Home > Store

Visio 2013 Absolute Beginner's Guide

Register your product to gain access to bonus material or receive a coupon.

Visio 2013 Absolute Beginner's Guide

eBook (Watermarked)

  • Sorry, this book is no longer in print.
  • Includes EPUB and PDF
  • About eBook Formats
  • This eBook includes the following formats, accessible from your Account page after purchase:

    ePub EPUB The open industry format known for its reflowable content and usability on supported mobile devices.

    Adobe Reader PDF The popular standard, used most often with the free Acrobat® Reader® software.

    This eBook requires no passwords or activation to read. We customize your eBook by discreetly watermarking it with your name, making it uniquely yours.

Not for Sale

Description

  • Copyright 2014
  • Edition: 1st
  • eBook (Watermarked)
  • ISBN-10: 0-13-338253-2
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-13-338253-2

Make the most of Visio 2013–without becoming a technical expert! This book is the fastest way to master Visio and use it to build powerful, useful diagrams, org charts, and flowcharts of all kinds! Even if you’ve never used Visio before, you’ll learn how to do what you want, one incredibly clear and easy step at a time. Visio has never, ever been this simple!

Who knew how simple Visio 2013 could be?

This is the easiest, most practical beginner’s guide to using Microsoft Visio 2013...simple, reliable instructions for doing everything you really want to do! Here’s a small sample of what you’ll learn:

  • Master new tools for creating intuitive, visually appealing diagrams
  • Learn high-efficiency touch features for Windows 8 and tablets
  • Create business and engineering diagrams, flowcharts, maps, floor plans, network diagrams, schedules, and more
  • Instantly set or change diagram designs with enhanced templates and themes
  • Simplify diagramming with built-in shapes and stencils–or create your own
  • Craft more sophisticated diagrams with containers, callouts, screentips, and layers
  • Import external images, from SVG graphics to AutoCAD drawings
  • Visually present Excel spreadsheet data in Visio drawings
  • Dynamically update diagrams with real-time data to support better decision-making
  • Share diagrams to improve team collaboration

Sample Content

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

What This Book Covers    2

How This Book Is Organized    3

Conventions Used in This Book    3

Working with Visio Tools and Menus    4

Using Screen Illustrations    4

Web Addresses    4

Special Elements to Watch For    5

Part I Visio 2013 Basics    7

1 Getting to Know Visio 2013    9

What Is Visio?    10

Create a Basic Flowchart    10

What Else Can I Make?    13

Which Edition Should I Use?    16

What Is New in the 2013 Editions?    17

Improved Touch Support     18

Streamlined Layout     18

The New VSDX File Format     20

2 Finding Your Way Around the Interface    21

The Ribbon    22

Embrace the Tab    22

Contextual Tabs    23

Template Tabs    24

Customizing the Ribbon    24

Where Did That Command Go?    29

Important Features of the Visio Application    30

The Quick Access Toolbar    30

Context Menus    31

The Backstage    31

The Status Bar    33

A Look at the Drawing Window    33

Task Panes    34

Rulers and Grids    34

Manipulating Shapes    34

1D Shape Handles    35

2D Shape Handles    36

Vertex Handles    36

Eccentricity Handles    37

Get Around Using Your Keyboard    38

3 Working with Basic Diagrams    41

Making Diagrams    42

What Is a Template?    42

Working Without a Template    46

Clone Your Drawing    47

Find Online Templates and Samples    49

Save Your Diagram    49

Save As     49

AutoSave     51

Working with Drawing Windows    53

Task Panes    53

Switching Between Windows    55

Working with Full Screen Windows    57

4 Taking Control of Your Diagrams    61

Working with Pages    62

Adding Pages    62

Inserting Pages    63

Using Background Pages    64

Rename Pages    66

Reorganizing Pages    66

Customizing Pages    67

Scaling Your Page    71

Working with Themes    72

The Theme Gallery    73

Changing Themes on-the-Fly    76

Working with Color    77

5 Working with Shapes    81

Find the Right Shape    82

Selecting Available Shapes    82

Frequently Used Shapes    83

Changing Shapes    87

Saving Favorites    89

Understanding Stencils    90

What Is a Master?    90

Creating Personalized Stencils    91

Edit Stencil Sets    93

Searching for Shapes    96

6 Manage Shapes    101

Using Groups to Organize Shapes    102

When to Use Groups    102

When It Is Better to Avoid Groups    107

Editing Groups    107

Arranging Shapes    108

Using the Dynamic Grid    108

Straighten Up Shapes with Auto Align    109

Using Position to Arrange the Diagram    111

Old-School Grid, Ruler, and Guides    115

When Overlaps Occur    117

Using Layout to Organize Shapes    118

Part II Customizing    121

7 Connecting Shapes    123

What Are Connectors?    124

How to Connect Shapes    124

Understanding Connectors    129

Connecting Shapes Versus Points    129

What Happens to Connections    132

…When I Drag a Shape?    132

…When I Split a Connector?    132

…When I Delete a Shape?    133

Modifying Connectors    134

Formatting    135

Routing Styles    136

Using Line Jumps    136

Manual Override    138

Working with Connector Points    140

Adding or Removing Connection Points    140

8 Making Advanced Diagrams   143

Organizing Diagrams    144

Containers    144

Lists    148

Callouts    151

ScreenTips    155

Using Headers and Footers    157

Working with Text    159

Creating Text Boxes    160

Using Text Fields    160

Layers    163

Creating Layers    163

When to Add Layers    165

9 Shapes: Customizing    167

Duplicating Shapes    168

Making Several Copies    168

Resizing Shapes    170

Rotating Shapes    171

How to Format a Shape    172

Modifying Common Format Attributes    173

Modifying Less Common Attributes    174

Using Format with Groups    175

Changing Text     176

Editing and Formatting Text    176

Modifying Text Blocks    179

10 Shapes: More Than Meets the Eye    185

Understanding Special SmartShape Features    186

What Is Shape Data?    186

Right-Click Menus    186

Control Handles    187

Hyperlinks    188

Smart Tags    188

Import External Images    189

What You Can Do with Images    190

Resizing Images    192

Working with Clip Art    193

Using Excel Charts    194

Importing Scalable Vector Graphics    196

Importing AutoCAD Drawings    197

Adding Content to AutoCAD Drawings    200

11 Printing Visio Diagrams    203

Just the Basics    204

Print from the Backstage    204

The Print Preview Pane    208

Test Your Print Job    210

Controlling the Space Around the Print Job    211

Headers and Footers    211

Margins    213

Selecting What You Will Print    214

Printing Just a Portion of a Diagram    215

Selecting Specific Pages in Visio    216

Background Page Printing (or Not)    217

Selecting Shapes to Print    219

Printing by Layer    219

Gridlines    221

Get High-Quality Print Jobs    221

Color Printing    223

Part III Advanced    225

12 Sharing Visio Diagrams    227

Share Drawings Using Email    228

Visio Viewer    229

SkyDrive    230

Social Networks    232

Creating a Web Page from Your Diagram    234

Saving to Other File Formats from Visio    235

Creating PDF and XPS Files    236

XML Formatted Drawings    237

Older Visio Formats    237

Getting Visio Drawings into Other Applications    238

Office Applications    238

Other Applications    240

Exporting Drawings to Image Formats    240

13 Unique Needs: Touchscreens, Custom Templates, and

Complex Printing Concerns    245

Touchscreens    246

Switching Between Touch Mode and Mouse Mode    246

Working with Shapes    247

General Touch Controls    248

The Touch Keyboard    251

Creating Your Very Own Template    252

A Look at Complex and Multipage Print Jobs    256

Printing Tiled Drawings    256

Using Page Scale    258

Using Avoid Page Breaks    260

Printing Mixed Orientation Drawings    260

Combine Drawings into a Single Sheet    262

14 Using Data    265

What Can I Do with Shape Data?    266

Exploring    266

Types and Uses    268

Creating Shape Data Fields    269

Add a Simple Data Field    270

Adding Lists and Format    274

Saving a Set of Shape Data Fields    276

Displaying Text in Shape Data Fields    278

Creating Reports    279

Using the Report Definition Wizard    279

Generating Reports    283

Adding Totals and Subtotals    285

15 Working with External Data and Data Graphics    287

Linking Shapes to External Data    288

Look at Your External Data First    288

Using Link Data to Shapes    289

What Are Data Graphics?    296

How to Create a Data Graphic    296

Customizing Data Graphics    299

16 Additional Visio Resources    303

Visio Viewer    304

Resources and Tools    304

Visio Help    305

The Official Visio Blog    306

Office.com    307

Additional Reading    310

Websites Worth Checking Out    311

17 Collaborating with Visio    315

SharePoint    316

Saving and Editing in SharePoint    317

Co-Authoring    320

Markup and Review in Visio    323

Adding Comments    323

Using Ink    326

Using Track Markup    329

Don’t Share Too Much    331

What Is Removed    334

What Is Not Removed    335

18 Tips for Flowcharts, Process, and Block Diagrams    337

Process and Flow Chart Diagrams    338

Auto Resize and Flowchart Shapes    338

Decision Shapes    339

Using Subprocesses    340

Swimlanes and Phases in Cross-Functional Flowcharts    342

Validating Your Diagram    345

Business Process Diagrams (BPMN 2.0) and SharePoint Workflows    346

BPMN Diagrams    346

SharePoint Workflows    347

Block Diagram Tips    348

Blend Block Shapes    348

3D Perspective Block Diagrams    349

19 Tips for Working with Other Diagram Types    353

Working with Network Diagrams    354

Logical Diagrams    354

Rack Diagrams    355

Timeline Tips    357

Org Chart Tips    359

Create Org Charts Manually    361

Using the Organization Chart Wizard    363

Office and Space Plans    365

Creating Plans Using Shapes    366

Space Shapes    367

Working with Dimension Lines    368

Index    371

Updates

Submit Errata

More Information

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020