Presentation given by David Parker (MVP) to VB User Group November 2010 about the ability to create custom validation rules in Visio 2010 Premium

1. David J Parker
MVP (Visio)
bVisual ltd

3. Need Premium for Validation!

5.  Silverlight application to view built-in rules
• Click http://www.visiorules.com/rulesexplorer.html

6. Free Silverlight application

7. Create a drawing from one that contains
rule set(s)
or
Import rule set(s) from an existing
document
Enable one or more of the rule sets
Select Process / Check Diagram
or
Call document.Validate in code
Review issues

8. Define rules using quasi-ShapeSheet
formulae
and/or
Respond to document.RuleSetValidated
event
Useful for cyclic connections, for example
Use ValidationRule.AddIssue

9. The Validation Process

10. Loop through each Target Type
Check that Filter Expression evaluates to
True
Abort if False
Check that Test Expression evaluates to
False
Abort if True
Add Issue
Target (document. Page or shape)
Rule

12. Save as VDX
New v14 namespace
View in XML reader, eg XML Notepad

13. Role()=n
0=Element,1=Connector,2=Container,4=Callout
HasCategory(category)
OnLayer(layername)
Is1D()
StrSame(Left(MasterName(750),n),name)
AggCount(set) = n, >n, <n, etc

14. ConnectedShapes(direction)
GluedShapes(direction)
ContainerMembers()
ListMembers()
Callouts()
ParentContainers()
ShapesOnPage()
OnBoundaryOf()

15. TWO books on Visio

16. Click http://www.visiorules.com/

17. Microsoft Visio 2010 Business Process Diagramming and Validation
see https://www.packtpub.com/microsoft-visio-2010-business-process-diagramming/book
Sample Chapters
Chapter 2 : Understanding the Microsoft Visio Object Model
see https://www.packtpub.com/sites/default/files/0141-chapter-2-understanding-the-microsoft-visio-
object%20.pdf
Chapter 3 : Understanding ShapeSheet™ in Microsoft Visio 2010
see http://www.packtpub.com/article/understanding-shapesheet-microsoft-visio-2010
For latest news, updates and rule sets, visit http://www.visiorules.com

18. Click http://www.visualizinginformation.com/

19. Extension to Process tab

23. Adding validation to DFDs

24. There are a number of rules that are commonly followed
when creating DFDs:
1. All processes must have at least one data flow in, and one data flow
out
2. All processes should modify the incoming data, producing new
forms of outgoing data
3. Each data store must be involved with at least one data flow
4. Each external entity must be involved with at least one data flow
5. A data flow must be attached to at least one process
6. Data flows cannot go directly from one external entity to another
external entity; such flows need to go through at least one process.

25. There are also some conventions that could be
considered.:
1. Do not allow a single page of a data flow diagram to get too
complex—it should have no more than ten components. If it has
more than this, combine some components into a single, self-
contained unit and create a new DFD for that unit.
2. Each component should be labeled with a suitable description.
3. Each data flow should be labeled describing the data flowing through
it.
4. Each component and subcomponent should be numbered in a top-
down manner.

27. MSDN Articles
Introduction to Validation Rules in Visio Premium 2010
click http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff847470.aspx
Creating Custom Validation Rules for Visio Premium
click http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff797562.aspx
Blogs
10 Days for Office 2010: 10 Visio 2010 Tips and Tricks
click
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/mvpawardprogram/archive/2010/05/13/10-
days-for-office-2010-10-visio-2010-tips-and-tricks.aspx
David J Parker click http://davidjpp.wordpress.com/