Still in lockdown on holiday, so I thought I would create a version of backgammon that can be played with Visio for the web. This was inspired by my original Visio tutor, the late David Edson, who created a Visio backgammon document which included macros. Macros are not available in Visio for the web, so I have created one where the dice can be shaken, the doubling cube changed, and the pieces reset, using nothing but ShapeSheet formulas.
[Read more…] about Play Backgammon with VisioVisio for Desktop
Play Chess with Visio in Teams
[Update : a new version of this file allows Visio for M365 users to edit/play with see Making Custom Shapes for Visio for M365]
Following on from my last article about playing checkers with Visio in Teams, I decided that I should also revisit my earlier Visio chessboard to make it work in Visio online. I have implemented the ability to automatically reset the positions before a new game, and I have made a single chess piece shape that can be either colour or icon.
Play Checkers with Visio in Teams
[Update : a new version of this file allows Visio for M365 users to edit/play with see Making Custom Shapes for Visio for M365]
We are all spending more time in Teams or SharePoint nowadays, but not everyone knows that Visio documents can now be shared and collaborated with, and even set as a Teams tab. I was trying to think of a suitable demonstration of the co-working and collaboration possibilities, and came up with a reworking of an earlier post about playing checkers with Visio. Since this previous document was made before Visio for the web, I made some enhancements that work just as well with Visio for desktop and Visio for the web. This article explains a few ShapeSheet customisations that can be developed in Visio for the desktop, but can then be used in Visio for the web. Notice how each player can see which piece was moved by their opponent because their initials are displayed, and this is expanded to the full name if the mouse cursor is hovered over them.
Visio is NOT Vizio!
Update 1 : Microsoft read this post and immediately corrected the spelling so the following now works : https://adoption.microsoft.com/virtual-hub/search/?_sft_vh_product=microsoft-visio 🙂
Update 2 : Mr VisGuy! “spelt” is the same as “spelled” outside USA!
Aarghh! What kind of message is sent out if a company does not know how to spell the name of their own product? There is a make of TV in the States called Vizio, which is not the name of my favourite data-diagramming application, Visio. It may be pronounced the same, but believe me it is totally different. So, it is extremely disappointing that Microsoft have allowed their own product to be spelt incorrectly in the Virtual Hub in the Microsoft Ignite 2020 website.
Visio now and beyond at Microsoft Ignite 2020
I have presented at the last four Microsoft Ignite conferences and was part way through the world-wide tour when this pandemic began. I was looking forward to visiting New Orleans for this years shindig, but, alas, we are now in a new world where in-person events are a fond memory. Fortunately, Microsoft have the tools to create an engaging online experience, and today I was able to see Mukul and Saurabh bring us all up to speed on on what has been delivered since last year, and what to expect in the next (see Visio – now and beyond ).
Advanced Installer now Supports Visio VSTO Add-Ins
Advanced Installer now supports creating VSTO Visio Add-Ins installation projects using the Office Add-Ins wizard! This is great news for those of us who are still having to create VSTO Add-Ins, especially since Visual Studio does not include Setup & Deployment projects (again).
