Microsoft Visio comes in two different packages: Visio Professional (2007) and Visio Standard (2003).
Visio is a visual diagramming software that describes:
- Business processes
- Organization charts
- Project schedules (timelines)
- Office space layouts
- Technology networking diagrams
- And much more with the use of pictures instead of words.
The program can also be a visual picture used to supplement text that can be bulleted with numbers or letters to mark the picture section being referrenced. Visio can also be used to create stand alone graphics for company logos and other such visual applications.
You either LOVE IT or you HATE IT. Some people love this software so much that they have dedicated websites to this software:
- MVPs
- Visio MVP
- Visio Guy
Others hate it and would prefer to read pure text instead of look at the picture to describe the the information that is being conveyed to the target audience. These testimonies will not be referenced here.
Microsoft Office provides online tutorials to teach you how to use the software. However, these tutorials are short-sighted by Microsoft since the tutorials are only geared towards Visio Professional, so if you purchased Visio Standard, then you will be completely lost and find the tutorials to be useless after spending hours trying to follow along. After complete frustration you can find online tutorials for 2003 which are not obviously placed on their website.
There is a good safety net though if you feel completely lost, but it will cost you extra?! You can buy a help book at your local bookstore to walk you through the program. Having the 2003 version presents several problems again however when going to the bookstore as most Visio books are geared towards Visio 2007.
The Barnes and Noble in Georgetown only had the Dummie's book for Visio 2007. Fortunately they have the official Microsoft Office Visio Step by Step book available in BOTH the 2007 and 2003 software versions.
The Microsoft Office Visio 2003 Step by Step book is pretty good. It comes with a disk with tutorials to ensure that you understand the software. The tutorials are very helpful in "showing" how the software works with a hands on approach! There is also introductory information about different uses of the software at the beginning of each chapter which promotes insight and ideas on how to implement this software in different work applications.
An Amazon Reviewer also spoke highly of the book:
"Just what the title says., August 2, 2005
By
William L. Reeves "LamarDesignStudios" (Tampa FL) - See all my reviews Well organized and easy to study. Suits multiple learning styles. The CD has some excellent additional information. "
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I'm curious if you have run through the first 4 tutorials on the page that you linked? I've been through them, and they pertain to general Shape actions that are present and useful in both Standard and Pro. The second set introduces more advanced (and Pro oriented) info, it's true, but that's 50%, not 100% ;-)
I ran through the following tutorials that I linked to:
Visio 2007:
- Link data to diagrams I: Getting started
- Shapes II: Expertly position, stack, and group shapes
- Shapes III: Let's talk about text
- Shapes IV: Let's talk about text positioning - Link data to diagrams - Link data to diagrams II: Data graphics
Visio 2003:
- Get to know Visio
- Shapes I: Introductory basics you can't live without
- Shapes II: Expertly position, stack, and group shapes
- Shapes III: Let's talk about text
- Shapes IV: Let's talk about text positioning
- Connect shapes the best way in Visio drawings
- A quick introduction to block diagrams
- Create an accessible Office document
- Use Visio drawings in presentations, documents, and publications
The point here is that Microsoft did not put the 2003 lessons and tutorials in an obvious spot in order to push the sales of their 2007 product. On the Visio page the 2007 tutorials are plainly listed. Only through further hunting which is easily missed will you locate the 2003 tutorials and have probably either upgraded to the 2007 version or bought a book on Visio by the time the 2003 lessons are finally discovered by the user. Tricky, tricky.
Even if Professional and Standard versions have basic and similar tutorials - they are not the same - at all.
The buttons are different. Some buttons and functions do not even exist.
Trying to sort through what goes where because pages do not match is a BIG waste of my time regardless of how "general" it may be.
Barb, do you work for Microsoft?
Post a Comment