Frequently Asked Questions

What is this course about? This course begins with the basics of Visio and provides the necessary techniques to streamline the creation of diagrams. The course then moves into more advanced aspects of Visio. You learn to use Visio to import images into Word documents and PowerPoint presentations. You also learn how to use the powerful data integration features of Visio that enable automatic generation of diagrams from a number of external sources, including spreadsheets, databases, Web sites, Microsoft Project files and Outlook calendars. The course also demonstrates how shapes in diagrams can be linked to data held in databases and spreadsheets. What background do I need? Basic experience with Microsoft Office applications is helpful, but not required. Who will benefit from this course? Anyone who uses Visio to create diagrams will benefit from this course. Those who need to integrate Visio with other applications to automate the creation and maintenance of diagrams will find this course especially useful. Though the course is not geared toward Web designers, those looking for best practices for converting Visio diagrams for use in Web pages will also benefit. What level of database knowledge do I need to have before attending this course? No knowledge of database systems is required prior to taking this course. The methods used to connect Visio diagrams to databases are covered in the course. You learn the process by which Visio diagrams are automatically updated when changes to database records are made. What percentage of this course is spent doing hands-on exercises? 40% of this course is spent doing hands-on exercises. Exercises include: Familiarisation with basic drawing tools and techniques in Visio Applying the built-in templates of Visio to rapidly generate complex diagrams Interacting with databases to automate the creation of schema diagrams and to automatically update properties of shapes when database records are modified Automatically generating Web site maps What are shapes and stencils? In Visio, shapes are re-usable drawing objects. A stencil, in the context of Visio, is a collection of related shapes. For example, an architectural stencil may contain shapes representing windows, doors and walls. Does this course cover creation of shapes and stencils? Yes. You learn to create your own shapes in this course. In addition, you learn how to customize pre-defined shapes to suit your particular needs. You also learn how to group shapes of particular interest to you in custom stencils. How will Visio help me save time? Visio automates many of the time-consuming tasks involved in creating diagrams by providing a number of Wizards, which import data. In addition, Visio provides intelligent routing of lines between shapes, so objects on a page can be moved and the connecting lines will automatically adjust, taking the task of line drawing off of the user. Stencils of shapes allow you to avoid reinventing the wheel. Linking to a database for automatic maintenance and updating of diagrams is also a significant timesaving benefit of Visio. How much time is spent on each topic? Content Hours Introduction to Visio 0.5 Visio fundamentals 2.0 Developing business process diagrams 2.5 Creating architectural diagrams 1.5 Creating diagrams for IT projects 1.5 Linking shapes with data 1.0 Applying Visio web tools 1.5 Times, including the workshops, are estimates; exact times may vary according to the needs of each class. Will Visio allow me to generate powerful presentations? Yes. The predefined drawing objects of Visio allow you to create professional presentations. Visio provides tools to ensure that shapes in a diagram are correctly aligned and distributed, for a look that is clean and sophisticated. What version of Visio is used in this course? This course uses Visio 2007 Professional Edition. However, much of the material applies equally to Visio 2007 Standard Edition. The change in versions from Visio 2003 to 2007 is, for the most part, a cosmetic one. Users of Visio 2003 will notice very minor differences between the way in which Visio 2007 works. Users of previous versions, Visio 200 for example, will notice more significant differences in the way some of the Visio tools work and also the number of templates that are available. How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses? Because Visio is a documenting tool, this course relates to the following courses in the Learning Tree Management curriculum: 319, Technical Writing: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction  provides the skills necessary to assess the needs of users and create a variety of technical documents for paper, online and Web-based environments. 219, Hands-On Business and Report Writing: The Art of Persuasion provides the skills necessary to create more effective business documents and reports, by developing a clear and persuasive writing style. 195, Power Excel®: Analysing Data to Make Business Decisions  provides advanced Excel techniques to build sophisticated spreadsheets. Participants learn to perform "what if" analysis, apply statistical and financial functions, manipulate PivotTables and present results to make better decisions for planning and budgeting. 196, Introduction to Statistics: Making Better Business Decisions provides the techniques necessary to support business decisions using well-established quantitative methods. If participants are interested in using Visio to create drawings for use in Web pages, they may also be interested in the following Web-related courses: 470, Developing a Web Site: Hands-On  provides the knowledge and skills you need to develop a well-designed Web site. 487, Designing and Building Great Web Pages: Hands-On  provides extensive hands-on experience designing and delivering professional Web pages. Because Visio provides a UML diagram template, this course also relates to the following UML courses: 216, UML 2: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction  provides the skills needed to generate and interpret Unified Modeling Language (UML) models as applied to a wide range of activities. 323, Object-Oriented Analysis and Design Using UML: Hands-On  provides practical skills in object-oriented analysis and design methods using Unified Modeling Language (UML) and the Unified Process.

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