How do I insert Office file icons in a Visio drawing?

[Jack]

I want to create a process drawing that shows how my Word template is used in
conjunction with a series of Word documents. I would like to build the
drawing in Visio so I can show the process flow.

How do I create drawing objects that use the .DOC icon and the .DOT icon
from Windows Explorer?

I want to represent a series of building block documents. All of them
attached to a single Word template. Then using an Access database, I will
assemble these documents into different user manual documents, still attached
to the same template. Then as changes are made to the user manuals they are
copied through a series of network directories/folders (Peer Review,
Inspection, Publish, Delivery).

I see that in the network templates there are images for different types of
computers, but I don't see any way to represent my Office files.

 

[Chris [Visio MVP]]

Hi Jack,

Check out the stencil "Web Site Map Shapes". It also opens with the
template: New > Web Diagram > Web Site Map. There are icons for Word and
Excel and Visio documents that you might be able to use, or at least start
with and modify.


--
Hope this helps,

Chris Roth
Visio MVP
http://www.wanderkind.com/visio

Go Team USA!
http://www.wanderkind.com/usa

 

[Jack]

Thanks for the direction. I just started with Visio and am learning my way
around.

After I posted my question I found another option that more precisely fits
my needs.

I started by taking a screen shot of the file folders that were specific to
my project. I used <Alt+Print Screen> to capture the Windows Explorer view of
the folder showing the icons. Then I pasted this into Paint. I used <Ctrl+E>
to trim off the parts that I didn't need. From there I copied the image I
wanted to use and pasted it into Visio.

That would have worked, but I knew that I was going to use the Word Document
icon and Word Template icon in many more drawings and I wanted to same them
off in my own stencil. Just dragging these bitmaps to my stencil didn't work.

I went back to Windows Explorer and selected Tools --> Folder Options....
Then select File Types tab. Scroll through the list to DOC or DOT (or the
icon you need). Select [Advanced], then [Change Icon]. Copy the path and
filename that contains the icon. Go back to Visio and right-click on the
pasted bitmap image. Select Bitmap Image Object --> Convert.... Use Picture
type of Picture and check Display as icon. Now select [Change Icon]. Paste
the path and filename for the icon file. Then select the icon desired. Now
that the image has been converted to an icon, you can drag it to your stencil
and it will be available from this stencil imediately and you won't have to
go through this each time.

The difference between this and the tip Chris provided is that that Web Site
Map Shapes has a single Word icon, and it is the application icon and not the
document icon. I need to distinguish between my template and my documents.
The steps I outline above allow me to capture the exact icon based on file
extension. My audience can distinguish between these file types and will know
how to recognize them when they see the exact same icon in their Windows
Explorer display.

 

[Chris [Visio MVP]]

Glad to see you figured it out. I should have mentioned that you can place
bitmaps/images in Visio drawings with no problems!

- Chris

Thanks for the direction. I just started with Visio and am learning my way
around.

After I posted my question I found another option that more precisely fits
my needs.

I started by taking a screen shot of the file folders that were specific
to
my project. I used <Alt+Print Screen> to capture the Windows Explorer view
of
the folder showing the icons. Then I pasted this into Paint. I used
<Ctrl+E>
to trim off the parts that I didn't need. From there I copied the image I
wanted to use and pasted it into Visio.

That would have worked, but I knew that I was going to use the Word
Document
icon and Word Template icon in many more drawings and I wanted to same
them
off in my own stencil. Just dragging these bitmaps to my stencil didn't
work.

I went back to Windows Explorer and selected Tools --> Folder Options....
Then select File Types tab. Scroll through the list to DOC or DOT (or the
icon you need). Select [Advanced], then [Change Icon]. Copy the path and
filename that contains the icon. Go back to Visio and right-click on the
pasted bitmap image. Select Bitmap Image Object --> Convert.... Use
Picture
type of Picture and check Display as icon. Now select [Change Icon]. Paste
the path and filename for the icon file. Then select the icon desired. Now
that the image has been converted to an icon, you can drag it to your
stencil
and it will be available from this stencil imediately and you won't have
to
go through this each time.

The difference between this and the tip Chris provided is that that Web
Site
Map Shapes has a single Word icon, and it is the application icon and not
the
document icon. I need to distinguish between my template and my documents.
The steps I outline above allow me to capture the exact icon based on file
extension. My audience can distinguish between these file types and will
know
how to recognize them when they see the exact same icon in their Windows
Explorer display.
--
Jack Rumple

Hi Jack,

Check out the stencil "Web Site Map Shapes". It also opens with the
template: New > Web Diagram > Web Site Map. There are icons for Word and
Excel and Visio documents that you might be able to use, or at least
start
with and modify.


--
Hope this helps,

Chris Roth
Visio MVP
http://www.wanderkind.com/visio

Go Team USA!
http://www.wanderkind.com/usa