Visio® 2007 For Dummies®

Chapter 14. Using Visio with Other Programs

In This Chapter

• Generating drawings from data stored in other files

• Incorporating Visio drawings or shapes into non‐Visio files

• Linking, embedding, and exporting Visio drawings in other documents

• E‐mailing drawings

• Saving drawings to use on the Internet

• Creating SQL Server connectivity with Data Links

• Using Data Graphics to embellish your data views

• Creating unique displays with PivotDiagrams

Sometimes you can get away with using just one computer program to create a document. For example, you only need Visio when you want to create a floor plan or electronic circuit from scratch. However, some diagrams require information from other sources. You might want to base an organization chart on the data stored in another program. A graph might include information from Excel. You might want to use information from SQL Server to create a PivotDiagram based on recent sales. The possibilities for sharing data from other applications are as endless as your imagination.

Sharing data and objects is common with most programs, and Visio is no exception. As a member of the Microsoft Office suite of products, Visio lets you share diagrams and information, and that sharing works in both directions: Think of it as inbound and outbound. For instance, you can use Visio diagrams in other documents (outbound), and you can insert data or images (inbound) into Visio drawings. One inbound feature of Visio is the capability to use data from other programs to generate Visio ...