subject: Why create a new Visio 2007 drawing from a Template? [print this page] Why create a new Visio 2007 drawing from a Template?
A popular method of creating a new drawing in Visio is to base it on a template, and for good reason. If you start your new drawing from a blank document that's exactly what you will get; no stencils, shapes or other features will open automatically meaning that you must specify every single element of the new drawing yourself. While that is sometimes what you will want to do, it can be a time-consuming and tedious exercise compared to starting one from a template. The Professional version of Visio 2007 includes over 60 templates, and while the Standard version only has about half that number, it is still an enormous range to choose from.
Using a template can simplify and accelerate the creation of drawings by opening a drawing page of the correct size and scale, opening stencils that already include appropriate shapes and utilizing a variety of other settings specifically suited to the subject of the drawing. A template designed for a building floor plan, for example, will contain different stencils, shapes and features to one designed for an Organization Chart.
Creating a Custom Visio 2007 Template
But what if you don't have exactly the right template for the job in hand? Well, why not create your own? Creating your own templates makes a lot of sense, because using them to create new diagrams can save a lot of time if you:
Create architectural or engineering plans using unusual drawing scales
Often use specific paper sizes, scales, and other individual page settings
Regularly use specific backgrounds or themes
Must include a company logo or title block in all your drawings
Use non-standard stencils
Produce different drawing versions for different departments
Like to customise your Visio workspace.
If a Visio template offers you most, but not all, of the features you need, you don't have to start from scratch - you can copy the template and then customize it to meet your needs. Alternatively, you can create a new template by saving an existing drawing as a template. Do this by selecting "Template" from the "Save as Type" box on the "Save As" dialog box.
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