Using Microsoft Visio

Microsoft Visio lets you transform complicated text and tables that are hard to understand into Visio diagrams that communicate information at a glance. You can quickly create flow charts, floor plans, timelines, network diagrams, and many other kinds of drawings. Select a tool to learn more.

To learn more about Microsoft Visio's advanced features, check out the Microsoft Visio Help Center.

Templates

Shapes

Add Text

Diagram Connectors

Change Diagram Theme

Microsoft Visio Templates

When you open Visio, you will see a wide variety of templates (unfinished starter diagrams) and sample diagrams (examples of what you can build). Each template and sample diagram comes with stencils that contain a collection of related shapes and tools.

As with all Microsoft products, you can always start with a blank drawing.

Need additional support? Visit the Microsoft Support Page: Create a new project.

Choose from the following tasks:
Add Shapes to Your Diagram
Create Custom Shapes

Add Shapes to Your Diagram

To build diagrams, you can drag and drop shapes from the Shapes panel.

Several shape categories are available by selecting More Shapes, including: business, engineering, flowchart, general, maps/floor plans, network, schedule, software/database, and extras.

Need additional support? Visit the Microsoft Support Page: Add and format shapes.

Create Custom Shapes

You can also create your own shapes by selecting More Shapes, and then New Stencil based on the units of measurement you want to use. Be sure to save your custom shape for future use.

Need additional support? Visit the Microsoft Support Page: Add and format shapes.

Add and Format Text on Shapes and Connectors

Without text, your diagram is just shapes on a page. Add text to shapes, connectors, and pages to give your diagrams meaning.

Double-click the shape or connector to open the option to add text. Text can be formatted using the Home toolbar options.

Need additional support? Visit the Microsoft Support Page: Add text to shapes, diagrams, or connectors.

Add Connectors to Your Diagram

There are two methods of adding connectors to Your Diagram:
AutoConnect Arrows
Manually

Note: When you want to show relationships between shapes in flowcharts, organization charts, and other diagrams, use connectors to direct the flow of information. As you add shapes to a diagram, you can connect them automatically or manually.

Add a Connector with AutoConnect Arrows

Step 1

Navigate & Select

Select View in the ribbon and make sure AutoConnect is selected.

Step 2

Select & Drag

On the Shapes pane, select and drag any Shape option to the workspace. Remember to double-click to add text.

Step 3

AutoConnect Arrows

Hover your cursor over the shape to see the AutoConnect arrows. Options for quick shapes will appear. Select a shape to automatically add it to the workspace and connect it to the previous shape.

Add a Connector Manually

From the Home toolbar, select the connector icon. Hover over the shape and select the point you want to have the connector begin, and drag it to the shape you want it to connect to.

Need additional support? Visit the Microsoft Support Page: Add shapes and connectors.

How to Change the Diagram Theme

A theme in Visio is a set of colors and effects that you can apply to a drawing with a single click. Themes are a quick way to give your drawings a professionally designed look.

Navigate to the Design tab. In the Themes group, hover over a theme to see a preview on the workspace.

To see more theme options, select the More Options arrow.

Select a theme from the options to apply it to the workspace.

Need additional support? Visit the Microsoft Support Page: Design a Diagram.