Getting Started with Visio 2007

To start a new diagram using a template

1.

On the File menu, point to New, and then click Getting Started.

 

2.

In the Template Categories list, click a category, and then in the Template area, double-click the template you want to open.

 

To show the shapes on a stencil in the Shapes window

To add a shape from a stencil to the drawing page

To see a shape's shortcut menu

To zoom in or out of the drawing page

To zoom out of the drawing page using a keyboard shortcut

To zoom in to the drawing page using a keyboard shortcut

To zoom in to a selected area on the drawing page using a keyboard shortcut

To pan the drawing page

To zoom out of the drawing page to view the whole page using a keyboard shortcut

To insert a page in a drawing file

1.

Right-click a page tab at the bottom of the drawing window, and then click Insert Page on the shortcut menu.

 

2.

In the Page Setup dialog box, click OK.

 

To change the size of a drawing page

To view a page in a drawing file

To rename a page

1.

Double-click the page tab for the page you want to rename. Or, right-click the page tab and then click Rename Page.

 

2.

Type the new page name to replace the old one.

 

To open or close the task pane

To see a specific task pane

To preview a drawing before you print it

To close the Print Preview window

To print a drawing from the Print Preview window

To print the current drawing page

To print a diagram

1.

On the File menu, click Print.

 

2.

Choose the options you want, and then click OK.

 

To change the drawing page size to match the printer's settings

1.

On the File menu, click Page Setup.

 

2.

Click the Page Size tab, select the Same as printer paper size option, and then click OK.

 

To change the printed page settings to match your diagram

1.

On the File menu, click Page Setup.

 

2.

Click the Print Setup tab, and then in the Printer paper area, select the option that matches the preview of the drawing page shown in the preview area of the dialog box, and then click OK.

 

To save a drawing file for the first time

1.

On the Standard toolbar, click the Save button. Or, on the File menu, click Save.

 

2.

In the File name box, type a name for the drawing file.

 

3.

Click Save.

 

To enter properties about a drawing file

1.

On the File menu, click Properties.

 

2.

Enter the information you want, and then click OK.

 

To save a drawing as an image you can use on the Web

1.

On the Standard toolbar, click the Save button.

 

2.

In the Save As dialog box, in the Save as type box, scroll the file list to see the available file formats, such as JPEG File Interchange Format (*.jpg).

 

To open a Visio drawing file

To hide or show the rulers

To hide or show the grid on the drawing page

To display the Pan & Zoom window

To zoom in on a portion of the drawing page using the Pan & Zoom window

To turn autohide on or off for a window

To show a window that's been automatically hidden

To open a stencil

To see a stencil's menu

To change how shapes appear on a stencil

1.

On the stencil title bar, click the stencil icon in the upper left corner.

 

2.

Point to View, and then click Icons and Names, Names Under Icons, Icons Only, Names Only, or Icons and Details.

 

To close a stencil

To customize various aspects of the Visio environment

To see sample diagrams for several diagram types in Visio Professional 2007

1.

On the File menu, point to New, and then click Getting Started.

 

2.

In the Template Categories list, click Samples.

 

To find answers to your questions by using keywords

1.

Type a keyword in the "Type a question for help" box on the Visio menu bar, and then press the key.

 

2.

In the list of topics that appears, click a topic.

 

To browse the Visio Help topics

To find information on each option in a dialog box

To find information on Microsoft Office Online

Adding Shapes to Diagrams

To select a shape

To deselect a shape

To determine what a control handle does

To add text to a shape

To correct a misspelled word

To exit the text mode

To modify existing text

To change the size of all the text in a shape or text-only shape

1.

Select the shape or text-only shape.

 

2.

On the Formatting toolbar, click the Font Size down arrow, and then click a font size.

 

To add a text-only shape to the drawing page

To save changes to a drawing file

To resize a shape

To move a shape

To select more than one shape at once

To move multiple shapes at one time

To constrain the direction of shape movement horizontally or vertically

To nudge a shape

To rotate a shape

To copy a shape and position the copy in one action

1.

Hold down the key while you drag a shape.

 

2.

Release the mouse button, and then release the key.

 

To flip a shape horizontally or vertically

To subselect a shape in a group

To add text to a shape in a group

To change the color of a shape in a group

1.

Select the group, and then click the shape within the group.

 

2.

On the Formatting toolbar, click the Fill Color down arrow, and then click a color.

 

To find a shape for a diagram by using a keyword and then add it to the drawing page

1.

In the Shapes window, in the Search For Shapes box, type the keyword, and then click the arrow to the right of the Search For Shapes box.

 

2.

From the new stencil that appears in the Shapes window, drag the shape onto the drawing page.

 

To insert a picture created in a different program into a diagram

1.

On the Insert menu, point to Picture, and then click From File.

 

2.

Find the picture you want to insert, and then click Insert.

 

To change a picture's properties

To insert clip art into a diagram

1.

On the View menu, click Task Pane.

 

2.

Click the down arrow on the task pane title bar, and then click Clip Art.

 

3.

In the Search for box, type a keyword, and then click the Go button to the right of the Search for box.

 

4.

From the Search Results task pane, drag the clip art onto the drawing page.

 

Formatting Shapes and Diagrams

To change a shape's fill color

1.

Select the shape.

 

2.

On the Formatting toolbar, click the Fill Color down arrow.

 

3.

Click a color, and then click OK.

 

To change a shape's thickness

1.

Select the shape.

 

2.

On the Formatting toolbar, click the Line Weight down arrow.

 

3.

Click a weight, and then click OK.

 

To copy one shape's formatting to another shape

1.

Select the shape that has the formatting you want to copy.

 

2.

On the Standard toolbar, click the Format Painter button.

 

3.

Click the shape to which you want to copy the formatting.

 

To copy one shape's formatting to multiple shapes

1.

Select the shape that has the formatting you want to copy.

 

2.

On the Standard toolbar, double-click the Format Painter button.

 

3.

Click each shapeone at a timeto which you want to copy the formatting.

 

4.

When you are finished, press the key.

 

To select multiple shapes that are close together

To change a shape's text color

1.

Select the shape.

 

2.

On the Formatting toolbar, click the Text Color down arrow.

 

3.

Click a color, and then click OK.

 

To add a border or title to a diagram

To add a background to a diagram

To show the Theme Colors task pane

To allow or forbid themes for a shape

To apply a color theme to a drawing

To show the Theme Effects task pane

To apply an effect theme to a drawing

To apply a color or effect theme to all the pages in a drawing file

To create a new effect theme

To create a new color theme

Connecting Shapes

To AutoConnect shapes by dragging a shape onto the drawing page

To AutoConnect shapes by clicking a shape on a stencil

1.

Click a shape on a stencil, and then position the pointer over a shape on the drawing page.

 

2.

When blue arrows appear around the shape on the drawing page, click one of them.

 

To AutoConnect neighboring shapes on the drawing page

1.

Pause the pointer over a shape on the drawing page, and when blue arrows appear around the shape, pause the pointer over the blue arrow closest to the neighboring shape to which you want to connect.

 

2.

When the blue arrow turns dark blue, a red box appears around the neighboring shape to which you can connect, and a Connect to Neighboring Shape ScreenTip appears, click the blue arrow to connect the two shapes.

 

To connect shapes as you drag them onto the drawing page using the Connector tool

To connect shapes that are already on the drawing page using the Connector tool

To connect shapes that are already on the drawing page using the Connect Shapes command

1.

Hold down the key, select all the shapes you want to connect, in the order you want to connect them.

 

2.

On the Shape menu, click Connect Shapes.

 

To connect shapes that are already on the drawing page using a shape from a stencil

To number the shapes in a flowchart

To add text to a connector

To insert a shape between two shapes that are already connected in a flowchart

To delete all the text from a connector

To delete a connector

To create a point-to-point connection

To move a segment of a connector

To change the layout of a flowchart

1.

On the Shape menu, click Configure Layout.

 

2.

In the Configure Layout dialog box, in the Placement area, click an option in the Style list.

 

3.

Click an option in the Direction list.

 

4.

Click OK.

 

To center a drawing on the page

To distribute shapes evenly

1.

Select three or more shapes.

 

2.

On the Shape menu, click Distribute Shapes.

 

3.

In the Distribute Shapes dialog box, click the option you want.

 

4.

Click OK.

 

To align shapes

1.

Select two or more shapes, making sure the first shape you select is the one you want the others to align with.

 

2.

On the Shape menu, click Align Shapes.

 

3.

In the Align Shapes dialog box, click the option you want.

 

4.

Click OK.

 

To display the Action toolbar

Creating Project Schedules

To create a timeline

1.

On the File menu, point to New, point to Schedule, and then click Timeline.

 

2.

Drag a timeline shape from the Timeline Shapes stencil onto the drawing page.

 

3.

In the Configure Timeline dialog box, set the date range, scale, and format, and then click OK.

 

4.

From the Timeline Shapes stencil, drag milestone and interval shapes onto the timeline.

 

To add an arrowhead to the right end of the timeline

To add interval markers to a timeline

1.

From the Timeline Shapes stencil, drag an interval shape onto the timeline.

 

2.

In the Configure Interval dialog box, choose the interval start date, finish date, and date format, type the interval description, and then click OK.

 

To add milestones to a timeline

1.

From the Timeline Shapes stencil, drag a milestone shape onto the timeline.

 

2.

In the Configure Milestone dialog box, enter the milestone date and description, select a date format, and then click OK.

 

To reconfigure the milestone

To change the milestone type

1.

Right-click the milestone, and then click Set Milestone Type.

 

2.

In the Milestone Shape list, click an option, and then click OK.

 

To quickly modify the milestone description

To add an expanded timeline to the drawing page

1.

From the Timeline Shapes stencil, drag the Expanded timeline shape onto the drawing page.

 

2.

In the Configure Timeline dialog box, set the date range, scale, and format, and then click OK.

 

To show the percentage complete for an interval marker

1.

Right-click the interval marker, and click Set Percent Complete on the shortcut menu.

 

2.

In the Percent Complete box, type the percentage (without the percentage symbol), and then click OK.

 

3.

Right-click the interval marker again, and click Show Percent Complete on the shortcut menu.

 

To export a timeline

1.

Click the border of the timeline you want to export to select it.

 

2.

On the Timeline menu, click Export Timeline Data.

 

3.

Follow the instructions on the wizard pages to export the timeline.

 

To import timeline data to create a Gantt chart

1.

On the File menu, point to New, point to Schedule, and then click Gantt Chart.

 

2.

In the Gantt Chart Options dialog box, click Cancel.

 

3.

On the Gantt Chart menu, click Import.

 

4.

Follow the instructions on the wizard pages to import the timeline data and create the Gantt chart.

 

To create a Gantt chart

1.

On the File menu, point to New, point to Schedule, and then click Gantt Chart.

 

2.

On the Date tab, type a number in the Number of tasks box.

 

3.

Choose options for Time units, Duration options, and Timescale range, and then click OK.

 

4.

Enter task names, start dates, finish dates, and durations in the chart.

 

5.

Add tasks and milestones, and then link tasks.

 

To create task dependencies

1.

Select two or more tasks in the order of their dependency.

 

2.

On the Gantt Chart menu, click Link Tasks.

 

To add a column for resource names to a Gantt chart

1.

Right-click a column in the Gantt chart, and then click Insert Column.

 

2.

In the Column Type list, click Resource Names.

 

3.

Click OK.

 

To add a new task to a Gantt chart

To modify duration information in a Gantt chart

1.

Click the cell that contains the duration you want to change.

 

2.

Type the new duration using the following abbreviations: m for minutes, h for hours, d for days, and w for weeks.

 

To transform a task into a milestone

To change the milestone type for all the milestones in the Gantt chart

1.

On the Gantt Chart menu, click Options.

 

2.

On the Format tab, click a milestone in the Shape box, and then click OK.

 

Creating Organization Charts

To generate an organization chart from data

1.

On the File menu, point to New, point to Business, and then click Organization Chart Wizard.

 

2.

Follow the instructions on the wizard pages to import the organization data and create an organization chart from the data.

 

To create an organization chart

1.

On the File menu, point to New, point to Business, and then click Organization Chart.

 

2.

From the Organization Chart Shapes stencil, drag the Executive shape onto the drawing page, and then type the name and title of the executive in the shape.

 

3.

From the Organization Chart Shapes stencil, drag a Manager shape directly onto the Executive shape, and then type the name and title of the manager in the shape. Repeat this step until you've added all the managers.

 

4.

From the Organization Chart Shapes stencil, drag a Position shape onto a manager shape, and then type the name and title of the employee in the shape. Repeat this step until you've added all the employees.

 

To add shapes and create the hierarchy for an organization chart

1.

From the Organization Chart Shapes stencil, drag a shape onto another shape on the drawing page, and then type the name and title of the employee.

 

2.

Repeat the previous step until you've added all the employees you want.

 

To enter names and titles in organization chart shapes

1.

Select an organization chart shape.

 

2.

Type the person's name, press the key, and then type the person's title.

 

3.

Press the key or click outside the shape.

 

To open the Shape Data window

To see the shape data for a shape in the Shape Data window

1.

On the View menu, click Shape Data Window to open it.

 

2.

Select a shape.

 

To change a the shape data for a shape or add new data using the Shape Data window

1.

On the View menu, click Shape Data Window to open it.

 

2.

Select a shape.

 

3.

In the Shape Data window, click the box for the shape data you want to change, and then type to replace or add new data.

 

4.

Press the key.

 

To change the information shown in organization chart shapes

1.

On the Organization Chart menu, click Options.

 

2.

Click the Fields tab.

 

3.

Choose the options you want to display in the various text blocks in organization chart shapes, and then click OK.

 

To format the information shown in organization chart shapes

1.

On the Organization Chart menu, click Options.

 

2.

Click the Text tab.

 

3.

Choose the text formatting options for the various text fields in organization chart shapes, and then click OK.

 

To change the layout of organization chart shapes

1.

Select a top-level shape, such as a manager.

 

2.

On the Organization Chart toolbar, click a layout option.

 

To move a department to a new drawing page and keep it synchronized with the original page

1.

Right-click a manager shape, and then click Create Synchronized Copy on the shortcut menu.

 

2.

In the Create Synchronized Copy dialog box, choose the page you want to move the shapes to, and then click OK.

 

To add a hyperlink from a shape to another page in the same drawing file

1.

Select the shape, and then on the Insert menu, click Hyperlinks.

 

2.

Click Browse next to the Sub-address box.

 

3.

In the Page list, click a page, and then click OK.

 

4.

In the Description box, type a name for the hyperlink, and then click OK.

 

To use a hyperlink to jump from a shape to another drawing page in the same drawing file

Laying Out Office Spaces

To create an office layout

1.

On the File menu, point to New, point to Maps and Floor Plans, and then click Office Layout.

 

2.

From the Walls, Doors and Windows stencil, drag room or wall shapes onto the drawing page to create the office structure.

 

3.

From the Walls, Doors and Windows stencil, drag door and window shapes onto wall shapes on the drawing page.

 

4.

Add furniture and office equipment by dragging shapes from the stencils onto the drawing page.

 

To change the drawing scale

1.

On the File menu, click Page Setup.

 

2.

On the Drawing Scale tab, click options in the Pre-defined scale lists, and then click OK.

 

To create walls from Space shapes

1.

From the Walls, Doors and Windows stencil, drag Space shapes onto the drawing page.

 

2.

With the Space shapes selected, on the Plan menu, click Convert to Walls.

 

3.

Select the options you want, and then click OK.

 

To add a door to an office layout

To change the size of a door

1.

Right-click the door shape, and then click Properties.

 

2.

In the Door Width list, click a size, and then click OK.

 

To reverse the direction in which a door opens

To change the direction of the door swing

To add a window to an office layout

To determine which layers a shape is assigned to

To lock the shapes on a layer

1.

On the View menu, click Layer Properties.

 

2.

Click the box in the Lock column for the layers you want to lock, and then click OK.

 

To hide the shapes on a layer

1.

On the View menu, click Layer Properties.

 

2.

Click the box in the Visible column for the layers you want to hide, and then click OK.

 

To change the color of shapes on a layer

1.

On the View menu, click Layer Properties.

 

2.

Click the box in the Color column for a layer.

 

3.

In the Layer Color list, click a color, and then click OK.

 

To create a new layer

1.

On the Format menu, click Layer.

 

2.

In the Layer dialog box, click New.

 

3.

In the New Layer dialog box, type the name of the new layer, and then click OK.

 

Creating Network Diagrams

To create a network diagram

1.

On the File menu, point to New, point to Network, and then click Basic Network Diagram.

 

2.

From the Network and Peripherals stencil, drag a Ring network or Ethernet shape onto the drawing page.

 

3.

Drag computer, printer, and other shapes from the stencils onto the drawing page.

 

4.

Drag the control handles on the Ring network or Ethernet shape to the network equipment shapes to connect them.

 

To connect network equipment to an Ethernet shape

To display the document stencil

To edit a master shape on the document stencil

To create a shape data field for a shape on the document stencil

1.

On the View menu, click Shape Data Window.

 

2.

On the File menu, point to Shapes, and then click Show Document Stencil.

 

3.

Double-click the shape on the document stencil to open the shape editing window.

 

4.

Select the shape in the shape editing window.

 

5.

Right-click the Shape Data window, and then click Define Shape Data.

 

6.

Click New, type a name in the Label box, and then click OK.

 

7.

In the Define Shape Data dialog box, click OK.

 

8.

In the shape editing window, click the Close Window button. When Visio prompts you to update all instances, click Yes.

 

To create a shape data field for a shape

1.

On the View menu, click Shape Data Window.

 

2.

Select the shape.

 

3.

Right-click the Shape Data window, and then click Define Shape Data.

 

4.

Click New, type a name in the Label box, and then click OK.

 

5.

In the Define Shape Data dialog box, click OK.

 

To run a report

1.

On the Data menu, click Reports.

 

2.

In the Report list, click a report, and then click Run.

 

3.

Select the format you want, and then click OK.

 

To create a new report definition

1.

On the Data menu, click Reports.

 

2.

Click New.

 

3.

Follow the instructions on the wizard pages to create the report definition.

 

4.

In the Reports dialog box, click OK.

 

Chapter at a Glance

In this chapter, you will learn how to:

Start diagrams by using templates.

Work within the Visio environment.

Customize the Visio environment.

Get Visio and diagram help.
 

Have you ever tried to do any of the following tasks only to find yourself frustrated with the outcome?

  • Explain a new team organization or complex inter-departmental process in an e-mail message or a memo only to find that no one quite understood it.

  • Give a presentation about critical project milestones, and then watch everyone walk away with a puzzled expression.

  • Summarize data and key trends in a spreadsheet for coworkers who just stare at you with blank looks on their faces.

All of these situations are ideal opportunities to use Microsoft Office Visio 2007the business drawing and diagramming program that helps you visually communicate processes, systems, projects, and resources. Visually is the key word. When you can't effectively convey your message verballywith text, tables, or numbers aloneyou need a diagram.

With Visio, you can show your audience what you mean by using easy-to-understand diagrams such as organization charts, flowcharts, and project timelines. Whether you need to analyze a new business process, visualize an office space, explore business data, track important data trends, or simply create a map to a company picnic, you can create professional-looking diagrams quickly and easily using Visioand no artistic talent is required.

With advanced data connectivity and visualization functionality in Visio Professional 2007, you can even take your diagrams to another level: integrate them with data to track key trends, identify issues, and flag exceptionsall in one diagram that's easy to refresh and share with others across the entire organization. Explore data in hierarchical form using the new PivotDiagram template, identify server issues through data-connected network diagrams, or track resource data in project timelines. Visualize any process, system, project, and resourcein addition to the data behind itby connecting your diagrams to data and dynamically updating them as the data changes.

This book helps you learn how to use Visio so that you can communicate visually with Visio diagrams. This chapter will first introduce you to Visio drawing and diagram types, and then show you how to start a Visio diagram by using a template. You will learn how to work within and customize the Visio drawing environment. Last, you will practice using Visio online Help so that you can easily find the answers to questions that might arise while you create your Visio diagrams.

Do you need a quick refresher on the topics in this chapter? See the Quick Reference entries on pages xxvxliii.

 

Important Before you can use the practice files in this chapter, you need to install them from the book's companion CD to their default location. See "Using the Book's CD-ROM" on page xix for more information.

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