Microsoft Visio is a diagramming and vector graphics application and is part of the Microsoft
Office suite.
The product was first introduced in 1992, made by the Shapeware corporation.
It was acquired by Microsoft in 2000.
Features Microsoft Visio 2010 for Windows is available
in three editions: Standard, Professional and Premium.
The Standard and Professional editions share the same interface, but the latter has additional
templates for more advanced diagrams and layouts, as well as unique capabilities intended to
make it easy for users to connect their diagrams to data sources and display their data graphically.
The Premium edition features three additional diagram types as well as intelligent rules,
validation, and subprocess.
File format Visio 2010 and earlier read and write drawings
in VSD or VDX file formats.
VSD is the proprietary binary file format used in all of the previous version of Visio.
VDX is a well-documented XML Schema-based format.
Visio 2013 drops support for writing VDX files in favor of the new VSDX and VSDM file formats.
Created based on Open Packaging Conventions standard, a VSDX or VSDM file consists of
a group of XML files archived inside a Zip file.
The only difference between VSDX and VSDM is that VSDM files may contain macros.
Since these files are susceptible to macro virus infection, the program enforces strict
security on them.
While VSD files use LZW-like lossless compression, VDX is not compressed.
Hence, a VDX file is typically 3 to 5 times larger.
VSDX and VSDM files use the same compression as Zip files.
Visio 2010 and earlier use VSD by default.
Visio 2013 default is VSDX.
History Visio began as a standalone product produced
by Shapeware Corporation; version 1.0 shipped in 1992.
A pre-release, Version 0.92, was distributed free on a floppy disk along with a Microsoft
Windows systems readiness evaluation utility.
In 1995, Shapeware Corporation changed their name to Visio Corporation to take advantage
of market recognition and related product equity.
Microsoft acquired Visio in 2000, re-branding it as a Microsoft Office application, like
Microsoft Project; however, it has never been included in any of the Office suites.
Microsoft included a Visio for Enterprise Architects edition with some editions of Visual
Studio .NET 2003 and Visual Studio 2005.
Along with Microsoft Visio 2002 Professional, Microsoft introduced Visio Enterprise Network
Tools and Visio Network Center.
Visio Enterprise Network Tools was an add-on product that enabled automated network and
directory services diagramming.
Visio Network Center was a subscription-based website where users could locate the latest
network documentation content and exact-replica network equipment shapes from 500 leading
manufacturers.
The former has been discontinued, while the latter's shape-finding features are now integrated
into the program itself.
Visio 2007 was released on November 30, 2006.
Microsoft Visio adopted ribbons in its user interface in Visio 2010.
Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and Outlook had already adopted ribbon with
the release of Microsoft Office 2007.
Versions Visio v1.0
Visio v2.0 Visio v3.0
Visio v4.0 Visio v4.1
Visio v4.5 Visio v5.0
Visio 2000 – later updated to SP1 and Microsoft branding after Visio Corporation's acquisition
Visio 2002 Visio for Enterprise Architects 2003 – based
on Visio 2002 and included with Visual Studio .NET 2003 Enterprise Architect edition
Office Visio 2003 Office Visio for Enterprise Architects 2005
– based on Visio 2003 and included with Visual Studio 2005 Team Suite and Team Architect
editions
Office Visio 2007 Visio 2010
Visio 2013 There are no Visio versions 7, 8, or 9, because
after Microsoft acquired and branded Visio as a Microsoft Office product, the Visio version
numbers followed the Office version numbers.
Version 13 was skipped.
Visio does not have a Mac OS X version.
In 7 May 2001, Microsoft introduced Visio Enterprise Network Tools, an add-on for Visio
2002 scheduled for release on 1 July 2001, and Visio Network Center, a subscription-based
web service for IT professionals who use Microsoft Visio for computer network diagramming.
VENT was discontinued on 1 July 2002 because of very low customer demand.
See also Concept map
Diagrams Flowchart
List of concept mapping and mind mapping software Comparison of project management software
Comparison of network diagram software References
Further reading
External links Official website
Microsoft Visio 2013 Viewer on Microsoft Download Center
Microsoft Visio 2010 Product Overview Guide on Microsoft Download Center
Microsoft Visio 2010: Interactive menu to ribbon guide on Microsoft Download Center