= In January 2000 Microsoft decided to lay its hands on Visio. This acquisition facilitated Microsoft to enhance its traditional Office suite with a brandn= ew application specialized in creating professional diagrams.

= M= icrosoft Visio 2003 is referred to by Microsoft as “the new worldwide standard= for creating and sharing of business diagrams”. The package is primarily aimed at experienced users of the Office-suite who want to optimize their visual communication skills concerning people, projects and processes. The = very fact that Visio is now owned by Microsoft makes it a perfect candidate to integrate easily with Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel and even Access.

= A= second goal of Microsoft is to attack with Visio the niche market of other graphic= al programmes like AutoCAD.

= <= o:p>

= 1.2&= nbsp; Finding the information you need

= The Microsoft® Visio® 20= 03, Standard Edition, drawing application gives you wizards, templates, stencils, shapes, and drawing tool= s to create effective and communicative business drawings or diagrams. In this U= ser Guide, you will find<= /o:p>

= • Visio basics, including everything you need to know to start creating drawings quickly and efficiently.

= • Step-by-step procedures, and helpful t= ips for quickly creating all types of business drawings.

= 1.2.1 = Visio on the Web

= To reach Visio Corporation and t= he Visio Knowledge Base using the World Wide Web, in Visio 2003 choose Help > Visio On The Web. The V= isio Knowledge Base offers the latest tips on using Visio 2003 products and incl= udes articles that answer frequently asked questions (FAQS).

= You’ll find the Visio Web = site at www.visio.com

= 1.2.2 To search online Help for a keyword

= This guide provides the big pict= ure information for working in Visio 2003. More details and how-to information = are just a click away in the online Help.

· Press F1, and then click the Index tab. (If necessary, click t= he Show button.)

· Under Type In The Keyword To Find, type= the keyword you want to use. (Keywords are listed under the cross-reference ico= n.)

· Click Display.

= 1.2.3 = Navigating the Visio Help window

The first t= ime you choose the Visio Help command or click F1, the Visio Help window opens.= You can use the following tabbed pages in the navigation pane of the Help window while you work:

• Contents contains headings with topics listed below. Click the plus sign (+) to expand the heading and see the topics.

• Index contai= ns index terms. Click this tab to view and search index entries.

• Favorites contains topics you designate for quick reference.

The navigat= ion pane appears by default the first time you open Help. You can open or close= the navigation pane, select a tab in the navigation pane, and resize or reposit= ion the Help window. Each time you open Help, the window appears in the same configuration as the last time you used it.

To hide the navigation pane=

• Click the Hide button ( ) on the Help window toolbar.

To show the navigation pane=

• Click the Show button ( ) on the Help window toolbar.

Get help quickly while you work

To find Help about:	Do
Concepts, terms, features	Press F1, click Search (if necessary, click the Show button), and = then type your question to use the Visio intelligent search capability.
Shapes	One of the following: • Pause your pointer over the shape in the stencil window un= til a ScreenTip appears. • Press F1, click the Index tab (if necessary, click the Show button), type the name in the index text field, and then click Display. • Right-click a shape on the page or the stencil, and then c= hoose Help.
Menu commands	Press F1, click the Index tab (if necessary, click the Show button= ), type the name in the index, and then click Display.
Dialog boxes	Click the Help button (?) in the dialog box.

For help about Do this

= 1.2.4 Common tasks made easy - quick editing windows

You can work faster and smarter using a core group of enhanced features that all of the Visio 2003 products share.

• Easily crea= te custom data for shapes that you can later use for reports.

• Set tabs, margins, and hanging indents using a text editing ruler.

• Nudge selected shapes using the arrow keys for precise placement in your drawing.

• Easily navigate, rearrange, and rename pages using page tabs.

• Edit groups of shapes the same way you edit regular shapes.

• Edit stencils directly in the drawing window.<= /o:p>

• Customize menus and toolbars.

• Perform tas= ks right in the drawing window using q= uick editing windows.

The following table lists the window types and the tasks you can perform.<= /o:p>

Window type

Purpose

Pan & Zoom window

Easily zo= om in or out with increased precision.

Custom Properties windows

View and = edit a shape’s custom properties.

Size and Position window

Change a shape’s size, position or rotation.

Drawing Explorer window

View all = the elements in your document

Process flowcharts=

• Use bands in flowcharts to show the relationships of cross-functional processes over tim= e.

• Cross-refer= ence information to processes in or between flowcharts and different shapes in flowcharts using improved shape numbering and off-page reference shapes.

• Import exis= ting flowchart information from other applications using the new Import Flowchart Data Wizard.

Organization chart= s

• Format and update organization charts with shapes that automatically connect and stay glued as you drop them on the page.

• Align and format your entire organization chart with a single mouse click, using a floating format palette.

• Show or hide subordinates, or create a synchronized view of your organization chart on a separate page.

• Define how = each page of your organization chart will display on the page.=

• Import and export information to a file.

• Create a li= st of changes to the organization chart from one diagram to another.

PERT charts

• Create high-level projects quickly and easily using preconfigured PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) chart shapes.

Gantt charts<= /o:p>

• Add and del= ete columns for information such as Start Date, End Date, and Duration in proje= ct timeline charts, called Gantt charts.

• Perform com= mon tasks such as linking and unl= inking tasks, and promoting, demoting, and deleting tasks, by using the Gantt Chart&n= bsp; toolbar or Gantt chart menu commands.

• Import file= s in Microsoft® Project format and display the data in a Visio 2003 Gantt ch= art, in MPX format.

Presentation graph= ics

• Use new backgrounds, borders, titles, Internet&nbs= p; buttons, and 3-D network shapes to add visual power to your Visio drawings or diagrams.

• Create a mo= re polished presentation in a fraction of the time with enhanced Microsoft® PowerPoint® compatibility.

Calendars

• Add special dates or shapes to monthly and yearly calendars.

• Create mont= hly and yearly calendars using new shapes, and then set the format you want to = use.

Maps

• Add new cus= tom line styles for roads and railroad tracks in directional maps to make them = look more realistic.

• Add intelligence to sign shapes in directional maps, so they pick up road types based on styles and legend/key shapes.

• Display features such as lakes or rivers on more detailed geographic maps.

Office layouts

• Quickly lay= out office floor plans using room and space shapes to automatically create walls and dimension lines.

1.3      = Overview of available examples for your business drawings

Visio 2003 is ideal for creating smart business drawings or diagrams quickly.

The followi= ng table outlines the wide range of business drawing and diagram types you can create using Visio 2003. Locate your job or business category at the top of= the table, and then find the drawing type you want below the heading. Then, use= the columns at the far left (and right) to see which Visio 2003 solution contai= ns that drawing type.=

= 1.3.1      = When to use Flowcharting

=

Managemen= t

Operation= s

Sales and Marketing

Finance/Accounting Banking=

Project Management

Cost/bene= fit analysis

Human resources processes

Order processes

Audit and work flows

Work flow management

Process analysis

Informati= on flow

Informati= on flow

Fiscal management

Manufactu= ring processes

Cross-fun= ctional diagrams

Web diagramming

Marketing collateral materials

Accounting processes

Mind Mapp= ing

TQM/busin= ess process re-engineering

Recruiting processes and Benefits handling

Work flow diagrams

Annual reports

Decision-= making processes

&nbs= p;

&nbs= p;

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TQM/proce= ss analysis

TQM/proce= ss analysis

= 1.3.2      = When to use Organization Charting

Managemen= t

Operation= s

Sales and Marketing

Finance/Accounting Banking=

Project Management

Organizat= ional design

Organizat= ional design

Departmen= tal hierarchy for managing commissions

Hierarchy= of signing authority

Design te= am structure

Hierarchy= of management and departments

Hierarchy= of information services

Hierarchy= of sales contacts within the company

Cross-fun= ctional diagrams

Work breakdown structures

&nbs= p;

Hierarchy= of human resources

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Cross-fun= ctional diagrams

= 1.3.3       When to use Project Timelines

Managemen= t

Operation= s

Sales and Marketing

Finance/Accounting Banking=

Project Management

Resource planning

Project planning

Product delivery and customer communication tracking

Process improvement schedules

Project l= ife cycles

Process improvement schedules

Hiring process milestones

Schedules= for marketing collateral materials

Accounts receivable and payable timetables

Schedules=

Annual re= port timelines

Informati= on services projects

&nbs= p;

&nbs= p;

Timetable= s

&nbs= p;

&nbs= p;

&nbs= p;

&nbs= p;

Gantt cha= rts

= 1.3.4       When to use Block Diagrams/Custom Shapes

Managemen= t

Operation= s

Sales and Marketing

Finance/Accounting Banking=

Project Management

Public relations presentations

Human resources data presentations

Product modeling

Statistic= s

Product design specifications

Cost/bene= fit analysis

Presentat= ion graphics

Proposal visuals

Figures display for presentations

Product prototyping

Presentat= ion graphics

Proposal visuals

Presentat= ion graphics

Elements = of financial programs

Presentat= ion graphics

Proposal visuals

&nbs= p;

Order creation

&nbs= p;

Proposal visuals

= 1.3.5       When to use Marketing Diagrams

Managemen= t

Operation= s

Sales and Marketing

Finance/Accounting Banking=

Project Management

Annual reports

Budget proposals for new equipment

Market regions

Presentat= ions to investors

Product/f= eature comparison

Public relations campaigns

Facilities management proposals

Relations= hips with customers

Presentat= ions to general public

Business planning documents

Sales demonstrations

Annual reports

Competiti= ve analysis

Public relations campaigns

R&D presentations

Board mem= ber presentations

&nbs= p;

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2.        THE VIS= IO BASICS

2.1      = Introduction

While each Microsoft® Visio® 2003, Standard Edition, template contains a unique set of shapes, tools, and styles, some tasks are common to all types of Vis= io drawings or diagrams. This chapter explains the drawing tasks that can get = you started using the Visio program in minutes, regardless of the type of drawi= ng you’re creating.

This chapter begins with an overview of the drawing process, and then describes how you = can:

• Create your drawing.

• Work with stencils and shapes.

• Add and edit text.

• Work with groups of shapes.

• Work with multiple pages.

Subsequent chapters focus on creating specific types of drawings, such as flowcharts.<= o:p>

2.2      = The big picture

The Visio 2= 003 products share a core set of features. This means that you can use common methods to work with all of the Visio 2003 programs to create your dr= awings—whether they are business drawings or diagrams you create with Standard Edition, su= ch as flowcharts or block diagrams; technical drawings you create with Professional Edition, such as P&IDs or electrical schematics; database design and modeling drawings you create with Professional Edition or Enterp= rise Edition, such as Web site schematics or object role modeling diagrams.=

The illustration below shows five steps all Visio 2003 drawings have in common.= The following page shows the actual workspace you’ll use to create Visio drawings.

2.2.1      = Five steps to make a Visio drawing

·      = Start a drawing or diagram by opening a drawing type, or template.

·      = Add shapes by dragging them from the stencil and dropping them onto the drawing page.

·      = Connect the shapes in your drawing.

·      = Add text to shapes in your drawing, and add independent text for titles.

·      = Publish your drawing to the Web, or print your drawing to share it with others.

2.2.2      = The Visio 2003 workspa= ce

=

Each drawing type opens with stencils, shapes, and toolbars appropriate to that drawing type.

·      = A Tools are grouped in functional sets on toolbars. You can specify which toolbars = you want to display by choosing View > Toolbars.

·      = B The drawing page opens with size, orientation, scale, grid, and measurements appropriate for the drawing type.

·      = C You can find additional related tools by clicking the arrows next to the button= .

·      = D You can use the drawing page grid to align shapes to each other.

·      = E ScreenTips appear when you pause the mouse pointer over a toolbar button.

·      = F Stencils, or collections of masters, dock to the left of the drawing page, by default= .

·      = G With page tabs you can quickly insert new pages, navigate multiple-page drawings, delete pages, rename pages, and reorder pages.

·      = H Masters are shapes you can add to your drawings. To quickly view information about a shape, pause the mouse pointer over a shape.

·      = I When your drawing has multiple pages, you can move the horizontal scroll bar to = view all of the page tabs.

2.3      = Creating a drawing

When you ba= se a drawing or diagram on a Visio drawing type (also called a = template) in Visio 2003, you automatically get all the tools and features you need to create that particular type of drawing. For example, to create an organizat= ion chart, you open the Organization Chart drawing type.

To start an Organization Chart

·      = Start Visio 2003. In the Welcome To Visio 2003 dialog box, click OK.

·      = In the Choose Drawing Type dialog box, click Organization Chart.

You can see a preview of the drawing types in the Drawing Type box.<= /span>

·      = In the Drawing Type box, double-click Organization Chart. A drawing page appea= rs, with the stencils and tools you need to begin your drawing.

2.4      = Working with stencils

When you start a new drawing or diagram by opening a template, Visio 2003 opens = one or more task-related stencils.

Stencils contain shapes you can drag onto the drawing page <= /b>to create your drawing.

You can arrange, resize, and connect the shapes in your drawing to create the drawi= ng you want.

= 2.4.1       To move stencils within the Visio window

·      = Click the icon ( ) on the stencil title bar. A menu appears.

·      = Choose Position, and then choose the stencil placement you want from the submenu.<= o:p>

You can dock or “float”—make movable—stencils as you wo= rk on your drawing.

Maarit Tip!

For quick access to stencil menu commands use the Stencil toolbar. Choose View > Toolbars > Stencil.<= o:p>

= 2.4.2      = To open additional stencils

·      = Choose File > Stencils > Open Stenc= il, choose the stencil you want to open, and then click OK.

Maarit Tip!

To locate a specific shape quickly, use the Shape Explorer to find it. Choose Tools >Macros > Shape Explorer.

Window type	Purpose
Pan & Zoom window	Easily zo= om in or out with increased precision.
Custom Properties windows	View and = edit a shape’s custom properties.
Size and Position window	Change a shape’s size, position or rotation.
Drawing Explorer window	View all = the elements in your document

Managemen= t	Operation= s	Sales and Marketing	Finance/Accounting Banking=	Project Management
Cost/bene= fit analysis	Human resources processes	Order processes	Audit and work flows	Work flow management
Process analysis	Informati= on flow	Informati= on flow	Fiscal management	Manufactu= ring processes
Cross-fun= ctional diagrams	Web diagramming	Marketing collateral materials	Accounting processes	Mind Mapp= ing
TQM/busin= ess process re-engineering	Recruiting processes and Benefits handling	Work flow diagrams	Annual reports	Decision-= making processes
&nbs= p;	&nbs= p;	&nbs= p;	TQM/proce= ss analysis	TQM/proce= ss analysis