This document is I hope a short/quick tutorial on the bare bones basics of how to use Visio for

the CIS 103 Programming Logic class. There is a short tutorial built-in to the Visio software
under the Help menu (Click Help on the menu, then the Getting Started Tutorial option). You
may further explore the features of Visio by doing this tutorial.

Starting the Visio Program

To start the Visio program:

Click Start, All Programs, Microsoft Visio 2003
Or
Click Start, All Programs, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Visio 2003

Running the Tutorial (Optional)

1. Click Help on the menu, then click the Getting Started Tutorial option
2. Follow the instructions on the screen
3. Click the Next link to proceed through each lesson
4. Click the play button to see the animations

The First Screen in Visio

When you first start Visio you may get the following screen:
If you dont get the above screen, then perform these steps:

Click File on the menu, then New and then Choose Drawing Type

Selecting the Basic Flowcharting Template

In this class we will be doing program flowcharts. The template we will be using is the Basic
Flowchart U.S. version.

1. Click Flowchart under the Category list on the left side of the Choose Drawing Type
window pane.
2. Click Basic Flowchart (US units)

The Drawing Environment

After you open a template, you will see the Microsoft Office Visio drawing environment, which
includes menus, toolbars, stencils with shapes, the drawing page, and a task pane to the right of
the drawing page.
 Task Pane

Drawing Page
Stencil with
Shapes

You create your drawing on the drawing page, which represents the printed page and includes a
grid to help position shapes.

You use the task pane to access various types of information quickly while you work or
collaborate with other team members. You can close X this pane if you want more drawing room
and less scrolling.

Visio menus and toolbars are similar to those in other Microsoft Office System programs, so
you'll find familiar ways to open, print, and save your diagrams.

Creating a Flowchart

First you add shapes (process, decision, input/output shapes) to the diagram. Next you add text
to the shapes. Then you add the connecting lines between the shapes. Finally you may want to
add free form text to the diagram, such as a title or comments.

Adding Shapes

Add shapes to your diagram by dragging (hold down the left mouse button while moving your
mouse) shapes from stencils in the Shapes window onto the drawing page. Dont worry too
much about lining the shapes up. Visio helps you line up the shapes by snapping them to the
grid. Please note that the grid shown on the drawing page does not print out when you print the
diagram.

Deleting Shapes

Deleting shapes is easy. Just click the shape and then press the DELETE key.

Moving and Resizing Shapes

Moving a shape is easy: just click any shape to select it, and then drag it to a new location.

1. With the Pointer tool , click the shape to select it. Selection handles (green squares)
appear when you click the shape.
2. Place the Pointer tool over the center of the shape.

A four-headed arrow appears under the pointer , which tells you that the shape is
ready to be moved.

You don't have to place the Pointer tool exactly over the center of the shape; but it's a
good habit to develop so you don't drag a shape handle and resize the shape by mistake.

1. Drag the shape to the desired location on the diagram. Release the mouse button.

If you resize the shape by mistake, just undo your last action. (On the Edit menu, click
Undo.)

Please note you can also use your arrow keys to move shapes. Use the combination of the shift
key and arrow keys to move the shape in smaller increments.

Moving More Than One Shape at a Time

To move more than one shape at a time, you first select all the shapes you want to move.

1. With the Pointer tool , click a blank area of the drawing page above and to the left of
the top shape, and then drag down and to the right to create a black selection rectangle
around all of the shapes.

Alternatively, you could hold down the SHIFT key while you click each shape.

2. Place the Pointer tool over the center of any of the selected shapes.
 A four-headed arrow appears under the pointer , which tells you that the shapes are
ready to be moved.

3. Drag the shapes to their new location on the diagram. All of the selected shapes move at
once.

Resizing Shapes

You can resize shapes by dragging their corner, side, or bottom selection handles.

1. With the Pointer tool , click the shape you want to resize.

2. Place the Pointer tool over a corner selection handle .

The pointer changes to a two-headed arrow , which tells you that the shape
can be resized.

3. Drag the selection handle inward to decrease the size of the shape. Drag the selection
handle outward to increase the size of the shape.

Resizing Multiple Shapes at One Time

You can resize multiple shapes at once by selecting all of the shapes you want to resize, and then

dragging one of the selection handles that appear on the green selection rectangle that
encloses all of the shapes.

Adding Text to Shapes

You can add text to shapes. Just click a shape and begin typing; Microsoft Office Visio zooms in
so you can see the text as you type.

1. Click the shape on the drawing page, and then type the desired text.

Alternatively, you could click the Text tool A, click the shape, and then type.

2. Click a blank area of the drawing page or press the ESC key to exit the text mode.

Deleting Text from a Shape

Double-click the shape, and then, with the text highlighted, press the DELETE key. Or click the
Text tool A, click the shape, highlight the text you want to delete, and then press the DELETE
key. If you delete the shape by mistake, on the Edit menu, click Undo.
Adding Independent Text to the Diagram

You can also add text that's not associated with any shape, such as a title or list, to the drawing
page. This type of text is called independent text or a text block. Use the Text tool to just click
and type.

1. Click the Text tool A.

2. Click the page where you want the text to appear on the diagram

3. Then type the desired text.

Deleting Independent Text

Click the Pointer tool , click the text, and then press the DELETE key.

Moving Independent Text

You can move independent text as you move any other shape: just drag it. In fact, independent
text is really just a shape with no border or color.

Formatting Text

You can format textitalicize it, underline it, center it, and so onthe same way you format text
in any Microsoft Office System program. You can use buttons on the toolbar or options in the
Text dialog box (on the Format menu).

Connecting the Shapes with the Connector Tool

In Visio, you create connections by attaching, or gluing, one-dimensional shapes called

connectors to two-dimensional shapes.

Connectors stay glued when you move the shapes. For example, when you move a flowchart
shape connected to another shape, the connector repositions to keep its endpoint glued to both
shapes.

You use the Connector tool to create connections.

Note People new to Microsoft Office Visio often use the Line tool to connect shapes. Using the
Connector tool is a much better method. When you use the Connector tool, connectors reroute,
or bend, automatically when you move one of the connected shapes. When you use the Line tool
to connect shapes, the connectors don't reroute.
 1. To zoom in on the top two shapes, hold down the CTRL+SHIFT keys while you drag a
selection rectangle around the shapes.

2. Click the Connector tool .

3. Place the Connector tool over the connection point on the bottom of the first Process
shape.

The Connector tool highlights the connection point with a red box , which tells you
that a connection can be made at that point.

4. Drag the Connector tool from the connection point on the first shape to the connection
point at the top of the second Process shape.

The connector endpoints turn red when the shapes are connected. This is an
important visual cue. If one of the connector's endpoints is still green, use the Pointer
tool to connect the endpoint to the shape. Both endpoints must be red if you want the
shapes to stay connected.

5. To zoom out, press the CTRL+W keys.

6. Experiment with selecting and moving a shape. Notice that the text moves with the shape
and the connector reroutes and remains connected to the two shapes.

The connector reroutes because you used the Connector tool (and not the Line tool) to
connect the shapes.

Connecting Shapes Using Connectors in a Stencil

You can also connect shapes with connectors from stencils. For example, in a block diagram, you
can drag two-dimensional arrows from a stencil and connect them to boxes.

1. For example connect two shapes with the Line-Curve connector. From the Basic
Flowchart Shapes stencil in the Shapes window, drag the Line-curve connector, and

position it so the endpoint of the plain end of the connector connects to the

connection point on the side of the first shape.

 The Line-curve connector endpoint turns red when it is connected to the shape.
The other endpoint is still green because you haven't connected it to a shape yet.

2. Drag the other endpoint of the arrowhead end of the Line-curve connector onto the
connection point on the side of the second shape.

Both connector endpoints turn red when the shapes are connected.
Adding Text to Connectors

You can use text with connectors to describe relationships between shapes. Add text to
connectors the same way you add text to any shapejust click a connector and type. A good
example would be for Decision symbols. One arrow will have Yes or True and the other arrow
will have No or False.

Adding Shapes Between Connected Shapes

If you want to add a new shape between two connected shapes, you can. Just drag the new shape
on top of the connector, and all three shapes automatically connect.

Note This only works in the flowchart, electrical engineering, and process engineering
templates.

Saving the Diagram

After you finish a diagram, you can save it the same way you save a file created in any Microsoft
Office System program.
Note It's a good idea to periodically save your diagram as you work.

1. On the File menu, click Save As.

2. In the File name box, type a descriptive filename, and then click Save.

Previewing and Printing the Diagram

Before you print a diagram, you can preview it to ensure it will print correctly. In the Print
Preview window, the gray boundary indicates the drawing page margins and edge of the printed
page. Shapes that overlap this boundary won't print completely. Either move them or adjust your
drawing page or printer settings, such as orientation, size, or margins. (To adjust page or printer
settings, on the File menu, click Page Setup.)

1. On the File menu, click Print Preview.

Alternatively, you can click the Print Preview button .

2. On the File menu, click Print.

If you only want to print the current drawing page, you can click the Print Page button

instead.

3. In the Print dialog box, click OK.

4. To exit print preview, on the toolbar, click Close.