AI is changing the world and how we should approach it. So I decided to see if I could get Claude Sonnet 4.6 Agent to completely write an application for me, and I mean completely. The application is written in Python by Claude, and I have not written a single line. The code is available at github.com/davidjpp/Visio-Report-Runner/ and it enables any Windows user, with Microsoft Excel installed, to run some types of reports from any Visio document (*.vsdx).
These Visio Report Definitions can be easily created by any Microsoft Visio desktop P2 or Professional user, and either embedded within a Visio document or stored in any other folder. Instructions are available at https://support.microsoft.com/Visio/create-a-report-of-shape-data ,
The executable can be downloaded from github.com/davidjpp/Visio-Report-Runner/blob/main/dist/Visio%20Report%20Runner.exe
Migrating from Lucidchart to Visio?
My fellow Visio MVP, Michel Laplane, and I recently converted and transformed 15k Lucidchart documents to Microsoft Visio for a large multi-national organization. This was approximately 4 years after they had moved from Visio to Lucidchart! I do not know the full reason behind these changes in technology, and I do not have a particular…
Creating Boolean Context Menus in Visio
Over the many, many years that I have been creating Microsoft Visio solutions, I have had to create numerous right-mouse context menus for shapes to control their Shape Data values. Over that time, patterns emerge, so this article is highlighting three different appearances for simple Boolean values, otherwise known as True/False or Yes/No values, and…
A visual exploration of Penrose Tiling in Visio
Maybe it is because I used to be a building architect, but I have always been fascinated by the relationship between numbers and visualisations. Perhaps the most famous one is the Golden Ratio which has been used as the basis of many building designs and art pieces. It is often recognised to create a harmony…
Are Master Shortcuts useful in Visio?
Many Visio users may not even understand the question, but this almost hidden feature has been available for many years. A Master Shortcut looks like a normal Master in a stencil, but it is merely holds a reference to another Master in a Stencil, not necessarily the same one, and has an option to add…
Co-authoring and Commenting with Visio Documents
Microsoft Visio can be used in the web browser and on the desktop, but there are several licensing options available, so which ones can be used concurrently whilst supporting co-authoring and commenting? This article tests the various scenarios but assumes that the Visio documents are stored in OneDrive for Business or SharePoint Online\Teams. The Microsoft…
Fixing dimensions of 2D shapes
I am often asked what makes Visio unique and makes it stand out from the crowd, especially in today’s online world. Well, I think there are many reasons, but one of them is the ability to create scaled drawings with parametric components of specific dimensions. This was crucial for my adoption of Visio back in…
