Visio is Microsoft`s diagramming tool, allowing users to create technical diagrams (such as building plans, database plans or network topologies), explanatory diagrams (like flow-charts and time lines), or visually pleasing charts (for explaining business processes or marketing strategies).
Microsoft purchased Visio in time to release the last version, 2000, with its Office 2000 suite, but did no development on that version. So although Visio 2002 is Microsoft`s second version of Visio, it is the first to have been coded by the Microsoft development team.
The Beta 2 version of Visio 2002 still has some bugs, such as a tendency to utilise 100% of the processor, and an incredibly slow load time. Despite these hiccups, it is a stable, useful tool with some excellent features. I especially appreciate the wizards that allow you to import designs for databases and Web sites. Although this feature is not new, it is one of the differentiators that Visio sports over any other drawing application.
The Save to Web feature certainly needs to be highlighted. A Visio document saved as a Web page is not simply a static image; users can zoom and scroll around the image, while "smart" shapes - shapes that contain information about themselves - have that information displayed to the left of the image when a user scrolls over it. Microsoft assures that the format is not proprietary to Internet Explorer.
The product features extended support for Microsoft Exchange, MS SQL Server, Active Directory and other Microsoft server technologies. Fortunately, competing technologies such as Novell`s Directory Service and LDAP (lightweight directory application protocol) are still recognised.
Two-dimensional
Visio has never been packaged with the Office suite in the past, and will not ship as part of XP; the company still views it as an extension to Office. Despite it not forming part of the XP suite, Visio has adopted the XP look-and-feel, with a little more animation on the menus, and the two-dimensional look typical of Microsoft`s new products. It also sports the right-hand task bar typical of Office XP, which thankfully disappears once the drawing starts.
Like Office XP, Visio requires activation over the Internet as part of Microsoft`s anti-piracy campaign. The product can be used five times before activation is required.
Microsoft has done well to create as much drawing space as possible, with floating menus able to combine into a single, small window, and the various extra windows can be docked and resized.
The product line has been altered to avoid overlap and user confusion, according to Microsoft. Visio Standard will be targeted at business users, while Visio Technical combines the previous Technical and Professional versions.
What was known as Visio Enterprise will now be Visio 2002 Enterprise Network Tools. It will not be a standalone package, but rather an add-on requiring an annual subscription, which will provide access to Microsoft`s Network Centre, which contains 25 000 network shapes, and will be updated when new networking equipment becomes available.
Visio has always been a strong drawing tool, and its legacy looks like it will continue. Although 2002 does not sport a significant amount of new features, it is a strong, useful product.
Share