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Mastering Data Visualization with Microsoft Visio Professional 2016

Mastering Data Visualization with Microsoft Visio Professional 2016

by David J Parker
Publisher: Packt Publishing
Release Date: May 2016
ISBN: 9781785882661
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Book Description

Master the art of presenting information visually using Microsoft Visio Professional 2016 and Visio Pro for Office365

About This Book

  • A complete guide to data visualization with Microsoft Visio Professional 2016
  • Visualize information to meet the needs of your business
  • Get the quick way to learn Microsoft Visio 2016

Who This Book Is For

This book is aimed at the departmental-level business intelligence professional or Microsoft Office power-user who wants to create data diagrams with Microsoft Visio that can accurately represent business information visually.

What You Will Learn

  • Add external data from a variety of data sources
  • Represent information with data graphics
  • Create custom data-like shapes
  • Export data from structured diagrams
  • Present information graphics to non-Visio users
  • Automate visualizations from data
  • Develop custom templates and code for others

In Detail

Microsoft Visio Professional is a data visualization application that is used by many different market sectors and many different departments to represent information visually, from network infrastructure to organization charts, from process diagrams to office layouts.

Starting off with a brief introduction to Visio Professional 2016 and then moving on to data storage, linking data to shapes, and working with SQL Server to create a solid foundation. Then we’ll cover topics such as refreshing data, working with geographical data, working with various graphics, and diagrams, and more. Finally, you’ll find out how to deploy custom stencils, templates, and code.

Style and approach

This book has real life examples that will let you explore all the new features of Microsoft Visio 2016 and apply them in your daily life.

Downloading the example code for this book. You can download the example code files for all Packt books you have purchased from your account at http://www.PacktPub.com. If you purchased this book elsewhere, you can visit http://www.PacktPub.com/support and register to have the code file.

Table of Contents

  1. Mastering Data Visualization with Microsoft Visio Professional 2016
    1. Table of Contents
    2. Mastering Data Visualization with Microsoft Visio Professional 2016
    3. Credits
    4. About the Author
    5. www.PacktPub.com
      1. eBooks, discount offers, and more
        1. Why subscribe?
        2. Instant updates on new Packt books
    6. Preface
      1. What this book covers
      2. What you need for this book
      3. Who this book is for
      4. Conventions
      5. Reader feedback
      6. Customer support
        1. Downloading the example code
        2. Downloading the color images of this book
        3. Errata
        4. Piracy
        5. Questions
    7. 1. Data within Visio Essentials
      1. Why use Visio for data diagramming?
      2. The evolution of data in Visio before the Microsoft acquisition
        1. v1.0 – modifiable ShapeSheets
        2. v2.0 – OLE2 compliance
        3. v4.0 – Custom Properties, Properties Reporter, and the OLE link to DBs
        4. v4.1 – the Database Connectivity wizard
        5. v4.5 – ODBC-compliant DB connectivity, built-in VBA
      3. The evolution of data in Microsoft Visio
        1. v2002 – the improved database wizard
        2. v2007 – linking data to shapes, data graphics, and pivot diagrams
        3. v2010 – validation rules, Visio services, and containers
        4. v2013 – improved BCS, Visio services, and the OPC file format
        5. v2016 – Quick Link and improved data graphics
      4. Other significant current add-ons that use data
        1. The Organization Chart
        2. The Space Plan
        3. The Pivot Diagram
      5. Sadly missed add-ons that used data
        1. A returning add-on…
      6. Summary
    8. 2. Understanding How Data Is Stored within Visio
      1. A very quick introduction to data in Visio
        1. Defining Shape Data
      2. Understanding the Visio object model
        1. Starting with the Application object
          1. Understanding the relationship of the Master shape and its shape instances
          2. Knowing how a shape can be identified
          3. How to use a globally unique identifier
          4. The danger of using the Index property
          5. Reviewing shape text
          6. Understanding the DataRecordsets collection
          7. Understanding the Validation objects
          8. Getting shapes selected in the UI
          9. Understanding shape sections, rows, and cells
      3. Getting to grips with the ShapeSheet
        1. Understanding the Shape Data section
          1. Specifying the type of Shape Data
            1. Allowing text with the String type
            2. Offering choices with the Fixed List type
            3. Allowing only a numerical value with the Number type
            4. Simplifying True/False choices with the Boolean type
            5. Offer some choices but allow others with the Variable List type
            6. Presenting a date picker with the Date type
            7. Measuring elapsed time with the Duration type
            8. Entering monetary values with the Currency type
          2. Listing Shape Data rows in code
        2. Auto-generating hyperlinks from data
          1. Using the Off-page reference shape to jump around a document
        3. User-defined Cells
      4. The Visio file format
        1. Storing data as hidden XML
      5. Knowing how shapes relate in structured diagrams
        1. Connections
          1. 1D to 1D connections
          2. 2D to 2D connections
          3. Why the Dynamic connector shape is special
        2. Containers
        3. Lists
        4. Callouts
      6. Summary
    9. 3. Linking Data to Shapes
      1. A very quick introduction to importing and linking data
        1. Knowing when to use the Quick Import tool
          1. Importing to shapes without existing Shape Data rows
          2. Importing to shapes with existing Shape Data rows
        2. Using the Custom Import feature
          1. Importing from Excel workbooks
            1. Editing the column settings
            2. Preventing Data Graphics from appearing automatically
            3. Linking the data to the shapes
            4. Carrying out the same import from an Excel workbook with code
            5. Using Excel as a refreshable data source
            6. Using Excel as an intermediary source
            7. Handling conflicts when data changes
          2. Importing from Microsoft Access databases
            1. Doing the same import from the Access database with code
          3. Importing from SharePoint lists
            1. Doing the same import from a SharePoint view with code
          4. Importing from SQL Server data
            1. Using code to retrieve the SQL Server data
            2. Getting data with stored procedures
          5. Importing data with OLEDB and ODBC
            1. Connecting the Visio Samples via ODBC in code
          6. Using previously created connections
          7. Using XML data
        3. Removing external data connections for privacy and efficiency
      2. Creating data links to the shapes
        1. Linking data to shapes manually
        2. Linking data to shapes automatically
          1. Linking shapes to a single data row
          2. Linking multiple shapes to separate data rows
          3. Linking a new shape to a data row
          4. Linking multiple new shapes to data rows
      3. Summary
    10. 4. Using the Built-In Data Graphics
      1. Displaying data with graphics
        1. Changing the position of a graphic item
        2. Configuring the graphic item
        3. Using the Advanced Data Graphics dialog
      2. Understanding the Graphic Item types
        1. Using Text Callouts
        2. Using Icon Sets
        3. Using Data Bars
        4. Applying Color By Value
      3. Adding a legend
      4. Analyzing the composition of a Data Graphic
      5. Summary
    11. 5. Using the Pivot Diagram Add-On
      1. Choosing a data source
        1. Using SQL Server Analysis Services
        2. Looking behind the data
      2. Configuring the default Data Graphics
      3. Breaking down by category
        1. Sorting Pivot Nodes
        2. Editing Data Graphics of child nodes
        3. Selecting Pivot Nodes
        4. Configuring columns
        5. Merging nodes
      4. Applying shapes to enhance legibility
      5. Configuring the PivotDiagram options
      6. Laying the nodes out
      7. Overlaying linked data
      8. Summary
    12. 6. Creating Custom Master Shapes
      1. Modifying the ribbon
      2. Preparing shapes for data linking
      3. Making graphics respond to data value changes
        1. Using elapsed days to size and position shapes
      4. Sharing custom Templates, Stencils, and Masters
        1. Including in a custom template
        2. Delivering Templates and Stencils with SharePoint
        3. Creating installation packages
      5. Summary
    13. 7. Creating Custom Data Graphics
      1. Understanding the structure of graphic item Masters
        1. Knowing which Data Graphic is applied
        2. Reviewing a Text Callout graphic item Master
        3. Reviewing an Icon Set graphic item Master
        4. Reviewing a Data Bar graphic item Master
        5. Reviewing a Color by Value graphic item
      2. Modifying graphic items
        1. Modifying a Text Callout graphic item
          1. Changing the symbol height
          2. Using Text Callouts to display symbols
        2. Modifying an Icon Set
        3. Modifying a Data Bar
      3. Summary
    14. 8. Validating and Extracting Information
      1. Introducing validation rules
      2. Getting information from data diagrams
        1. Using Shape Reports
        2. Reading Shape Data
        3. Reading User-defined Cells
        4. Reading connections
          1. Listing connected shapes
          2. Listing glued shapes
          3. Listing routes or pathways through a diagram
        5. Reading containment
      3. Summary
    15. 9. Automating Structured Diagrams
      1. Structuring diagrams overview
        1. Enabling diagram services
        2. Setting undo scopes
      2. Selecting a Master shape to drop
      3. Dropping and linking shapes to data
      4. Connecting shapes from data
      5. Adding data-linked shapes to containers
      6. Adding data-linked shapes to lists
      7. Adding Callouts to shapes
      8. Summary
    16. 10. Sharing Data Diagrams
      1. Thinking about sharing
      2. Viewing Visio documents without Visio
        1. Embedding the Viewer in a Windows desktop application
        2. Embedding the Viewer in a web page
        3. Viewing in SharePoint/Office365 web pages
        4. Protecting data
        5. Coming soon
      3. Sharing a Visio document
      4. Exporting a Visio document
        1. Creating a PDF or XPS document
        2. Changing the file type
          1. Saving as SVG
          2. Publishing as a web page
      5. Summary
    17. 11. Choosing a Deployment Methodology
      1. Sharing custom stencils
      2. Sharing custom templates
      3. Sharing custom code
      4. Summary
    18. Index