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Microsoft Visio

 
Computer Desktop Encyclopedia: Visio
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A drawing and diagramming program for Windows from Microsoft that includes a variety of pre-drawn shapes and picture elements that can be dragged and dropped onto the illustration. Users can define their own elements and place them onto the Visio palette. The Visio package is part of the Microsoft Office brand. Standard and professional editions are available.

Visio was introduced in 1992 by Seattle-based Shapeware, which coined its name from the pre-drawn shapes. It changed its name to Visio Corporation in 1995 when it went public and was acquired by Microsoft in 1999.

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Wikipedia: Microsoft Visio
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
This article is about a software application. For a definition of the word visio, see the Wiktionary entry visio.
Not to be confused with Vizio.
Microsoft Office Visio
Microsoft Visio Icon
Microsoft Visio Screenshot
Microsoft Visio Professional 2007 on Windows Vista
Developer(s) Microsoft
Stable release 12.0.6423.1000 / 2009-04-28; 6 months ago
Operating system Microsoft Windows
Type Diagramming
License Proprietary
Website Microsoft Visio Homepage

Microsoft Visio (pronounced VIZ-ee-oh), marketed as Microsoft Office Visio, is a diagramming program for Microsoft Windows that uses vector graphics to create diagrams. It is currently available in two editions: Standard and Professional.

The Standard and Professional editions both share the same interface, but the latter has additional templates for more advanced diagrams and layouts as well as unique functionality that makes it easy for users to connect their diagrams to a number of data sources and display the information graphically.[1][2]

Microsoft acquired Visio Corporation in 2000. Visio 2007 was released on 30 November 2006. Also released alongside version 2002 were Enterprise Network Tools, an add-on product enabling automated network and directory services diagramming, and the Visio Network Center, a Web site where users could locate the latest network documentation content and exact-replica network equipment shapes from 500 leading manufacturers.[3] The former has been discontinued, while the latter's shape-finding features are now integrated into the program itself.[4]

Microsoft has revealed that the next version of Microsoft Visio will feature the ribbon user interface.[5]

Contents

Versions

Visio began as a standalone product produced by the Visio Corporation; as of Visio 2000, Microsoft acquired it and branded it as a Microsoft Office application, like Microsoft Project; however, it has never been included in any of the Office suites. Microsoft included a Visio for Enterprise Architects edition with some editions of Visual Studio .NET 2003 and Visual Studio 2005.[6]

  • Visio 1.0 (Standard, Lite, Home)
  • Visio 2.0
  • Visio 3.0
  • Visio 4.0 (Standard, Technical)
  • Visio 4.1 (Standard, Technical)
  • Visio 4.5 (Standard, Professional, Technical)
  • Visio 5.0 (Standard, Professional, Technical)
  • Visio 2000 (6.0; Standard, Professional, Technical, Enterprise), later updated to SP-1 and Microsoft branding after Visio Corporation's acquisition
  • Visio 2002 (10.0; Standard, Professional)
  • Visio Enterprise Network Tools, Visio Network Center
  • Visio for Enterprise Architects 2003 (VEA 2003) (based on Visio 2002 and included with Visual Studio .NET 2003 Enterprise Architect)
  • Office Visio 2003 (11.0; 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 (12.0; Standard, Professional).
  • Office Visio 2010 (14.0; Upcoming Version, Currently on Technical Preview)

Note: There is no Visio version 7 to 9, because after Microsoft acquired and branded Visio as a Microsoft Office product, the Visio version numbers followed the Office version numbers.

File formats

  • VSD - Diagram
  • VSS - Shape (originally Stencil)
  • VST - Template
  • VDX - Visio XML Diagram
  • VSX
  • VTX
  • VSL - Visio add-on

Alternatives

See also

References

  1. ^ "A comparison of Visio Standard and Visio Professional". Microsoft. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896660. 
  2. ^ "Visio 2007 Edition Comparison". Microsoft. http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/visio/FX101757911033.aspx. 
  3. ^ "Press release". Microsoft. 2001-05-01. http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2001/may01/05-07networkpr.mspx. 
  4. ^ "Outils de réseau Visio Enterprise produit abandonné". Microsoft. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/327399. 
  5. ^ Microsoft Visio Conference Previews Upcoming New Features for Visio Users
  6. ^ "History of Visio". MVPS. http://visio.mvps.org/History.htm. 

Further reading

  • Parker, David J (2007). Visualizing Information with Microsoft Office Visio 2007. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-148261-X. 

External links


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Microsoft Office
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Discontinued
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Windows versions
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Mac OS versions
98 · 2001 · X · 2004 · 2008
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