Microsoft Visio Reviews

It is suited to build UML diagrams or any diagrams that can be used in a variety of scenarios. It is an ideal tool for the software development planning and analysis phase, especially when accompanied by any mockups tool. Most change request documents/requirement documents will have at least some diagrammatic representation of as-is/to-be systems where the tool can be used for rendering the proposed solution diagrammatically.

One way I've used Visio is to map the current state of a network. Beginning with actual design objects from OEMs, you are able to import a lot of equipment details and enter serial numbers, service IDs, MAC addresses, etc. Visio objects are defined at various manufacturer websites including Cisco, EMC, Dell, HP, etc. You then can link and organize your network "on paper" to keep an inventory of your devices, their software version levels, and other information. When you replace a device, it's easy to delete and add the new device, keeping your documentation up to date.

Microsoft Visio is great for a variety of diagrams. It' has a number of templates for data/process flow diagrams, network diagrams, and floor plans. The convenience of drag and drop feature makes it fast to build visually appealing diagrams which serve as a great communication tool. Its ability to export to PDF is also very handy.

Whenever a diagram or process needs to be documented, Microsoft Visio is a good option. Microsoft Visio is especially helpful when showing relationships between multiple items. Diagrams that primarily display information can be created leveraging other tools like Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Publisher, or others, but Microsoft Visio can still be used in these situations.

Visio is really a basic tool to create product strategy roadmaps, flowcharts and even simple artworks for immediate printing. While it does its basic functions well, it is limited to those basic functions.

Visio is great for process mapping, whether it is production or business process across departments, with its ease of use, and intuitive interface that comes from Microsoft Office and options of nodes that can be searched in the bar on the left. Even a fresh intern can start drawing immediately. However if one needs detailed process mapping, with many kinds of connections and a standard library, as well as detailed data-mining kind of reporting, Visio will not be sufficient.

For organization charts, complicated process-flow diagrams and hierarchical charts, it is well suited.

As a network engineer, I have to create and edit network diagrams daily. Microsoft Visio is quite a time saver.

Visio is well suited to any medium to large organization where you can negotiate a good price for the licenses. It is well suited to any organization with users familiar with the MS Office Suite and who need a process flow designer tool. Overall, it's easy to use and very helpful for visual learners.

We like the swimlane diagramming and the flow charts. With a bit of effort, we can make them efficient for use within our team, or add bells and whistles of formatting for executive review. They do translate well to pdf when sharing with non-Visio users. I would not recommend for people that are novices and don't have the need to create 'fancy' diagrams. For simply typing things, they can just easily use Excel. And I actually sometimes do that when I am in a hurry.

Ease of use, it has many stencils supporting system architecture and IDEF system behavior diagrams. I have also utilized it as a system conops design tool. Excellent flexibility. Powerful program for drawing plans and structural charts, is easy to use and contains a wide range of design tools that facilitates the development of flow charts for users with little experience.

Works very well with Workflows.

Microsoft Visio is very good for process flow diagrams, high-level architectural VC/Telephony diagrams, and building/room floor plans. It is less appropriate for detailed project plans (use MS Project for that instead).

If you are working within an organization that will use the process diagrams for its needs, then you can use Visio, as your organization will have the license to make changes in the future. But if you are working at a consultancy firm which creates process diagrams, then think twice. Your clients may not have Visio licenses to change the diagrams that you had drawn for them.

Microsoft Visio is well suited for all company needs. If you are a project manager or a software developer you could use the Visio to develop class diagrams, flowcharts or create a block diagram of a system to explain it. For me, it is a very effective tool. In addition, even with all the options, its easy to use.

Visio is an excellent tool to use when creating diagrams, flowcharts, and layouts. We have associates that work at several locations across the globe so Visio serves an important function in being able to convey complex workflow graphically and allowing remote users to collaborate on the same document. Microsoft Visio is thus well-suited to allow teams or different groups of stakeholders to collaborate around shared workflows and processes.

An excellent tool for developing business process workflows.

Visio will work really well for someone using it to make some flow charts, org charts, and universal markup language charts.
I don't see it being the easiest when working on floor plans because importing the plans doesn't work out too well and requires you to make pointers for connections if you brought in one big picture rather than individualized pieces.

Visio is an excellent tool for documenting a call flow design or the architecture and components of a communications system in a visual format and their relationship to each other. It is less helpful for text-based documentation. When a solution needs to be represented visually, it is an excellent choice.

Visio is great for creating process flows and system diagrams. The only constraint with Visio is my own skills and creativity in building complex, rich documentation to easily convey information. If you're looking to improve processes, or depict current or future-state processes, you need Visio.

In practically every corporate scenario, Visio will be used. However, if a simple diagram needs to be made the user experience is too poor to be efficient. I've seen users resort to PowerPoint rather than messing with Visio. However, if professionalism is paramount, there is no alternative to Visio.

Visio is really good with technical drawings. It is not our domain so I can't vouch for it but I know it also makes an electric schema. It would be great for decision trees and process flows in general. I would not use the software for advance detailed drawings (like a building floor map) though. I probably would work but not the best thing. Also, if you need a precise object size, you will struggle a bit to get the desired result with Visio.

Well suited to building processes and displaying ideas clearly. Less ideal in a presentation environment but thats just a small detail.

It is well suited to design process flow diagrams and represents them graphically, but it doesn't mean that we can design graphical interfaces with this software.

Visio is not capable of UI designing. It is well suited to design process flows and project management diagrams.