Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Conference Live: Visio Services for SharePoint 2010
Posted by Ron Yeager on Tue, Oct 20, 2009 @ 11:06 AM
Diagramming- the process of simplifying complicated processes. Visio Services can complement your existing BI tools through visualizing your data processes.
Two pain points that Visio Services resolves include information overload and the need for more ways to share the data with others through business diagramming. Visio Services allows real time data to be shared on a SharePoint site for those without the Visio client.
Diagrams include network diagrams to display server farms and individual server health through colors of red when stopped and green when functioning normally. Also, flow charts to view the representation of process flow as well as the ability to expose deeper information by drilling down into the details. All the content management features of SharePoint with Visio.
Diagrams are connectable to an OBDC-compliant source such as a SharePoint list, Excel spreadsheet, or SQL Server database. However, cannot be used with SQL Server Analysis Services or Microsoft's new PowerPivot.
Much of the data is already out there and available, it's just a matter of building a diagram in Visio and connecting the data. Visio Services allows you to take the data out of the table and create a visual image that has a much quicker and higher impact on the person consuming the information.
New features:
- Multiple data sources on the same diagram
- Add web part
- Ribbon menu
- Shape templates easier to navigate
- New containers to group shapes together
- Automatic refresh
- Custom data providers as .NET assemblies
Example of Connecting Diagram to a SharePoint List:
- Connect data to the diagram
- Choose Data Selector, enter SharePoint site
- Choose list. A snap-shot of the list data is brought into Visio
- Select shape in Visio diagram and the row of data, drag row to shape to link
- Customize data graphic by choosing the field to display from the SharePoint list
- Display as Color by Value and link to Status field
- Text, data bar (progress bars with min and max, ex. star rating), icon set (KPIs), Color by Value
- Choose position, Top of shape, left of shape
- Data graphic automatically expands when the data expands
- Save to SharePoint as a web drawing
Sandra Tersteeg