Visio template descriptions

Often people have asked for help with choosing which template to start from. Visio templates perform one or more of the following functions: The most visible of all of these seems to be the initial stencils. For many people this seems to be the defining aspect of a template. In reality it's probably the least important as any stencil can be opened at any time from the menu. However, I'll try to give some words here on what each template offers.

Business

Audit Diagram

Well, it's a sort of flowchart really but if you call it a business audit diagram you can charge a lot more for it. Opens the Audit Diagram Shapes and Compliance Shapes stencils.

Brainstorming Diagram

Starts the Brainstorming addin, creates an Outline Window and opens the Brainstorming Shapes, and Legend Shapes stencils.

Cause and Effect Diagram

Also known as an Ishikawa diagram or fishbone diagram, used for product design and quality management. Opens the Cause and Effect Diagram shapes. More about this diagram type can be found at Ishikawa diagram.

Charts and Graphs

Can't see the point of this one really, all it does is open the Charting Shapes stencil.

EPC Diagram

EPC = Event Process Chain. Another type of flowchart used for business process modelling. Opens the EPC Diagram Shapes stencil. More about this diagram type can be found at Event Process Chain.

Fault Tree Analysis Diagram

Used for engineering analysis for safety and fault prevention/detection. Opens the Fault Tree Analysis Shapes stencil. More about this diagram type can be found at Fault tree analysis.

ITIL Diagram

ITIL = Information Technology Infrastructure Library. Opens the Basic Flowchart Shapes, Computers and Monitors, Servers, and ITIL Shapes stencils. More about this diagram type can be found at ITIL diagrams.

Marketing Charts and Diagrams

Can't see the point of this one really, all it does is open the Marketing Shapes and Charting Shapes stencils.

Organization Chart

Starts the Org Chart addin and opens the Organization Chart Shapes stencil.

Organization Chart Wizard

Starts the Org Chart addin and Wizard and opens the Organization Chart Shapes stencil.

Pivot Diagram

Starts the Pivot Diagram Data Selector Wizard and addin and opens the PivotDiagram Shapes, Work Flow Objects and Department stencils.

Six Sigma Diagram

Opens the Six Sigma Flowchar Shapes, Six Sigma House of Quality Shapes, and Cross Functional Flowchart Shapes stencils. More about this diagram type can be found at Six Sigma.

TQM Diagram

TQM = Total Quality ManagementOpens the TQM Diagram Shapes stencil. More about this diagram type can be found at TQM.

Value Stream Map

Opens the Value Stream Map Shapes stencil. More about this diagram type can be found at Value Stream Mapping.

Engineering

Basic Electrical

Opens the Fundermental Items, Qualifying Symbols, Semiconductors and Electron Tubes, SWitches and Relays, and Transmission Paths stencils.

Circuits and Logic

Opens the Anaslog and Digital Logic, Integrated Circuit Components, Terminals and Connectors, and Transmission Paths stencils.

Fluid Power

Opens the Annotations (Misc), Fluid Power (Equipment), Fluid Power (Valve Assembly), Fluid Power (Valves), and Connectors stencils.

Industrial Control Systems

Opens the Fundermental Items, Rotating Equipment and Mech Functions, Switches and Relays, Terminals and Connectors, Transformers and Windings, and Transmission Paths stencils.

Part and Assembly Drawing

Opens the Annotations, Dimensioning (Engineering), Drawing Tool Shapes, Fasteners 1, Fasteners 2, Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing, and Springs and Bearings stencils.

Piping and Instrumentation Diagram

Starts the Process Engineering addin and opens the Equipment (General), Equipment (Heat Exchangers), Equipment (Pumps), Equipment (Vessels), Instruments, Pipelines, Process Annotations, and Valves and Fittings stencils.

Process Flow Diagram

Starts the Process Engineering addin and opens the Equipment (General), Equipment (Heat Exchangers), Equipment (Pumps), Equipment (Vessels), Instruments, Pipelines, Process Annotations, and Valves and Fittings stencils.

Systems

Opens the Composite Assemblies, Maintenance Symbols, Maps and Charts, Switches and Relays, Telecom Switch and Peripheral Equip, Terminals and Connectors, and Transformers and Windings stencils.

Flowchart

Basic Flowchart

Opens the Basic Flowchart Shapes, and Cross Functional Flowchart Shapes stencils.

BPMN Diagram

BPMN = Business Process Modeling Notation. Opens the BPMN Basic Shapes, BPMN Events, BPMN Activities, BPMN Gateways, and BPMN Connecting Objects stencils. More about this diagram type can be found at BPMN.

Cross-functional Flowchart

Starts the Cross-functional Flowchart addin and opens the Basic Flowchart Shapes, and Cross Functional Flowchart Shapes stencils.

IDEF0 Diagram

Opens the IDEF0 Diagram Shapes stencil. More about this diagram type can be found at IDEF0.

Microsoft Sharepoint Workflow

Opens the Sharepoint Workflow Actions, Sharepoint Workflow Conditions, and Sharepoint Workflow Terminations stencils.

SDL Diagram

SDL = Specification and Description Language. Opens the SDL Diagram Shapes stencil. This stencil is a joke. More about this diagram type can be found at SDL.

Work Flow Diagram

Opens the Arrow Shapes, Department, Work Flow Objects, and Work Flow Steps stencils.

General

Basic Diagram

Opens the Basic Shapes stencil.

Block Diagram

Opens the Blocks, and Blocks Raised stencils.

Block Diagram with Perspective

Opens the Blocks Raised stencil.

Maps and Floor Plans

Directional Map

Opens the Landmark Shapes, Metro Shapes, Road Shapes, Recreation Shapes, and Transportation Shapes stencils.

Directional Map (3D)

Opens the Directional Map 3D shapes stencil.

Electrical and Telecomm Plan

Opens the Annotations, Drawing Tool Shapes, Electrical and Telecom, and Walls, Shell and Structure stencils.

Floor Plan

Starts the Plan addin and opens the Annotations, Building Core, Dimensioning - Engineering, Drawing Tool Shapes, Electrical and Telecom, Points of Interest, and Walls, Shell and Structure stencils.

Home Plan

Starts the Plan addin and opens the Building Core, Cabinets, Dimensioning - Engineering, Drawing Tool Shapes, Electrical and Telecom, Furniture, Garden Accessories, and Walls, Shell and Structure stencils.

HVAC Control Logic Diagram

Opens the Annotations, HVAC Controls, HVAC Controls Equipment stencils.

HVAC Plan

Starts the Plan addin and opens the Annotations, Building Core, Drawing Tool Shapes, HVAC Ductwork, HVAC Equipment, Registers Grills and Diffusers, and Walls, Shell and Structure stencils.

Office Layout

Starts the Plan addin and opens the Cubicles, Office Accessories, Office Equipment, Office Furniture, and Walls, Doors and Windows stencils.

Plant Layout

Starts the Plan addin and opens the Building Core, Dimensioning - Engineering, Drawing Tool Shapes, Electrical and Telecom, Shop Floor - Machines and Equipment, Shop Floor - Storage and Distribution, Vehicles, and Walls, Shell and Structure stencils.

Plumbing and Piping Plan

Starts the Plan addin and opens the Annotations, Drawing Tool Shapes, Pipes and Valves - Pipes 1 and 2, Pipes and Valves - Valves 1 and 2, and Plumbing stencils.

Reflected Ceiling Plan

Starts the Plan addin and opens the Annotations, Building Core, Drawing Tool Shapes,Electrical and Telecom, Registers Grills and Diffusers, and Walls, Shell and Structure stencils.

Security and Access Plan

Starts the Plan addin and opens the Alarm and Access Control, Annotations, Initiation and Annunciation, Video Surveillance, and Walls, Shell and Structure stencils.

Site Plan

Opens the Dimensioning - Engineering, Drawing Tool Shapes, Garden Accessories, Irrigation, Parking and Roads, Planting, Points of Interest, and Site Accessories stencils.

Space Plan

Starts the Space Plan Startup Wizard. Opens the Cubicles, Office Equipment, Office Furniture, and Resources stencils.

Network

Active Directory

Opens the Active Directory Objects, Active Directory Sites and Services, and Exchange Objects stencils. More about this diagram type can be found at Active Directory.

Basic Network Diagram

Opens the Computers and Monitors, and Network and Peripherals stencils.

Detailed Network Diagram

Opens the Annotations, Computers and Monitors, Detailed Network Diagram, Network and Peripherals, Network Locations, Network Symbols, and Servers stencils.

LDAP Directory

LDAP = Lightweight Directory Access Protocol. Opens the LDAP Objects stencil. More about this diagram type can be found at LDAP.

Rack Diagram

Opens the Annotations, Fre-standing Rack Equipment, Network Room Elements, and Rack Mounted Equipment stencils.

Schedule

Calendar

Opens the Calendar Shapes stencil.

Gantt Chart

Starts the Gantt Chart Option dialog and opens the Gantt Chart Shapes stencil.

PERT Chart

Opens the PERT Chart shapes stencil.

Timeline

Opens the Timeline Shapes stencil.

Software and Database

COM and OLE

Opens the COM and OLE Shapes stencil.

Conceptual Web Site

Opens the Web Site Map Shapes, and Conceptual Web Site Map Shapes stencils.

Data Flow Diagram

Opens the Arrow Shapes, and Data Flow Diagram Shapes stencils.

Data Flow Model Diagram

Opens the Gane-Sarson stencil.

Database Model Diagram

Starts the Database Addin and opens the Entity Relationship, and Object Relational stencils.

Enterprise Application

Opens the Enterprise Application stencil.

Program Structure

Opens the Memory Objects, and Language Level Shapes stencils.

UML Model Diagram

UML = Unified Modeling Language. Starts the UML addin and opens the UML Activity, UML Collaboration, UML Component, UML Deployment, UML Sequence, UML Statechart, UML Static Structure, and UML Use Case stencils. More about this diagram type can be found at UML.

Web Site Map

Starts the Generate Site Map addin and opens the Web Site Map Shapes stencil.

Wire Frame Diagram

Opens the Dialogs, Toolbars, Controls, Cursors, Common Icons, and Web and Media Icons stencils.

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