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Visio 2007 has a lot to offer. With each update, Visio improves the functionality you need to create diagrams quickly. The emphasis in this update is efficiency — helping you get more done with fewer errors and in less time.
Here's an overview of the major feature changes in Visio 2007 (Standard Edition).
- Starting quickly with improved templates: Visio 2007 supports fewer template categories and the category names now make more sense. You actually have access to more templates, but Microsoft has organized them better. In addition, the template examples are larger with clear text descriptions, so you have a better idea of how to use a particular template. A recent template list tells you which templates you use most often and makes these templates easier to access. The Professional edition also includes sample diagrams and data sources that you can use as examples of how to retrieve data from your own data sources.
- Improving drawing appearance with themes: You have probably seen the effect of themes in Windows. A theme in Visio is the same concept. You use themes to give your diagrams a particular appearance. Using themes helps ensure that your diagrams have a pleasing appearance and are easy to see.
- Automatically connecting shapes: Visio now makes it easier to create great-looking drawings with greater ease by creating the connections you need automatically and aligning new drawing elements. You can connect drawing elements when you drag the shape onto the form. However, when you decide to make the connection later, all you need to do is point at the two connectors that you want to connect.
 | - Sharing diagrams with other Office applications: Keeping others informed about your ideas is essential. This feature relies on SharePoint server to make it easier to share data in various ways. For example, you can generate a Visio PivotDiagram from within Microsoft Project and place it on SharePoint server for comment by other collaborators. You can also attach Visio diagrams to e-mail created in Outlook. Other people can see the diagrams even if they don't have Visio installed.
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- Saving data using the XPS file format: A problem with custom data formats is that it isn't easy to move the data to other locations. The XML Paper Specification (XPS) file format provides a standard method of saving your data in a form that other applications can use. You can effectively use the data in any application that supports XML.
- Improving efficiency with smaller diagrams: Other people don't always need every piece of information in a diagram. For example, you might have unused master shapes or comments that other people don't need to see. Visio makes it easier to clean up your diagrams before you send them to someone else. In addition to presenting a cleaner form, your diagram will also consume less space, making it more efficient for data transfers and local storage.
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