Smart Diagrams for IT Pros
David Parker, bVisual ltd
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Microsoft MVP (Visio)
Microsoft MCP (Visio, SQL)
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Pre-Microsoft acquisition
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Post-Microsoft acquisition
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http://www.visiotoolbox.com/productdetail.aspx?productid=9
WBS Modeler for Visio and Project
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McGraw-Hill, 2007
http://www.visualizinginformation.com
DataLegends – Visio add-in to add Data Graphic legends
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Microsoft Visio Solution Provider since 1999
Speaker at Microsoft Office Visio Conferences 2006 & 2008
Visio Solution Provider Training for Microsoft EMEA
Visualizing Information with Microsoft Office Visio 2007
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Visio Business Partner, 1996-8
Speaker at Visio Conferences 1997 &1998
Started bVisual in 1998
www.wbsmodeler.com
Visio Blog
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http://bvisual.spaces.live.com/
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Review of Basics
Shape Data and User Defined Cells
Linking Data to Shapes
Connecting Items to Each Other
Summarizing Information with PivotDiagrams
Database Wizard
Using Data Graphics to Reinforce Information
Using Smart Tags and Actions
Creating Reports
Themes, Backgrounds, Borders, and Titles
Creating Custom Templates, Stencils, and Masters
Reviewers’ Comments
Preparing for Publication
Using Code to Enhance Functionality
Document Management and Security
Scenarios
Epilogue
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Visualise complex information to better
understand it
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Analyse information to identify trends and
issues and act on them
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Communicate using diagrams that can be
shared with a broad audience
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Customise and extend Office Visio 2007
programmatically to fit customised needs
• Templates in Categories
• Some templates load Add-ons
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Standalone Editions
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Office Visio 2007 Standard
 Database wizard
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Office Visio 2007 Professional
 Data connectivity (new)
 Database reverse engineering
 UML models
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Visual Studio 2005 Enterprise Architect
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Visio 2003 Enterprise Architect
 Database forward engineering
 UML code generation
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Drawing, Template and Stencil files
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XML files
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Binary (*.vsd, *.vst, *.vss)
XML (*.vdx, *.vtx, *.vsx)
7-10 larger than binary
Not yet a zip file (like the big three Office 2007
applications) with sub-folders and files
Files compatible with Visio 2003
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Unless using new ShapeSheet formulae
Web
Browser
Visio Drawing
Graphics
Shape
Data Source
Prints
Data
Reports
Import
>
Link
>
Display
>
Communicate
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Custom Properties
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Definable cells in each shape to hold data
Limited data typing
Some Masters delivered with them
Database Wizard
Copies data to/from data source fields to shape cells
 Only one data source per shape
 Uses ODBC
 Read and Write (optional)
 Refresh on demand
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Shape Data
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Renamed from Custom Properties
Link Data to Shapes
Multiple data sources per shape
 Read only
 Uses Office Data Connections (*.odc files)
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PivotDiagrams
Diagrammatic version of PivotTables (but slower)
 Uses Office Data Connections (*.odc files)
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Data Graphics
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Data sensitive text and graphics on shapes
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The Microsoft Active Directory Topology
Diagrammer reads an Active Directory
configuration using ActiveX Data Objects (ADO),
and then automatically generates a Visio diagram
of your Active Directory and /or your Exchange
200x Server topology. The diagrams include
domains, sites, servers, administrative groups,
routing groups and connectors and can be changed
manually in Visio if needed.
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http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?Fa
milyID=cb42fc06-50c7-47ed-a65c862661742764&DisplayLang=en
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The Microsoft Office Visio 2007 WBS Modeler
improves the project planning process by
generating Project Plans from a Work
Breakdown Structure (WBS) using a graphical
representation of elements.
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http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.asp
x?FamilyID=34c28a49-e14c-4a7d-8d4990061fe08ab4&DisplayLang=en
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This download contains a Microsoft Office
Visio stencil with shapes for Microsoft
Exchange Server 2007.
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http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.asp
x?FamilyID=45f7ea49-ceb2-4b04-8d462b0ae5e10694&DisplayLang=en
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The Office Communications Server 2007 Visio
stencil contains icons for Office
Communications Server 2007 server roles and
components.
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http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.asp
x?FamilyID=543705f6-d02a-436e-8b345c796550022a&DisplayLang=en
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Download SQL Server 2005 Data Mining Addins for Office 2007. This package includes two
add-ins for Microsoft Office Excel 2007 (Table
Analysis Tools and Data Mining Client) and
one add-in for Microsoft Office Visio 2007
(Data Mining Templates).
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http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.asp
x?FamilyID=7c76e8df-8674-4c3b-a99b55b17f3c4c51&DisplayLang=en
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The Microsoft Office Visio 2007 Connector for
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA)
lets you view the results of an MBSA scan in a
clear, comprehensive Microsoft Office Visio
2007 network diagram.
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http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.asp
x?FamilyID=95e0f821-9c2c-4287-915749c1205e08ef&DisplayLang=en
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Download the Visio add in and the web server
component to connect and generate datasets to
connect to your existing diagrams or auto generate
your diagrams for your infrastructure monitoring
needs. See your data from OpsManager and
ConfigManager live in Visio diagrams.
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http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?Fa
milyID=521b3884-1eda-4b9d-8ad767d00fe9ce8a&displaylang=en&Hash=t8clem7dZDwimL
32n1JJsW%2frz%2f2dGTAaQeI1XI0IKF1DiXbdjTA5pm4g
nKEc%2f%2foFUtJ%2fxHHUyj2Rsp6G6YUkYw%3d%3d
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Start at VisioCafe
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www.visio.cafe.com
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Any shape can have Shape Data
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Been around since 1996
Uses ODBC data sources - Read and/or Write
Single link per shape - Refresh on demand
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Drag and drop shapes
Select record
Data imported
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Same Master used for whole table/view
Shapes added to page
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Data / Link Data to Shapes…
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Right mouse menu in External Data Window
Name data columns to match Shape Data labels
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Select a Master – Drag data row(s)
Select a Shape – Drag a data row onto it
Shape Data key field(s) contain values AutoLink
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Basic Data Graphics usually added by default
• Right mouse menu
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Either File / New /Business / PivotDiagram
Or Data / Insert PivotDiagram…
Create a new connection or use an existing one
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Total Pivot Node automatically added at the
top left of page
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Breakdown data into Categories
Sort
Merge
Promote
Collapse
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Uses Master from any stencil to reinforce node
type
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Import Cubes or Perspectives
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Text
Data Bar
Icon Set
Color By Value
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Text values, with optional label
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Variable size depending on data value
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Maximum of 5 icons per set, specify values for
icon display
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Colours can be customised
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Legends for Icon Sets & Color By Value
VSTO Add-in
COM Add-in
Add-ons
VBA
Full Visio
Client App
Visio Drawing
Control (ActiveX)
ShapeSheet, Smart Shapes
Visio Engine
Visio Viewer
Extensibility Support
Data Diagramming
ML
Visio Object Model (COM)
Save
As
Web
Visio
Drawings
Sample code
Tools & Wizards
ShapeStudio
Visio SDK
.NET Primary Interoperability Assemblies (PIAs)
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Legends for:
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External Data recordsets
Data Graphic Icon Sets
Color By Value
PLUS extra Data Graphic Callouts for:
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Headings
Text Callouts
Data Bars
Icon Sets
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Link Data to Shapes
Automation
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Connecting
Layouts
PivotDiagrams
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For companies
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New Microsoft Certified Partner Specialization
 Information Worker Competency
 Data Visualization Specialization
 https://partner.microsoft.com/40039095
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For developers
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New MCP Exam 70-545
 Microsoft Office Visio 2007, Application Development
 http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-545.mspx
 Deploying Visio Solutions
 Working with External Data
 Developing Visio Libraries
 Automating Visio Diagrams
 Publishing and Viewing Visio Diagrams
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Visio 2007 SDK
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Visio 2007 Solution Development Workshop
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http://blogs.msdn.com/visio/
Visio MVP web site
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http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/office/aa905478.aspx
Visio Insight blog
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http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=332c211e581e-4029-9839-8f45de10b4c2&DisplayLang=en
Visio Developer Portal
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http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms409183.aspx
http://visio.mvps.org/
Visio IT Pro Toolbox
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http://www.visiotoolbox.com
David J Parker
Microsoft MVP (Visio)
http://www.bVisual.net
Book just released
http://www.visualizinginformation.com
http://www.compman.co.uk/scripts/browse.asp?ref
=835685
davidp@bvisual.net