Moving from Visio beginner to skillful user

[Herb Martin]

What are the best FAQs or even books to really understand
Visio quickly?

(I will even read more of the manual or help if that is your
recommendation but seldom have I gained much there without
a very specific question.)

I admit it, after years of using and loving Visio to just hack
out drawings, I am still a beginner at this package.

When drawings work out, I am happy, and when they don't I
usually just find a different way or settle for less.

(Sort of like the user that uses Word for typing plain notes,
or Excel as a simple calculator).

I have even read much of the manuals (in various versions)
and done some of the tutorials. But I really seem to be fighting
Visio's connection points and stencils much of the time --
getting it to do what I want without really understanding or
getting it to cooperate.

I was trying to use the "Mind Map" stencil for the first time
(all I really want is some simple "branched network" diagrams
("network" in the mathematical sense, not the computer sense
(I am pretty good at those.)

Not hierarchical nets but free form nodes (with text) and branches
that come out as angles with subangle branches. (A sort of network
outline.)

What is the best single or few sources to really understand
Visio as rapidly as possible?

[I am not really looking for programming, although I am a
programmer and have on occasion fiddled with that too
in Visio.]

 

[Mark Nelson [MS]]

The most comprehensive book for Visio users (not developers) is probably the
Visio Inside Out series by Microsoft Press. The author is an ex-employee.
The 2003 version covers all the recent feature additions such as
brainstorming. The text is well-written in simple language, and the depth
of coverage goes way beyond the help system. Note that the purpose of the
book is to describe how to use Visio successfully, not to discuss the art or
science of diagramming.

 

[Herb Martin]

The most comprehensive book for Visio users (not developers) is probably the
Visio Inside Out series by Microsoft Press. The author is an ex-employee.
The 2003 version covers all the recent feature additions such as
brainstorming. The text is well-written in simple language, and the depth
of coverage goes way beyond the help system. Note that the purpose of the
book is to describe how to use Visio successfully, not to discuss the art or
science of diagramming.

I have a general respect for the Inside/Out series even though I am
a notoriously hard book reviewer (most of the stuff out there that is
not on Development is pure junk.)

It sounds worth trying, although I don't mind tough language, nor
particularly need "comprehensive", what I really want it SHORTCUT
to the key points. (Not the dummy version, but rather this is what an
"expert knows" about the product that you don't have to spend a year
or more learning.)

Too many publishers overlook the simple fact that the SHORTEST
book that COVERS the essentials is actually more VALUABLE than
a 1000 page tome.

--
Herb Martin

--
Mark Nelson
Microsoft Corporation

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

What are the best FAQs or even books to really understand
Visio quickly?

(I will even read more of the manual or help if that is your
recommendation but seldom have I gained much there without
a very specific question.)

I admit it, after years of using and loving Visio to just hack
out drawings, I am still a beginner at this package.

When drawings work out, I am happy, and when they don't I
usually just find a different way or settle for less.

(Sort of like the user that uses Word for typing plain notes,
or Excel as a simple calculator).

I have even read much of the manuals (in various versions)
and done some of the tutorials. But I really seem to be fighting
Visio's connection points and stencils much of the time --
getting it to do what I want without really understanding or
getting it to cooperate.

I was trying to use the "Mind Map" stencil for the first time
(all I really want is some simple "branched network" diagrams
("network" in the mathematical sense, not the computer sense
(I am pretty good at those.)

Not hierarchical nets but free form nodes (with text) and branches
that come out as angles with subangle branches. (A sort of network
outline.)

What is the best single or few sources to really understand
Visio as rapidly as possible?

[I am not really looking for programming, although I am a
programmer and have on occasion fiddled with that too
in Visio.]

 

[JohnNews]

Mark:

Is there a chapter on LAYERING in this book that you are recommending ?


Thanks,
John.

The most comprehensive book for Visio users (not developers) is probably the
Visio Inside Out series by Microsoft Press. The author is an ex-employee.
The 2003 version covers all the recent feature additions such as
brainstorming. The text is well-written in simple language, and the depth
of coverage goes way beyond the help system. Note that the purpose of the
book is to describe how to use Visio successfully, not to discuss the art or
science of diagramming.

--
Mark Nelson
Microsoft Corporation

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

What are the best FAQs or even books to really understand
Visio quickly?

(I will even read more of the manual or help if that is your
recommendation but seldom have I gained much there without
a very specific question.)

I admit it, after years of using and loving Visio to just hack
out drawings, I am still a beginner at this package.

When drawings work out, I am happy, and when they don't I
usually just find a different way or settle for less.

(Sort of like the user that uses Word for typing plain notes,
or Excel as a simple calculator).

I have even read much of the manuals (in various versions)
and done some of the tutorials. But I really seem to be fighting
Visio's connection points and stencils much of the time --
getting it to do what I want without really understanding or
getting it to cooperate.

I was trying to use the "Mind Map" stencil for the first time
(all I really want is some simple "branched network" diagrams
("network" in the mathematical sense, not the computer sense
(I am pretty good at those.)

Not hierarchical nets but free form nodes (with text) and branches
that come out as angles with subangle branches. (A sort of network
outline.)

What is the best single or few sources to really understand
Visio as rapidly as possible?

[I am not really looking for programming, although I am a
programmer and have on occasion fiddled with that too
in Visio.]

 

[David Parker]

Here's an old article of mine, but still relevant:
http://www.design-drawing.com/visio/LayVis.htm

Mark:

Is there a chapter on LAYERING in this book that you are recommending ?


Thanks,
John.

The most comprehensive book for Visio users (not developers) is probably the
Visio Inside Out series by Microsoft Press. The author is an ex-employee.
The 2003 version covers all the recent feature additions such as
brainstorming. The text is well-written in simple language, and the depth
of coverage goes way beyond the help system. Note that the purpose of the
book is to describe how to use Visio successfully, not to discuss the

art

or
science of diagramming.

--
Mark Nelson
Microsoft Corporation

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

What are the best FAQs or even books to really understand
Visio quickly?

(I will even read more of the manual or help if that is your
recommendation but seldom have I gained much there without
a very specific question.)

I admit it, after years of using and loving Visio to just hack
out drawings, I am still a beginner at this package.

When drawings work out, I am happy, and when they don't I
usually just find a different way or settle for less.

(Sort of like the user that uses Word for typing plain notes,
or Excel as a simple calculator).

I have even read much of the manuals (in various versions)
and done some of the tutorials. But I really seem to be fighting
Visio's connection points and stencils much of the time --
getting it to do what I want without really understanding or
getting it to cooperate.

I was trying to use the "Mind Map" stencil for the first time
(all I really want is some simple "branched network" diagrams
("network" in the mathematical sense, not the computer sense
(I am pretty good at those.)

Not hierarchical nets but free form nodes (with text) and branches
that come out as angles with subangle branches. (A sort of network
outline.)

What is the best single or few sources to really understand
Visio as rapidly as possible?

[I am not really looking for programming, although I am a
programmer and have on occasion fiddled with that too
in Visio.]