Microsoft Visio 2007 Professional and 2010 Professional and Premium includes the Network / Rack Diagram template, which opens the Rack-mounted equipment stencil. This stencil includes the Patch Panel master which can be stretched from 2U to 25U high. However, I have often required a 1U patch Panel, so I decided to look into the Microsoft shape to see if it could be modified to allow it to be reduced to 1U without looking ridiculous.
Visio
visViewer 3rd Edition released
Microsoft recently updated the free Microsoft Visio Viewer (see http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=f9ed50b0-c7df-4fb8-89f8-db2932e624f7 ). I have updated visViewer (see http://www.bvisual.net/Products/visViewer.aspx ) to use the new version of the Microsoft Visio Viewer which now enables you to view all versions of Visio documents from Visio 5 to Visio 2010 without having Visio installed.
One of the cool things about the Microsoft Visio Viewer is its ability to view reviewer’s markup. Here is an example of a document in Visio with reviewer’s comments:
Here is the same document in bVisual visViewer:
Useful!
Microsoft Visio 2010 Business Process Diagramming and Validation book published
Phew … my new book is published, and I have a new Visio 2010 add-in, Rules Tools, to accompany it.
If you are a Microsoft Visio 2010 Premium Edition user or developer who wants to get to grips with both the basic features of Visio 2010 and the new Validation Rules in this edition, then this book is for you. A working knowledge of Microsoft Visio, and optionally .NET for the add-in code, is required, though previous knowledge of business process diagramming is not necessary. More experienced Visio users will gain valuable knowledge for building add-ins and creating and publishing rules. If you want to achieve results from Visio 2010 beyond the ordinary out-of-the-box features, then this book is ideal for you. Although this book covers the Premium Edition, much of the book is still useful if you are a Visio 2010 Standard Edition or Professional Edition user.
Microsoft Visio 2010 Business Process Diagramming and Validation :
https://www.packtpub.com/microsoft-visio-2010-business-process-diagramming/book
Rules Tools
The new Validation API enables businesses to write custom validation rules to suit their own purposes.
Microsoft Visio 2010 provides built-in rule sets for flowcharts, BPMN diagrams and SharePoint Designer Workflows. However, it does not provide a rule set developer interface for the analyzing, amending or creating rules. This Rules Tools add-in fills this gap by providing an extra group in the Process tab in Visio 2010 that allows users to analyze existing rules, display issues, and to export/import rule sets.
Go to the Rules Tools page for more information
Jottings in June
Finishing a book always takes longer than you imagine. There seems to be an almost endless round of chapter revisions, but it is now done, and soon to be released. Meanwhile, Microsoft have published a chapter from my first book, Visualizing Information with Microsoft Office Visio 2007 at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff718158(office.12).aspx. This is still very relevant for Microsoft Visio 2010 users because it is all about linking data to diagrams, and I think is an essential companion to my forthcoming book.
About the Book
Visualizing Information with Microsoft Office Visio 2007 by David J. Parker, published by McGraw-Hill (ISBN 978-0071482615, copyright 2007 by McGraw-Hill, all rights reserved). Visualizing Information with Microsoft Office Visio 2007 demonstrates how to effectively visualize, explore, and communicate complex business information. Learn to use PivotDiagrams, Data Graphics, and Smart Tags, as well as link data to shapes and create meaningful Visio documents and reports. Plus, you’ll get vital security information, time-saving tips, troubleshooting techniques, and downloadable macros and code samples.
Musings in May
I have been quiet on this blog this month for two good reasons …
Firstly, I wrote a blog for The Microsoft MVP Award Program Blog entitled 10 Days for Office 2010: 10 Visio 2010 Tips and Tricks, which you can see at
Secondly, I have been finishing my forthcoming book Microsoft Visio 2010 Business Process Diagramming and Validation, which you can read about at https://www.packtpub.com/microsoft-visio-2010-business-process-diagramming/book
Oh, and you can also catch my presentation about the new Visio at the UK TechDays last month, see http://www.microsoft.com/uk/techdays/
Displaying the RGB values of Shapes
Everyone knows that you can change the colour of Visio shapes. Most people know that you can also change the fill pattern too.
