Visio

D

Delia

Dear All

I have been using Visio for only a short time simply due to never having a
great demand for it which is disappointing as it is a wonderful product.

I have been asked to work on a project for a new client though I am
struggling with some of the questions being asked about visio and in fact
simply if the product can do as the client requests.

I would be eternally grateful if any of you experienced Visio users would be
able to advise whether Visio is capable of doing what the client asks and if
so is it all within Visio itself or will I need other products to support the
results.

It is a very cheeky request I know as there is a lot though as
aforementioned I would be so grateful.

Here Goes!

1) Within each process box I want to be able to hold details of who is
responsible for undertaking the actual activity, who is informed of the
activity and who is consulted. Then, to produce a report that will provide
us with a matrix on each process map of direct and indirect responsibilities.

2) We have standard colour coded Key to represent each of the business
functions that we have within the business. On each process map, we have
coloured each process box to show all of the functions that are engaged
within each element of process activity. We want to be able to filter the
full process map to show only those tasks that each function is a participant
of – i.e. if I am a designer, I want to click on the ‘Design’ Key at the
bottom left hand corner and then the process map is filtered to show only
what steps I am involved, as a Designer.

3) As a follow-on from the above, associated with the process steps I
am engaged in as a Designer, I want the process map to tell me all of the
standard forms that I need to use throughout the project. Again, because
each process box is linked to a word document that holds these standard
forms, can this be possible?

4) Within the Key at the bottom of the process I want to be able to
hold email addresses of all people within that function – ie the Design Key
will hold all the email addresses of the design team, etc. Hence, if we
publish a change to the process we can directly communicate to specific
people within our business that there has been a process change and that they
are made immediately aware of the change.

5) By linking the process map in to MSProject, will allow us to
produce a detailed project plan based upon the process activity. Hence, to
be able to export the process steps into MSProject and to provide an outline
basic programme.

6) To run a report that lists all the standard forms associated with
each process step and the process map overall. So if we change any element
of the process we can directly determine which standards need to be reviewed
to ensure they are still compliant to the process, etc.

Hope someone can help.
 
A

Al Edlund

Delia,
Given some of the hints provided. It sounds like what you are looking for is
the MS Project suite (integrated mail, sort by resource, tasks by resource).
I'm sure David Parker could provide more information, since he wrote the WBS
tool. The short answer is that this might not provide all that you need
without a lot of code having to be written.
al
 
D

Delia

Al

Thank you so much for your response. I have looked within Visio though
struggling to find all that is being asked under Visio.

Will David Parker respond do you think or can I seek him out ha!

Thanks again Al
--
Thanks a million

Delia


Al Edlund said:
Delia,
Given some of the hints provided. It sounds like what you are looking for is
the MS Project suite (integrated mail, sort by resource, tasks by resource).
I'm sure David Parker could provide more information, since he wrote the WBS
tool. The short answer is that this might not provide all that you need
without a lot of code having to be written.
al
 
D

David Parker

Delia,

I am alive....
WBS Modeler can be used to display Work Breakdown Structures from and
existing MS Project plan. Although we limited the number of shape data
items in each element/task, you can use Visio 2007 Professional link shapes
to data to overlay more information.

(1) The built-in reporting tool is fairly flexible, if you load the shape
data with the information that you wish to report on.
(2) You can use Visio 2007 Professional Data Graphics to achive Color By
Value, or to add icons to each shape.
(3) You can add hyperlinks to each shape automatically to open Word
documents
(4) Email addresses can be added as hyperlinks using the MailTo: protocal
(5) See www.wbsmodeler.com for details
(6) Probably ... again using the Link Shapes to Data feature of Visio 2007

Look at my book web-site and see if the topics are relevant
http://www.visualizinginformation.com

--
David Parker
Microsoft MVP (Visio)
http://bvisual.spaces.live.com
http://www.visualizinginformation.com


Delia said:
Al

Thank you so much for your response. I have looked within Visio though
struggling to find all that is being asked under Visio.

Will David Parker respond do you think or can I seek him out ha!

Thanks again Al
 
D

Delia

David

Thank you so much though I am so sorry what I have stupidly forgot to
mention is that they are using 2003. Would it still be possible in this
version. Also the WBS Modler - does involve writing code? I will take a
look at the site though and thanks.

So sorry to be a nuisance David though it would be great if I could go back
to my client and say it is possible then of course I have got to learn how to
do it ha!

If you could let me know if still possible with 2003 I will be forever
grateful.

So glad you are alive by the way!
 
D

David Parker

Delia,

WBS Modeler does indeed work with Visio 2003 (no code required), and you
will be able to achieve some of what you want using the Database Wizard in
Visio 2003 (Std or Prof).
However, Visio 2007 Prof. does make it a lot easier to link to data, and to
add data graphics.

Visio 2003 Prof. does have a Color By Value (under Space Plan)

You will probably need to write code for adding the hyperlinks to shapes
(not to difficult)
 

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