In this exercise, the width of the ribbon will remain constant at 1024 pixels and you will explore each of the Visio tabs.
Important
Consequently, there might be tabs, buttons, or options
in the screen shots that don’t apply if you are using the Standard
edition. In general, you can ignore any buttons or tabs that do not
appear on your computer screen. Where necessary, the text will
distinguish those exercises or functions that can only be performed
with a specific Visio 2013 edition.
Note
SET UP If Visio
is already running, click File, and then click New. If Visio is not
running, start it. On either the New or startup page, double-click the
Basic Diagram thumbnail.
-
Click the Home tab if it is not already selected.
The Home tab is just what it sounds like: a place where you will
spend a considerable amount of time. The Home tab contains the largest
number of buttons by far, because the Visio team at Microsoft tried to
fit as many of the most frequently used functions as possible onto this
tab. You’ll find sets of related buttons organized into groups called
Clipboard, Font, Paragraph, Tools, Shape Styles, Arrange, and Editing.
Tip
Many of the groups on the Visio tabs
include a small arrow in the lower-right corner of the group (refer to
the Font, Paragraph, and Shape Styles groups above). The arrow button,
known as the dialog box launcher,
opens a dialog box that provides detailed control over multiple
functions related to that group. In many cases, the dialog box that
opens will look familiar to experienced Visio users, because it is the
same one that was used in previous Visio versions.
-
Click the Insert tab to access the Pages, Illustrations, Diagram Parts, Links, and Text groups. Many of the functions available on this tab mirror the items on the Insert menu in Visio 2007 and earlier.
Tip
Ribbon
buttons that display a downward-pointing arrow behave in one of two
ways. When you point to some buttons, like the Container button on the
left in the following graphic, the entire button is illuminated.
Clicking this type of button always presents a set of options related
to the button title.
When you point to other buttons, like the Text Box button in the
following graphic on the right, only half of the button is illuminated.
Clicking the half without the arrow performs the default action for the
button. Clicking the half with the arrow presents a menu of options.
-
Click the Design tab to change Page Setup, select Themes or Variants, create or edit page Backgrounds, and change page Layout.
-
Click the Data tab.
Important
This tab is available only in the Professional edition.
On the Data tab, you can establish and maintain links to External Data, Display Data using data graphics, and Show/Hide both the Shape Data and External Data windows.
-
Click the Process
tab.
Important
This tab is available only in the Professional edition.
In the Subprocess group, you can create a new subprocess
or link to an existing one. In the Diagram Validation group, you can
validate a drawing against a set of business rules and manage
validation issues. You can also import or export a SharePoint Workflow
from this tab.
-
Click the Review tab for access to functions for Proofing, Language, Comments, and Reports.
-
Click the View tab.
As the name suggests, most of the buttons on this tab affect which Visio features are visible on the screen:
-
The lone button in the Views group sets Visio into full-screen display mode.
Note
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT Press F5 to enter or exit full-screen view mode.
-
The Show group controls which drawing aids and task panes are visible. -
Use the Zoom buttons to change the magnification level in the drawing window. -
The Visual Aids group enables and disables various on-screen drawings aids. -
Use the Window buttons to arrange or select among multiple windows when you have more than one drawing open. -
The Macros group
provides access to the Visio macro programming window and to a list of
pre-programmed add-ons that enhance the capabilities of Visio.
Note
CLEAN UP Close the Drawing1 drawing. It is not necessary to save your changes.
Tip
The buttons and controls on all ribbon tabs
display pop-up tooltip text when you point to them. If you are unsure
of the function of any button, just point to the button to view the
tooltip.
Note
SEE ALSO If you
are familiar with versions of Visio prior to Visio 2010 and would like
help shifting from toolbars and menus to the ribbon, Microsoft has
created an interactive guide to the ribbon for each product in the
Office suite. When you click a toolbar or menu item in the guide, it
will display the appropriate ribbon button.
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