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Visio Discussions => ShapeSheet & Smart Shapes => Topic started by: ajocius on March 13, 2011, 02:19:57 PM

Title: Recommend Book To Create Shapes
Post by: ajocius on March 13, 2011, 02:19:57 PM
I'm a Visio novice that enjoys working with Visio.  I have two Visio books that go into all sorts of detail using pre-developed stencils and shapes.  I want to develop my own shapes.  Would someone recommend a book that goes into this detail.  I do a lot of electrical schematics with "rack and stack" equipment.  Your assistance would be much appreciated.  Thanks.

Tony
Title: Re: Recommend Book To Create Shapes
Post by: VisioNinja on April 10, 2011, 01:32:56 PM
Hi Tony,
I have been using Visio for a number of years and the only detail that books cover is a basic introduction to the drawing tools. Microsoft have a lot of good basic drawing tips usually a lot better than most books on the subject. Also Blog sites like Visio Guy have great tips on creating shapes. I have also just started my own at DawingNinja.com however I am still a little thin on content at the moment.

Cheers,
Dave   
Title: Re: Recommend Book To Create Shapes
Post by: bobsupercow on April 11, 2011, 07:09:10 PM
David Parker's latest book is one of the best I've used:

http://www.amazon.com/Visualizing-Information-Microsoft%C2%AE-Office-Visio%C2%AE/dp/007148261X (http://www.amazon.com/Visualizing-Information-Microsoft%C2%AE-Office-Visio%C2%AE/dp/007148261X)

This site/blog/forum is also an excellent resource.

But the #1 best way I've found to learn shape development is just doing it. Look up references when you get stuck or you think you're probably over complicating a solution, but other than those times try to just learn as you go. Building a few stencils was easily the most effecient way for me to learn shapesheet programming.
Title: Re: Recommend Book To Create Shapes
Post by: Nikolay on April 12, 2011, 02:22:17 AM
You might be also interested in this classical book on Visio shape development:
Visio 2003 Developers Survival Pack (http://www.amazon.com/Visio-2003-Developers-Survival-Pack/dp/1412011124)

Also take a look at the the Developing Visio Solutions (http://www.amazon.com/Developing-Microsoft-VISIO-Solutions-Pro-Documentation/dp/0735613532/) book which could be mentioned as a good starting point.
Note that it was a part of MSDN (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa245244.aspx) in fact.
Title: Re: Recommend Book To Create Shapes
Post by: wapperdude on April 12, 2011, 02:29:41 PM
...and a reasonable, basic reference about shapes and things Visio, there's this:  http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa245244(v=office.10).aspx

Wapperdude
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