Visio

Microsoft Visio is a 2-D drawing application which is used in diverse fields including Information Technology, engineering, project management and architecture.

Features

• Integrated with other Microsoft products, including Sharepoint and Excel.  Supported by Windows 8.


• Proprietary files produced but documents may be viewed by users who do not have Visio installed on their system through a browser, through Sharepoint and through Office 365.


• Two or more people can work on a single diagram at the same time through just one working file.  There is no need to merge versions.


• More than 60 built-in templates for diagrams and the option of creating your own templates.


• Templates include vertical and horizontal tree diagrams, network diagrams, database diagrams, flowcharts and web diagrams.


• Ability to customise with different themes and effects.


• Files can be saved as Visio files, in html format and as image files (jpg, bitmap or png).  They can also be converted to PDF.


• Shapes can be made dynamic and linked to outside data sources to graphically reflect information sets and changes in information sets.


• Use of smart shapes which exhibit behaviours like lining themselves up when you place them in proximity to other shapes.


• Supports the adoption of common representational conventions such as square edges for a static page, rounded edges for a dynamic ally generated page and dotted lines if the page will be developed later.  Users can add a key indicating these conventions and are also able to cluster a group of similar pages, avoiding the clutter produced by depicting each page separately.


• A wide selection of icons and connectors allows users to depict variations in the relationships between pages and elements and to indicate the functions and links to non-web-page files within a single page.

Functional requirements and details

• Current edition requires use of the Windows operating system (Windows 7 or higher).


• Browser requirements: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8, 9, or 10; Mozilla Firefox 10.x or a later version; Apple Safari 5; or Google Chrome 17.x.


• Visio conforms to a number of diagramming standards, including Unified Modeling Language (UML) 2.4, Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) 2.0, and Windows Workflow Foundation 4.0.

Usability and functionality

Interface

 

 

 

The Visio interface

Although it can generate very detailed and sophisticated diagrams, recording structures minutely, Visio has a straightforward and reasonably intuitive interface which could conceivably be used in meetings to capture the results of a brainstorming session (Biafore, 2007, p. 3).  The similarity between the interface and other Office programs should lead to a minimal learning curve for staff already familiar with the Office suite.  Unlike earlier editions, Visio 2010 and 2013 have the ribbon interface familiar to users from programs in the Office 2007 suite.  Choosing your diagram type upon opening the program further simplifies the display to show only the relevant templates and shapes.  Clicking and dragging motions move and connect shapes (users can also opt for the autoconnect feature when working rapidly).  There is a grid and a ruler down either side of the page, while panning and zooming functions reveal sections in finer detail.  Rotating, stretching and resizing functions give the user a great deal of control over the look of all parts of the diagram.

Representing structure and function

 

Diagramming tools need to convey both structural and functional information about the site, but there is a difference between wanting to represent functionality and interactivity in detail and mapping out the structure (Withrow, 2004).  The interactive elements of a web site, achieved through the running of scripts, is layered over the top of the structure and is difficult to represent in a diagram (Withrow, 2004).  Visio addresses these issues by providing users with techniques such as placing its icons from its extensive collection within page boxes to indicate forms and other processes and rounding the edges of boxes to indicate dynamic pages.

 

Pricing

Visio is not included in the Office Suite or in Office 365 and must be purchased separately.  It is somewhat expensive but widely used.
Microsoft’s recommended retail prices:

• Premium edition: $US999.99


• Professional edition: $US559.99


• Standard edition (greatly reduced functionality, particularly in the templates included in the package): $US249.99


• Licenses are available for more than 5 copies.

 

 

Biafore, B. (2007). Visio 2007 bible. Indianapolis: Wiley.

Withrow, J. (2004). Site diagrams: Mapping an information space. Retrieved from Boxes and Arrows website: http://boxesandarrows.com/site-diagrams-mapping-an-information-space/