Office Visio Standard 2003

This is a product that works on all sorts of levels. Occasional users can easily dip into Visio and quickly create a diagram. Developers on the other hand can create new shapes using the new ShapeStudio add-on, automate diagrams with Visual Basic for Applications, or embed diagrams in other applications via the Visio ActiveX control. A free viewer enables diagrams to be shared with those who do not own the full Visio product. Office Visio Standard 2003 has new templates for documenting business processes, as well as enhancements to many of the existing templates. Tablet users can create hand-drawn shapes. There is also support for collaboration by tracking changes, or those with Windows Server 2003 can use document workspaces to enables features such as team working and change notification. The only caveat with Visio is that much hinges on the quality of the templates, so if you have a particular use in mind it is worth checking that a suitable template exists. This standard version has a limited number, while the professional version has an extended range including building plans, engineering, networking and software development. As a general-purpose diagramming tool Office Visio Standard 2003 is outstanding. --Tim Anderson

Communicate Information Clearly and Collaborate More Effectively. Share Diagrams
Shared Workspace functionality supports collaboration with Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services Beta 2. Visio diagrams saved on a Windows SharePoint Services workspace can be opened directly in Visio from the workspace (through a drop-down list box).
Annotate Diagrams
Visio 2003 provides a new and intuitive way to annotate diagrams. The integration of digital ink supports natural markup of existing drawings and free-sketch creation with the pen on the Tablet PC.
Review Diagrams
The Track Markup feature enables multiple people to collaborate on the same Visio diagram.
Save as Web Page
The Save as Web Page function allows Visio diagrams to be saved in several Web formats, and supplies a browser-based user interface (UI) for accessing the data behind the drawing.
Import and Export
Import and export capabilities include support for a variety of formats, such as Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) and computer-assisted-design CAD.

Integrate and Automate Systems and Processes. Create Data-driven diagrams
Automatically create database diagrams from SQL Server or Access, UML software diagrams from Microsoft Visual Studio .NET projects, Web maps from live Web sites, timelines from Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Project, calendars from Microsoft Outlook, and organizational charts from Excel or Microsoft Exchange Server.
Build powerful solutions
The Visio software development kit (SDK) can help new and existing Visio developers build programs with Visio. The SDK includes extensive samples, tools, and documentation to simplify and speed up development of custom applications.
Embed Visio in line-of-business programs
The Visio ActiveX drawing control enables developers to embed and program the Visio drawing surface in custom applications. The drawing control opens up new opportunities for solution integration, making it easy to include the power of Visio in any smart client or server-based application.