David J Parker

MVP (Visio)

bVisual ltd

Need Premium for Validation!

Silverlight application to view built-in rules

• Click http://www.visiorules.com/rulesexplorer.html

Free Silverlight application

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 Diagramor

Call document.Validate in code

Review issues

Define rules using quasi-ShapeSheetformulae

and/or

Respond to document.RuleSetValidatedevent

Useful for cyclic connections, for example

Use ValidationRule.AddIssue

The Validation Process

Loop through each Target TypeCheck that Filter Expression evaluates to True

Abort if False

Check that Test Expression evaluates to False

Abort if True

Add IssueTarget (document. Page or shape)

Rule

Save as VDXNew v14 namespace

View in XML reader, eg XML Notepad

Role()=n0=Element,1=Connector,2=Container,4=Callout

HasCategory(category)

OnLayer(layername)

Is1D()

StrSame(Left(MasterName(750),n),name)

AggCount(set) = n, >n, <n, etc

ConnectedShapes(direction)

GluedShapes(direction)

ContainerMembers()

ListMembers()

Callouts()

ParentContainers()

ShapesOnPage()

OnBoundaryOf()

TWO books on Visio

Click http://www.visiorules.com/

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

Click http://www.visualizinginformation.com/

Extension to Process tab

Adding validation to DFDs

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.

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.

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

David J Parker click http://davidjpp.wordpress.com/

MSDN Articles

10 Days for Office 2010: 10 Visio 2010 Tips and Tricksclick

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/mvpawardprogram/archive/2010/05/13/10-

days-for-office-2010-10-visio-2010-tips-and-tricks.aspx

Blogs