Generating a drawing from Excel

[Bill]

I need to create a large network diagram that will contain hundreds of computers. To represent computers, I'll simply use basic shapes with text data such as Operating system and owner of the machine. I'll use color coding to convey some information

To make this diagram easier to construct, I want just draw one computer in Visio, do the color coding and add the text, then export it to Excel which will export as a single row. In Excel then I want to do the editing, copying the single row and using it to add hundreds of new rows, manipulating the data/text that has come perhaps from SMS reports. Once the data is in Visio, I'll arrange the objects adding connectors and such

It's not obvious to me that this can be done. I've explored some of the Database Export and Linking add-ins (using Visio 2003 Pro). I really don't want to maintain a Link, I just want to Import and get Visio to draw. Any Suggestions?

 

[Bill K. [MSFT]]

If you are using Visio Professional 2003 the Import Data addon should do
what you want.
First create your spreadsheet.
Then open a new blank drawing in Visio and click Tools > Addons > Run
Addon... and pick "Import Data".
In the wizard, select your spreadsheet, the shape you want to use, and the
columns in your spreadsheet to label and color the shapes with.
A shape will then be added to the drawing for each row in your spreadsheet,
and custom properties in each shape will include the spreadsheet cell
values.


Hope this helps,

--
Bill K.
Microsoft Corporation

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

I need to create a large network diagram that will contain hundreds of

computers. To represent computers, I'll simply use basic shapes with text
data such as Operating system and owner of the machine. I'll use color
coding to convey some information.

To make this diagram easier to construct, I want just draw one computer in

Visio, do the color coding and add the text, then export it to Excel which
will export as a single row. In Excel then I want to do the editing, copying
the single row and using it to add hundreds of new rows, manipulating the
data/text that has come perhaps from SMS reports. Once the data is in Visio,
I'll arrange the objects adding connectors and such.

It's not obvious to me that this can be done. I've explored some of the

Database Export and Linking add-ins (using Visio 2003 Pro). I really don't
want to maintain a Link, I just want to Import and get Visio to draw. Any
Suggestions?