Microsoft Visio 2013 Business Process Diagramming and Validation

Book description

Using Microsoft Visio to visualize business information is a huge aid to comprehension and clarity. Learn how with this practical guide to process diagramming and validation, written as a practical tutorial with sample code and demos.

  • Optimize your business information visualization by mastering out-of-the-box structured diagram functionality with features like basic and cross-functional flowcharts
  • Create and analyze custom validation rules for structured diagrams using Visio 2013 Professional
  • Get to grips with the validation logic for business process diagramming with Visio 2013 Professional with the provided Rules Tools add-on

In Detail

Microsoft Visio is a diagramming program which ultimately allows business professionals to explore and communicate complex information more effectively. Through easy-to-understand visual representations, Visio enables you to present complicated data in a clear and communicative way. Therefore, productivity is increased by utilizing the wide variety of diagrams that can convey information at a glance as data can be understood and acted upon quickly. This book enables business developers to unleash the full potential of Visio 2013 Professional Edition.

Microsoft Visio 2013 Business Process Diagramming and Validation is a focused tutorial with a range of practical examples and downloadable code that shows you how to create business process diagramming templates with Visio, enabling you to effectively visualize business information. It draws on real business examples and needs and covers all the new features of Visio 2013 Professional Edition.

This focused tutorial will enable you to get to grips with diagram validation in Visio 2013 Professional Edition to the fullest extent, enabling you to perform powerful automatic diagram verification based on custom logic and assuring correct and compliant diagrams. You will learn how to create and publish rules and how to use the ShapeSheet to write formulae. There is also a special focus on extending and enhancing the capabilities of Visio 2013 diagram validation and on features that are not found in the out-of-the-box product, like installing and using the new Rules Tools add-on complete with source code, reviewing the new diagramming rules in flowcharts and BPMN templates, and creating your own enhanced Data Flow Model Diagram template complete with validation rules.

Microsoft Visio 2013 Business Process Diagramming and Validation begins by covering the basic functions of Visio 2013 before moving on to discuss how to formulate your own validation rules and how to use the Visio Object Model. ShapeSheet functions are explored in detail as well as how to create validation rule sets and visualizing issues, with practical demonstrations along the way. It also covers integration with SharePoint 2013 and Office365 and how to build a Rules Tools add-on using C#, how to create test and filter expressions, and how to publish validation rules for others to use. Finally, the book concludes with the creation and implementation of a new RuleSet for Data Flow Model Diagrams with a worked example. By following the practical and immediately deployable examples found in this book, you will successfully learn how to use the features of Microsoft Visio 2013 and how to extend the functionality provided in the box.

Table of contents

  1. Microsoft Visio 2013 Business Process Diagramming and Validation
    1. Table of Contents
    2. Microsoft Visio 2013 Business Process Diagramming and Validation
    3. Credits
    4. About the Author
    5. About the Reviewers
    6. www.PacktPub.com
      1. Support files, eBooks, discount offers, and more
        1. Why Subscribe?
        2. Free Access for Packt account holders
        3. Instant Updates on New Packt Books
    7. 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. Errata
        3. Piracy
        4. Questions
    8. 1. Overview of Process Management in Microsoft Visio 2013
      1. Exploring the new process management features in Visio 2013
      2. Reviewing Visio Process Management capabilities
        1. Understanding the Visio BMP Maturity Model
      3. Reviewing the foundations of structured diagramming
      4. Reviewing the enhanced process flow templates
        1. Looking at the Flowchart templates
      5. Reviewing the new process flow templates
        1. Understanding a BPMN Diagram
        2. Understanding a Microsoft SharePoint 2013 workflow
      6. Validation of process diagrams
        1. Analyzing the structure of a Visio document
      7. Using the Visio Process Repository
      8. Publishing visual data from Visio
      9. Understanding the Visio 2013 editions
      10. Planning your own solutions
      11. Summary
    9. 2. Understanding the Microsoft Visio Object Model
      1. Introducing the Visio Type libraries
      2. Going beyond the object model
      3. Classifying the Visio document
      4. Selecting a programming language to use with Visio
      5. Understanding the Drawing Explorer window
      6. Understanding the Visio object model
        1. Examining the Application object
          1. Reviewing the ActiveDocument and ActivePage objects
          2. Reviewing the Addons collection
          3. Reviewing the COMAddIns collection
          4. Reviewing the CurrentEdition property
          5. Reviewing the DataFeaturesEnabled property
          6. Reviewing the Documents collection
          7. Reviewing the TypelibMinorVersion and Version properties
        2. Examining the Document object
          1. Reviewing the Advanced Properties object
          2. Reviewing the DataRecordsets collection
          3. Reviewing the DocumentSheet object
          4. Reviewing the ID and Index properties
          5. Reviewing the FullName and Name properties
          6. Reviewing the Masters collection
          7. Reviewing the Pages collection
          8. Reviewing the ReadOnly property
          9. Reviewing the Type property
          10. Reviewing the Validation object
        3. Examining the Master object
          1. Reviewing the BaseID property
          2. Reviewing the Hidden property
          3. Reviewing the ID, Index, and IndexInStencil properties
          4. Reviewing the Name and NameU properties
          5. Reviewing the PageSheet object
          6. Reviewing the Type property
        4. Examining the Page object
          1. Reviewing the Connects collection
          2. Reviewing the ID and Index properties
          3. Reviewing the Layers collection
          4. Reviewing the PageSheet object
          5. Reviewing the Comments and ShapeComments property
          6. Reviewing the Shapes collection
          7. Reviewing the Type property
        5. Examining the Shape object
          1. Reviewing the Characters and Text properties
          2. Reviewing the Connects and FromConnects collections
          3. Reviewing the Hyperlinks collection
          4. Reviewing the ID, Index, NameID, Name, and NameU properties
          5. Reviewing the IsCallout and IsDataGraphicCallout properties
          6. Reviewing the LayerCount property
          7. Reviewing the Master, MasterShape, and RootShape objects
          8. Reviewing the OneD property
          9. Reviewing the Parent object
          10. Reviewing the Type property
        6. Examining the Section object
        7. Examining the Row object
        8. Examining the Cell object
          1. Reviewing the Column property
          2. Reviewing the Error property
          3. Reviewing the Formula and FormulaU properties
          4. Reviewing the Name and LocalName properties
          5. Reviewing the Result properties
          6. Reviewing the Units property
          7. Iterating through cells
      7. Delving into the Connectivity API
        1. Understanding the Shape.ConnectedShapes method
        2. Understanding the Shape.GluedShapes method
        3. Understanding the Shape.MemberOfContainers property
        4. Understanding the Shape.CalloutsAssociated property
        5. Listing the steps in a process flow
      8. Summary
    10. 3. Understanding the ShapeSheet™
      1. Finding the ShapeSheet
        1. Understanding sections, rows, and cells
        2. Reading a cell's properties
      2. Printing out the ShapeSheet settings
      3. Understanding the functions
      4. Important sections for rules validation
        1. Looking at the User-defined Cells section
          1. Using the category of a Shape
          2. Using the structure type of a Shape
          3. Checking a Container shape
          4. Checking a List shape
          5. Checking for attached Callout shapes
        2. Looking at the Shape Data section
          1. Using the String type
          2. Using the Fixed List type
          3. Using the Number type
          4. Using the Boolean type
          5. Using the Variable List type
          6. Using the Date type
          7. Using the Duration type
          8. Using the Currency type
        3. Looking at the Hyperlinks section
        4. Working with Layer Membership
      5. Summary
    11. 4. Understanding the Validation API
      1. An overview of Validation objects
        1. Using the Validate method
        2. Validating custom rules written in code
      2. Working with the ValidationRuleSets collection
        1. Adding to or updating a ruleset
      3. Working with the ValidationRules collection
        1. Adding to or updating a rule
        2. Verifying that a rule works
      4. Working with the ValidationIssues collection
        1. Retrieving the selected issue in the Issues window
        2. Toggling the Issues window visibility
        3. Listing the issues caused by a particular shape
        4. Using code to clear issues
        5. Retrieving an existing issue in code
        6. Adding an issue in code
      5. Summary
    12. 5. Developing a Validation API Interface
      1. Understanding the architecture of the tool
      2. Enhancing the ThisAddin class
        1. Listening for application events
        2. Checking for the Visio Professional edition
      3. Creating the ViewModel class
        1. Creating the BaseViewModel class
        2. Viewing the documents collection
        3. Viewing the ValidationRuleSets collection
        4. Viewing the ValidationRules collection
        5. Viewing the ValidationIssues collection
      4. Modifying the Visio Fluent UI
      5. Creating the Rules Explorer window
        1. Self-describing tree views
          1. Making informative tool tips
        2. Linking detail panels
          1. Editing ruleset properties
          2. Editing rule properties
          3. Handling special key strokes
        3. Adding the Explorer actions
          1. Creating the Add button
          2. Creating the Add Issue button
          3. Creating the Paste button
          4. Creating the Copy button
          5. Creating the Delete button
      6. Displaying the rule for a selected issue
      7. Displaying the issues for the current selection
      8. Summary
    13. 6. Reviewing Validation Rules and Issues
      1. Extensions to our ribbon
      2. Annotating Visio diagrams with issues
        1. Saving the current user settings
        2. Displaying the issue mark-up page
          1. Adding in the issue comments
        3. Hiding the issue mark-up page
      3. Exporting rulesets to XML
        1. Getting the XDocument object
          1. Getting the VERuleSet XElement
          2. Getting the VEIssue XElement
      4. Importing rulesets from XML
      5. Creating ruleset reports
        1. Getting the XSL stylesheet
      6. Summary
    14. 7. Creating Validation Rules
      1. Overview of the document validation process
        1. Validating rulesets
        2. Validating rules
        3. Processing a rule
      2. Validation functions
      3. Useful ShapeSheet functions
      4. Filter and Test Expressions
        1. Checking the type of shape
        2. Checking the category of shapes
        3. Checking the layer of a shape
        4. Checking if the page contains relevant shapes
        5. Checking for specific cell values
        6. Checking that connectors are connected
        7. Checking that shapes have correct connections
        8. Checking whether shapes are outside containers
        9. Checking whether a shape has text
        10. Custom validation rules in code
      5. Summary
    15. 8. Publishing Validation Rules and Diagrams
      1. Overview of Visio categories and templates
      2. Creating a custom template
      3. Adding embellishments
        1. Adding the template description
        2. The simplest method to provide a template
          1. Editing the file paths for templates
          2. Setting the file paths for templates
        3. Creating a template preview image
          1. Enhancing the quality of the preview image
        4. The best method for publishing templates
          1. Creating a setup project
          2. Running the installation
          3. Uninstalling and Repairing
      4. Summary
    16. 9. A Worked Example for Data Flow Model Diagrams – Part 1
      1. What are Data Flow Diagrams?
      2. Examining the standard template
        1. Enhancing the masters
        2. Editing the Data Flow master
          1. Preparing for AutoConnect
        3. Editing the Data Store master
          1. Adding Shape Data
          2. Enhancing the graphics
          3. Displaying the ID value
          4. Improving the group shape
        4. Editing the Interface master
        5. Editing the Process master
          1. Adding Shape Data
          2. Enhancing the graphics
          3. Displaying the ID value
          4. Displaying the Category value
          5. Improving the group shape
        6. Setting the Subprocess master
        7. Enhancing the page
      3. Summary
    17. 10. A Worked Example for Data Flow Model Diagrams – Part 2
      1. Writing the ruleset
        1. Rule 1 – all processes must have at least one data flow in and one data flow out
        2. Rule 2 – all processes should modify the incoming data, producing new forms of the outgoing data
        3. Rule 3 – each data store must be involved with at least one data flow
        4. Rule 4 – each external entity must be involved with at least one data flow
        5. Rule 5 – a data flow must be attached to at least one process
        6. Rule 6 – data flows cannot go directly from one external entity to another external entity
        7. Rule 7 – do not allow a single page of a DFD to get too complex
        8. Rule 8 – each component should be labeled
        9. Rule 9 – each data flow should be labeled describing the data that flows through it
        10. Rule 10 – each component and subcomponent should be numbered
        11. Rule 11 – a data flow must be connected between two components
        12. Rule 12 – a flow must not cycle back to itself
      2. Summary
    18. 11. A Worked Example for Data Flow Model Diagrams – Part 3
      1. Completing the template
        1. Reviewing the template
      2. Creating the installer
        1. Testing the Installer
      3. Using a digital certificate
        1. Thoughts about code in templates
      4. Summary
    19. 12. Integrating Validated Diagrams with SharePoint 2013 and Office365
      1. Using SharePoint and Visio together
      2. Understanding a Visio Process Repository
        1. Approving and rejecting Process Diagrams
      3. Creating a Visio Process Repository
      4. Adding a Visio template to SharePoint
        1. Adding a template as a Site Content Type
        2. Adding a List and Library Content Type
      5. Creating a diagram from the custom template
      6. Summary
    20. Index

Product information

  • Title: Microsoft Visio 2013 Business Process Diagramming and Validation
  • Author(s): David J. Parker
  • Release date: November 2013
  • Publisher(s): Packt Publishing
  • ISBN: 9781782178002