft product, sold as an
addition to MS Office. Visio 2016, the latest version, comes in three
editions: Visio Standard, Visio Professional, and Visio Pro for Office 365.
Visio 2016 pricing is $299.99 for Standard, $589.99 for Professional, and,
for Pro for Office 365, either $13 per month (annual commitment) or
$15.50 per month (month by month).
 All editions share functionality with MS Office
Word and Excel, such as text and color choices, and
allow data feeds directly from MS Excel and Access.
As with other diagram software, Visio provides a
library of templates and shapes for various types of
charts to help you get started. Note: Microsoft Visio is
not related to Vizio Inc. (with a “z”), which makes TVs
and other consumer electronics.
 HOW VISIO STARTED?
• Visio originated in the 1990s as a product of Shapeware
Corp., first as pre-release version .92 and then as version
1.0 released The product quickly gained recognition, and
in 1995, the company was renamed Visio Corp. In 2000,
Microsoft bought Visio and rebranded it in the MS Office
family. However, Visio, along with MS Project, has
always been maintained as a stand-alone purchase,
separate from the MS Office Suite packages.
VISIO VERSIONS THROUGH THE YEARS:
The first Visio versions were labeled v 1.0 through 5.0 and came in up to three
editions each.

editions each.
With Microsoft’s acquisition of Visio in 2000, the versions and editions
shaped up like this:
• Visio 2000 (v 6.0; Standard, Professional, Technical, Enterprise)
• Visio 2002 (v 10.0; Standard, Professional) -- versions 7.0 through 9.0
were skipped to align with Office release numbers
• Visio for Enterprise Architects 2003 (VEA 2003)
• Office Visio 2003 (v 11.0; Standard, Professional)
• Office Visio for Enterprise Architects 2005 (VEA 2005)
• Office Visio 2007 (v 12.0; Standard, Professional)
• Visio 2010 (v 14.0; Standard, Professional, Premium) – v 13.0 was skipped
• Visio 2013 (v 15.0; Standard, Professional)
• Visio 2016 (v 16.0; Standard, Professional, Office 365)

Visio does not have a Mac version.

HOW VISIO IS USED
Visio can be used in a variety of settings to create professional-looking
diagrams. Given Visio’s cost, a hand-drawn diagram may suit your
purposes, or you might turn to the basic diagram functions in MS
Word. Or you could use software that is free or less expensive but still
powerful, such as lucidchart.com, which also works on Macs.
If appropriate for your needs, Visio can indeed produce slick,
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better ways to do things. Visio includes a big library of
a big library of shapes/symbols used in dozens of diagram types.
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 In business: Business Process Modeling and Notation (BPMN) is targeted at
participants and other stakeholders in a business process to gain understandIn
business: Business Process Modeling and Notation (BPMN) is targeted at
participants and other stakeholders in a business process to gain
understanding through an easy-to-understand visual representation of the
steps. At a more involved level, it’s targeted at the people who will implement
the process, giving sufficient detail to enable precise implementation
 In chemical engineering or process engineering: A Process Flow Diagram
(PFD) is a type of flowchart that illustrates the relationships between major
components at an industrial plant. Diagrams can serve to document, analyze,
audit, or model a better way.ing through an easy-to-understand visual
representation of the steps. At a more involved level, it’s targeted at the people
who will implement the process, giving sufficient detail to enable precise
implementation.

 In chemical engineering or process engineering: A Process Flow Diagram

(PFD) is a type of flowchart that illustrates the relationships between major
components at an industrial plant. Diagrams can serve to document, analyze,
audit, or model a better way.
HOW TO PLAN AND DRAW A BASIC VISIO
CHART
• Determine what you’re trying to accomplish and gather the
appropriate detail for your diagram or chart. Also determine which
chart type best illustrates the information for your needs.
• In Visio, choose and open the template for your chart type.
• Drag and connect shapes/symbols to illustrate the items and their flow.
Different shapes represent different things in the various types of
diagrams, and they range from simple rectangles, ovals and arrows to
hundreds of highly specialized shapes and symbols. You also can import
your own shapes if necessary.
• Add labels and text to the shapes.
• Review your diagram to make sure you’re not missing anything or
duplicating anything. If you’re collaborating with others, check each
other’s work.
MORE VISIO DIAGRAM TIPS
• Start with the Visio template that best matches the type of diagram you
want to create. If the exact template isn’t in the library, choose the
closest one and drag in whatever additional Start with the Visio
template that best matches the type of diagram you want to create. If
the exact template isn’t in the library, choose the closest one and drag in
whatever additional shapes you need, including importing your own if
necessary.
• Use Visio stencils to pull in a group of shapes, such as the Basic
Flowchart Shapes stencil.
• Add data to a shape by typing in the Shape Data window.
• In Visio Professional Edition, you can automatically import data from
MS Excel or Access hapes you need, including importing your own if
necessary.
• Use Visio stencils to pull in a group of shapes, such as the Basic
Flowchart Shapes stencil.
• Add data to a shape by typing in the Shape Data window.
• In Visio Professional Edition, you can automatically import rt data
from MS Excel or Access.
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MICROSOFT VISIO