Microsoft Visio

Microsoft Visio is used to create diagram types such as flowcharts, org charts, floor plans, network diagrams, UML diagrams, mind maps and more. It is also commonly used for scenarios such as Process Mapping and Visual Collaboration. The latest version of Visio also has data visualization that allows users to create diagrams from Excel data and also embed Visio diagrams in Power BI dashboards.

Microsoft made Visio 2013 for Windows available in two editions: Standard and Professional. The Standard and Professional editions share the same interface, but the Professional edition has additional templates for more advanced diagrams and layouts, as well as capabilities intended to make it easy for users to connect their diagrams to data sources and to display their data graphically.{{cite web | url = http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896660 | title = A comparison of Visio Standard and Visio Professional | publisher = Microsoft}}{{cite web | url = http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/visio/FX101757911033.aspx | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080215084426/http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/visio/FX101757911033.aspx | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2008-02-15 | title = Visio 2007 Edition Comparison | publisher = Microsoft}} The Professional edition features three additional diagram types, as well as intelligent rules, validation, and subprocess (diagram breakdown).{{cite web | url = http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/visio/visio-edition-comparison-FX101838162.aspx| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130316064209/http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/visio/visio-edition-comparison-FX101838162.aspx| url-status = dead| archive-date = 2013-03-16| title = Visio 2010 Edition Comparison | publisher = Microsoft}} Visio Professional is also offered as an additional component of an Office365 subscription.{{cite web | url = https://products.office.com/en-us/Visio/microsoft-visio-2013-plans-and-pricing-compare-visio-options | title = Compare Visio Versions | publisher = Microsoft}}

On September 22, 2015, Visio 2016 was released alongside Microsoft Office 2016. A few new features were added, including one-step connectivity to Excel data, information-rights management (IRM) protection for Visio files, modernized shapes for office layout, detailed shapes for site plans, updated shapes for floor plans, modern shapes for home plans, IEEE-compliant shapes for electrical diagrams, new range of starter diagrams, and new themes for the Visio interface.{{cite web | url = https://support.office.com/en-us/article/What-s-new-in-Visio-2016-798f4f39-2833-486b-9ae9-55162672102e?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US | title = What's new in Visio 2016 | publisher = Microsoft}}

Database modelling in Visio revolves around a Database Model Diagram (DMD).

{{cite book

| last1 = Filev

| first1 = Andrew

| title = Professional UML Using Visual Studio .Net

| date = October 28, 2005

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=IcYAZFz8UE8C

| publisher = John Wiley & Sons

| publication-date = 2005

| page = 276

| isbn = 9780764558757

| access-date = 2012-12-12

| quote = The cornerstone of the Visio Data POroject will be the Database Model Diagram (DMD). [...] The DMD is mainly an Entity Relationship (ER) diagram with project management capabilities.

}}

{{Infobox

| bodystyle = width:314px

| title = Native file formats

| image = x75px x75px

| caption = Icons for .vsdx (left) and .vss (right) files

| label1 = VSD

| data1 = Visio 2003-2010 Drawing

| label2 = VSS

| data2 = Stencil

| label3 = VST

| data3 = Template

| label4 = VDW

| data4 = Web drawing{{Cite web|url=https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Save-diagrams-to-SharePoint-as-Web-drawings-28A3DE08-21A9-4E30-8306-76C33B12F48F|title = Save diagrams to SharePoint as Web drawings}}

| label5 = VDX

| data5 = XML drawing (Discontinued)

| label6 = VSX

| data6 = XML stencil (Discontinued)

| label7 = VTX

| data7 = XML template (Discontinued)

| label8 = VSDX

| data8 = OPC/XML drawing, Current Visio drawing{{Cite web|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/office/client-developer/visio/introduction-to-the-visio-file-formatvsdx|title = Introduction to the Visio file format (.VSDX)| date=March 10, 2022 }}

| label9 = VSDM

| data9 = OPC/XML drawing, macro-enabled

| label10 = VSSX

| data10 = OPC/XML stencil

| label11 = VSSM

| data11 = OPC/XML stencil, macro-enabled

| label12 = VSTX

| data12 = OPC/XML template

| label13 = VSTM

| data13 = OPC/XML template, macro-enabled

| label14 = VSL

| data14 = Add-on

}}

All of the previous versions of Visio used VSD, the proprietary binary-file format. Visio 2010 added support for the VDX file format, which is a well-documented XML Schema-based ("DatadiagramML") format, but still uses VSD by default only.

Visio 2013 drops support for writing VDX files in favor of the new VSDX and VSDM file formats, and uses them by default. Created based on Open Packaging Conventions (OPC) standard (ISO 29500, Part 2), a VSDX or VSDM file consists of a group of XML files archived inside a Zip file.{{cite web|title= What's new for Visio 2013 developers|url= http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/ff767103.aspx#vis15_WhatsNew_NewFF|work= MSDN|publisher= Microsoft|access-date= 31 March 2013|at= New file format|date= 16 July 2012}} VSDX and VSDM files differ only in that VSDM files may contain macros. Since these files are susceptible to macro virus infection, the program enforces strict security on them.{{cite web|title= Check for macros that might contain viruses|url= http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/visio-help/check-for-macros-that-might-contain-viruses-HP085052564.aspx|work= Visio Help|publisher= Microsoft|access-date= 6 April 2013|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130624091854/http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/visio-help/check-for-macros-that-might-contain-viruses-HP085052564.aspx|archive-date= 24 June 2013}}

While VSD files use LZW-like lossless compression, VDX is not compressed. Hence, a VDX file typically takes up 3 to 5 times more storage.{{Citation needed|date=March 2013}} VSDX and VSDM files use the same compression as Zip files.

Visio also supports saving files in SVG files, other diagramming files and images. However, images cannot be opened by the program.

Visio began as a standalone product produced by Shapeware Corporation; version 1.0 shipped in 1992. A pre-release, Version 0.92, was distributed free on a floppy disk along with a Microsoft Windows systems readiness evaluation utility. In 1995, Shapeware Corporation changed their name to Visio Corporation to take advantage of market recognition and related product equity. Microsoft acquired Visio in 2000, re-branding it as a Microsoft Office application. Like Microsoft Project, however, it has never been officially included in any of the bundled Office suites. Microsoft included a Visio for Enterprise Architects edition with some editions of Visual Studio .NET 2003 and Visual Studio 2005.{{cite web|url=http://visio.mvps.org/History.htm|title=History of Visio|publisher=MVPS|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110418052835/http://visio.mvps.org/History.htm|archive-date=2011-04-18|url-status=dead}}

Along with Microsoft Visio 2002 Professional, Microsoft introduced Visio Enterprise Network Tools and Visio Network Center. Visio Enterprise Network Tools was an add-on product that enabled automated network and directory services diagramming. Visio Network Center was a subscription-based website where users could locate the latest network documentation content and exact-replica network equipment shapes from 500 leading manufacturers.{{cite web | url = http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2001/may01/05-07networkpr.mspx | date = 2001-05-01 | publisher = Microsoft | title = Press release}} Visio Enterprise Network Tools was discontinued in July 2002.{{cite web | url = http://support.microsoft.com/kb/327399 | publisher = Microsoft | title = Visio Enterprise Network Tools product discontinued |date=July 27, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110142709/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/327399 |archive-date=2006-11-10}} The following year, Microsoft released a patch which gave Enterprise Network Tools users access to the network equipment shapes via Visio's built-in Find Shape feature.{{cite web |title=Patch for Network Equipment Shape Access |url=http://www.microsoft.com/office/visio/networkcenter/patch.mspx |date=January 17, 2003 |publisher=Microsoft |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060106062205/http://www.microsoft.com/office/visio/networkcenter/patch.mspx|archive-date=2006-01-06}} Visio 2007 was released on November 30, 2006.

Microsoft Visio adopted ribbons in its user interface in Visio 2010.{{cite web|title=What's New in Visio 2010 for Automation Developers|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/ff767103%28v=office.14%29.aspx|work=MSDN|publisher=Microsoft|at=The ribbon|access-date=31 March 2013}} Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and Outlook (to some extents) had already adopted the ribbon with the release of Microsoft Office 2007.{{cite web|title=Use the Ribbon instead of toolbars and menus |url=http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/use-the-ribbon-instead-of-toolbars-and-menus-HA010089895.aspx |work=Microsoft Office website |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=31 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615070939/http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/use-the-ribbon-instead-of-toolbars-and-menus-HA010089895.aspx |archive-date=15 June 2011 |year=2007 |url-status=dead }}

November 19, 2012: BPMN 2.0 was utilized within Microsoft Visio.{{cite web |last1=Horn |first1=Stephanie |title=Introducing BPMN 2.0 in Visio |url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2012/11/19/introducing-bpmn-2-0-in-visio/ |website=Microsoft.com |date=November 18, 2012 |access-date=8 March 2019}}

• Visio v1.0 (Standard, Lite, Home)
• Visio v2.0
• Visio v3.0
• Visio v4.0 (Standard, Technical)
• Visio v4.1 (Standard, Technical)
• Visio v4.5 (Standard, Professional, Technical)
• Visio v5.0 (Standard, Professional, Technical)
• Visio 2000 (v6.0; Standard, Professional, Technical, Enterprise) – originally released only Visio, later updated to SP1 and Microsoft branding after Visio Corporation's acquisition
• Visio 2002 (v10.0; Standard, Professional) – first version of Visio overall to be a Microsoft Office application after Visio Corporation's acquisition
• Visio for Enterprise Architects 2003 (VEA 2003) – based on Visio 2002 and included with Visual Studio .NET 2003 Enterprise Architect edition
• Office Visio 2003 (v11.0; Standard, Professional)
• Office Visio for Enterprise Architects 2005 (VEA 2005) – based on Visio 2003 and included with Visual Studio 2005 Team Suite and Team Architect editions
• Office Visio 2007 (v12.0; Standard, Professional)
• Visio 2010 (v14.0; Standard, Professional, Premium)
• Visio 2013 (v15.0; Standard, Professional)
• Visio 2016 (v16.0; Standard, Professional, Office 365)
• Visio Online Plan 1 (Web based editor), Visio Online Plan 2 (Desktop, Office 365)
• Visio 2019 (v16.0; Standard, Professional)
• Visio 2021 (Standard, Professional)
• Visio 2024 (Standard, Professional)

There are no Visio versions 7, 8, or 9, because after Microsoft acquired and branded Visio as a Microsoft Office product, the Visio version numbers followed the Office version numbers. Version 13 was also skipped owing to triskaidekaphobia.{{Cite web |last=Flynn |first=David |date=March 29, 2007 |title=Microsoft to Skip 'Unlucky' Office 13 |url=http://apcmag.com/microsoft_to_skip_unlucky_office_13.htm/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206073052/http://apcmag.com/microsoft_to_skip_unlucky_office_13.htm/ |archive-date=February 6, 2009 |access-date=September 10, 2016 |website=APC |publisher=Future}}

Visio does not have a macOS version, which has led to the growth of several third-party applications which can open and edit Visio files on Mac.

On 7 May 2001, Microsoft introduced Visio Enterprise Network Tools (VENT), an add-on for Visio 2002 scheduled for release on 1 July 2001, and Visio Network Center, a subscription-based web service for IT professionals who use Microsoft Visio for computer network diagramming.{{cite web|title=Microsoft Visio Enterprise Network Tools and Visio Network Center Debut at NetWorld+Interop|url=http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2001/may01/05-07networkpr.aspx|work=News Center|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=31 March 2013|location=Las Vegas|date=7 May 2001}} VENT was discontinued on 1 July 2002 because of very low customer demand.{{cite web|title=Visio Enterprise Network Tools product discontinued|url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/327399|work=Support|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=31 March 2013|date=27 July 2006}}

{{Commons category|Microsoft Visio}}

• Concept map
• Diagram
• Flowchart
• List of concept- and mind-mapping software
• Comparison of project management software
• Network diagram software

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Refbegin}}

• {{cite web

| url = http://www.osalt.com/visio

| title = Microsoft Visio 2010 — Open source Visio alternatives

| work = OSALT: Open Source as Alternative

| publisher = osalt.com

| first = Anders Ingeman

| last = Rasmussen

| year = 2010

| access-date = 15 October 2010

}}

• {{cite web

| url = http://richard.gluga.com/2009/03/no-erd-to-sql-code-generation-in-visio.html

| title = No ERD to SQL code generation in Visio 2003/2007 Pro

| work = Just another tech blog

| publisher = Blogger

| date = 25 March 2009

| access-date = 15 October 2010

| archive-date = May 4, 2009

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090504073518/http://richard.gluga.com/2009/03/no-erd-to-sql-code-generation-in-visio.html

| url-status = dead

}}

• {{cite web

| url = http://visio.microsoft.com/en-au/pages/default.aspx

| title = Microsoft Visio Website

| work = Official Microsoft Visio website - Visio 2010

| publisher = Blogger

| date = 7 Dec 2011

| access-date = 7 Dec 2011

}}

• {{cite web

| url = http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/visio-help/create-a-floor-plan-HP001208559.aspx

| title = Create a floor plan

| work = Microsoft Office Online Help

| publisher = Microsoft Corporation

| access-date = 15 October 2010

}}

• {{cite book

| first = David John

| last = Parker

| title = Mastering Data Visualization With Microsoft Visio Professional 2016

| publisher = Packt Publishing

| year = 2016

| isbn = 978-1-78588-266-1

}}

• {{cite book

| first = David John

| last = Parker

| title = Microsoft Visio 2013 Business Process Diagramming

| publisher = Packt Publishing

| year = 2013

| isbn = 978-1-78217-800-2

}}

• {{cite book

| first = David John

| last = Parker

| title = Microsoft Visio 2010 Business Process Diagramming

| publisher = Packt Publishing

| year = 2010

| isbn = 978-1-84968-014-1

}}

• {{cite book

| first = David John

| last = Parker

| title = Visualizing information with Microsoft Office Visio 2007: smart diagrams for business users

| publisher = McGraw-Hill

| year = 2007

| isbn = 978-0-07-148261-5

}}

• {{cite book

| first = Scott A.

| last = Helmers

| title = Visio 2010 Step by Step

| publisher = O'Reilly/Microsoft Press

| year = 2011

| isbn = 978-0-7356-4887-6

| url = http://oreilly.com/catalog/0790145307477/

}}

• {{cite book

| first = Scott A.

| last = Helmers

| title = Visio 2013 Step by Step

| publisher = O'Reilly/Microsoft Press

| year = 2013

| isbn = 978-0-7356-6946-8

| url = http://oreilly.com/catalog/0790145365675/

}}

{{Refend}}

• {{Official website|http://products.office.com/visio}}
• [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=51188 Microsoft Visio 2016 Viewer] (Internet Explorer add-in) on Microsoft Download Center
• [http://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?id=35811 Microsoft Visio 2013 Viewer] (Internet Explorer add-in) on Microsoft Download Center
• [http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=27196 Microsoft Visio 2010 Product Overview Guide] on Microsoft Download Center
• [http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=615 Microsoft Visio 2010: Interactive menu to ribbon guide] on Microsoft Download Center
• [https://winworldpc.com/product/visio Old versions of Visio] which has abandonware status already (only versions released by Shapeware/Visio Corporation)

{{Mindmaps}}

{{Microsoft Office}}

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Category:1992 software

Category:Diagramming software

Visio

Category:Technical communication tools

Category:UML tools

Category:Windows software

Category:Graph drawing software

Category:2000 mergers and acquisitions

Category:Discontinued Microsoft software