Smart graphics for visual people
Looking at the number page views and download stats, the original Visio Crayon Network Shapes seem to be quite popular.
I’m happy to announce that they have been improved and extended! If you’re designing a new network or planning modifications to an existing network, these shapes are great for visually emphasizing that you are currently in the DESIGN STAGE ONLY, or this is JUST AN IDEA and that you don’t plan on working over the weekend to implement it just yet!
If you create your own Visio shapes or make drawings that have elements arranged circularly, then you may have experienced frustration.
Visio has the tools to draw circular-arrays of objects, but learning to do it takes time. There are no direct “arrange stuff in circles” functions. You have to cleverly use other functionality to get the job done.
To make things easier for you and me, I invented the Radial Elements Tool solves some of these problems. With this tool, you can create circular arrays of customizable tick marks in seconds!
Harry Miller, video producer. The guy who filmed: five of the biggest Visio Nerds that ever lived. He’s been busy.
Creating instructional Visio videos. With a 40’s detective theme. Short. Succinct. Cool jazz music. Just the facts M’am. Dragnet. Humphrey Bogart. You get the picture.
Harrison Clarity is the star. I call him H.C. Throaty voice. Gets to the point.
If you need a Visio shape that allows you to quickly create a chain of “chevron” arrows for your management presentations, then you have come to the right place! Our Visio SmartShape is jammed full of smart behaviors that save you a ton of time!
Do you need to number shapes automatically? Do you need to connect shapes in the order that they are numbered?
If you are developing an automated, graphical solution on top of Visio, you might face these requirements. This article and accompanying download will help you to meet them.
Or if you just want tools for step-numbering and ordered connecting, you might be able to modify and extend the VBA code contained in today’s download to help you get the job done.
[Read more…] about Automatically Number & Connect Shapes – With Code!
Oops! I posted Interview With a Visio Guy a bit too soon.
That article features a video with Visio MVP David Parker, who shares words of wisdom about his history of working with Visio, and why it is such a great platform for graphics-based solutions.
But by jumping the gun, I have inadvertently showered Mr. Parker with glory, at the expense of other Visio MVPs.
You see, the video was the first in a FIVE-PART series, called Visio: Drawing on Experience.
[Read more…] about Don’t Read! Watch Videos of Visio MVPs Instead!
While Visio is heavily used for flowcharting, network diagramming, org charting and other connected diagramming tasks, it also has a fair amount of capabilities that overlap the CAD arena.
One of the best-kept secrets in this area is the ability to draw tangent lines between two curves.
Today we’re going to expose the secret and show you how to do it!
Need 5000 FREE Visio network shapes? Or maybe just a couple of hundred? Well, if you do, you’ve come to the right place!
Today I’ll tell you about a wonderful resource for Visio network shapes called the Visio Cafe. They’ve got rack shapes, network shape, and auxiliary shapes that go along with network diagrams.
At last count, this site offers over 300MB of Visio networking madness, including 192 stencils which contain 4999 Visio network shapes. All of them for free!
[Read more…] about Need Network Shapes? Fill Your Cup at the Visio Cafe!
With the exception of radio personalities, I find like to associate pretty faces with people whose words I read, whose work I use, and whose endeavors I benefit from.
Recently, an interview with Visio expert David Parker was posted on Microsoft TechNet.
In the video, David tells some interesting, relevant stories about his history of working with Visio, and he shares some wise, eloquent words on the power of Visio as a visual tool for corporate desktop users, and as a platform for visual solution developers.
Plus, we get to hear him say; drooring!
Recently in the Visio Guy Newsgroups, user Ziorg77 submitted a wonderful Visio SmartShape of a DIP switch, where you could toggle each of the eight switches individually.
This led to a flurry of discussion, and several more user-submitted versions of the shape.
Each version had a unique interaction style that provided an opportunity for a fascinating comparison of Visio shape behavior and user interaction.
You can see all the shapes in action in a video I’ve prepared, and–even better–you can download these free Visio shapes at the end of this article.