This document compares the features of different versions of Microsoft Visio. It shows which features are included, improved, or new in each version. Some key capabilities include creating diagrams easily with templates and themes, collaborating as a team through commenting and co-authoring, and creating data-linked diagrams through integration with sources like Excel and SharePoint. The various versions provide different sets of stencils for business, engineering, software development and other domains.

1. Copyright© 2012 Microsoft Corporation

2. Copyright© 2012 Microsoft Corporation

3. Visio 2013 Editions – All Features
INCLUDED IMPROVED NEW
  
Advanced diagramming made simple
Create diagrams easily
Create professional and engaging diagrams more easily than ever
Microsoft Office Fluent user interface (UI)—the Ribbon   
Auto align and space   
Ability to insert and delete shapes with connection healing   
Dynamic grid to position and size shapes relative to other shapes on the page   
Drawing canvas auto size   
New and improved stencils and shapes   
Contextual right-click menus   
Improved search to make it easier to find templates and shapes   
New start experience to make it easier to find shapes   
Quick shapes area, for easy access to the most frequently used shapes   
Ability to change shape while preserving diagram layout and shape metadata   
Easy-to-apply themes to create modern diagrams quickly   
Live preview of pre-configured theme style changes through variations   
Shape effect options—shadow, bevel, glow, and others   
Improvements to containers and new container styles   
Organization chart solution improvements—new styles and ability to import images   
Streamlined print preview showing diagram page breaks and pan/zoom capability   
Ability to import DWG files into Visio   
3 Visio edition/version comparison. © 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved

4. Visio 2013 Editions – All Features
INCLUDED IMPROVED NEW
  
Advanced diagramming made simple
Collaborate as a team
Work together on a single diagram with your colleagues
Commenting   
Commenting through Visio Services   
Presence awareness and visibility2   
Easy diagram sharing through a web browser by saving to Microsoft SharePoint   
Co-authoring—two or more people working on a single diagram at the same time  
Create data-linked diagrams
Use a wizard to link diagrams to data without writing any code
Data linking in diagrams  
External data window to see the data connected to shapes  
Ability to refresh data automatically, either on a defined schedule or manually  
Expanded set of data sources, including Microsoft Excel, Excel Services, SharePoint lists,  
SharePoint Business Connectivity Services, and Microsoft SQL Server
Ability to apply a rich set of data graphics and colors to visualize data  
Automatic data legend creation, providing a key for applied data graphics  
Ability to save to SharePoint and view diagrams in Visio Services1   
No-code dashboards  
1 – Saving data linked diagrams to SharePoint requires Visio Professional 2013 or Visio Pro for Office 365.
2 – Presence awareness functionality requires Lync or other compliant IM client.
4 Visio edition/version comparison. © 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved

5. Visio 2013 Editions – All Features
INCLUDED IMPROVED NEW
  
Advanced diagramming made simple
Improve process support
Model business rules with standard process notation
Support for Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) 1.2 and 2.0 diagrams  
Option to validate diagrams using built-in and extendable business rules  
Subprocesses to break complex processes into manageable pieces  
Use a powerful platform
Take advantage of enhancements that make Visio a more powerful and complete diagramming tool
New XML-based file format   
Easy shape customization   
Backwards compatibility to open Visio 2000, Visio 2003, Visio 2007, and Visio 2010 files   
Touch support on Windows 7/Windows 8 PCs   
Touch support on virtually any device through Visio Services   
Connectivity application programming interface (API), Microsoft Office Fluent User Interface
(UI) API, Structured Diagram API
  
XML web services integration   
Integration with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Project) and Microsoft Systems Center   
Availability as a perpetual license  
Support for SharePoint Server 2010 workflow  
Support for SharePoint Server 2013 workflow  
Data-driven solution support API, subprocess API  
Availability through Microsoft Office 365 as a subscription 
Five PC installations per user 
Roaming application—ability to install Visio temporarily on a Windows 7 or Windows 8 PC 
5 Visio edition/version comparison. © 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved

6. Copyright© 2012 Microsoft Corporation

7. Visio 2013 Editions – New or Improved Features  
IMPROVED NEW
Advanced diagramming made simple
Create diagrams easily
Create professional and engaging diagrams more easily than ever
New and improved stencils and shapes   
Contextual right-click menus   
Improved search to make it easier to find templates and shapes   
New start experience to make it easier to find shapes   
Ability to change shape while preserving diagram layout and shape metadata   
Easy-to-apply themes to create modern diagrams quickly   
Live preview of pre-configured theme style changes through variations   
Shape effect options—shadow, bevel, glow, and others   
Improvements to containers and new container styles   
Organization chart solution improvements—new styles and ability to import images   
Streamlined print preview showing diagram page breaks and pan/zoom capability   
Collaborate as a team
Work together on a single diagram with your colleagues
Commenting   
Commenting through Visio Services   
Presence awareness and visibility   
Co-authoring—two or more people working on a single diagram at the same time  
7 Visio edition/version comparison. © 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved

8. Visio 2013 Editions – New or Improved Features  
IMPROVED NEW
Advanced diagramming made simple
Create data-linked diagrams
Use a wizard to link diagrams to data without writing any code
Expanded set of data sources, including Excel, Excel Services, SharePoint lists, SharePoint
Business Connectivity Services, and SQL Server
 
Ability to apply a rich set of data graphics and colors to visualize data  
Ability to save to SharePoint and view diagrams in Visio Services  
No-code dashboards  
Improve process support
Model business rules with standard process notation
Support for Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) 1.2 and 2.0 diagrams  
Option to validate diagrams using built-in and extendable business rules  
Use a powerful platform
Take advantage of enhancements that make Visio a more powerful and complete diagramming tool
New XML-based file format   
Backwards compatibility to open Visio 2000, Visio 2003, Visio 2007, and Visio 2010 files   
Touch support on Windows 7/Windows 8 PCs   
Touch support on virtually any device through Visio Services   
Support for SharePoint Server 2013 workflow  
Availability through Office 365 as a subscription 
Five PC installations per user 
Roaming application—ability to install Visio temporarily on a Windows 7 or Windows 8 PC 
8 Visio edition/version comparison. © 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved

9. Copyright© 2012 Microsoft Corporation

10. Visio 2013 Editions – Stencils
INCLUDED IMPROVED NEW
  
Advanced diagramming made simple
Business
Stencils focused on business and marketing functions
Audit  
Brainstorming  
Cause and Effect  
Charts and Graphs  
EPC (Event-driven Process Chain)  
Fault Tree Analysis  
Marketing Charts and Diagrams  
Organization Chart  
Organization Chart Wizard  
TQM (Total Quality Management)  
ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) 
PivotDiagram 
Six Sigma 
Value Stream Map 
Visio edition/version comparison. © 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved

11. Visio 2013 Editions – Stencils
INCLUDED IMPROVED NEW
  
Advanced diagramming made simple
Engineering
Stencils to design and document engineering systems
Basic Electrical 
Circuits and Logic 
Fluid Power 
Industrial Control Systems 
Part and Assembly Drawing 
Piping and Instrumentation 
Process Flow 
Systems 
Visio edition/version comparison. © 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved

12. Visio 2013 Editions – Stencils
INCLUDED IMPROVED NEW
  
Advanced diagramming made simple
Flowchart
Stencils to design and create flowcharts and workflows, including visually designing SharePoint workflows and
BPMN (Business Process Modeling and Notation) 2.0 diagrams
Basic Flowchart  
Cross-Functional Flowchart  
Work Flow  
Work Flow (3D)1  
BPMN 
IDEF0 (Integration Definition for Process Modeling) 
Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Workflow 
Microsoft SharePoint 2013 Workflow 
SDL (Specification and Description Language) 
General
Multi-purpose stencils, with generic shapes to diagram arbitrary processes and systems
Basic  
Block  
Block with Perspective  
1 – Shapes resemble those in Visio 2010 and earlier.
Visio edition/version comparison. © 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved

13. Visio 2013 Editions – Stencils
INCLUDED IMPROVED NEW
  
Advanced diagramming made simple
Maps and Floor Plans
Stencils that map a system, including floor plans, engineering maps and other types of spatial data
Directional Map  
Directional Map - 3D  
Office Layout  
Electrical and Telecom Plan 
Floor Plan 
Home Plan 
HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) Control Logic 
HVAC Plan 
Plant Layout 
Plumbing and Piping Plan 
Reflected Ceiling Plan 
Security and Access Plan 
Site Plan 
Space Plan 
Visio edition/version comparison. © 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved

14. Visio 2013 Editions – Stencils
INCLUDED IMPROVED NEW
  
Advanced diagramming made simple
Network
Stencils to map your IT network
Basic Network  
Basic Network - 3D1  
Active Directory 
Detailed Network 
Detailed Network - 3D1 
LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) Directory 
Rack 
Schedule
Stencils to help manage schedules
Calendar  
Gantt Chart  
PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) Chart  
Timeline  
1 – Shapes resemble those in Visio 2010 and earlier.
Visio edition/version comparison. © 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved

15. Visio 2013 Editions – Stencils
INCLUDED IMPROVED NEW
  
Advanced diagramming made simple
Software and Database
Stencils to diagram software relationships, including wireframes, UML (Unified Modeling Language) diagrams,
and databases
Chen's Database Notation 
COM (Component Object Model) and OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) 
Conceptual Web Site 
Crow's Foot Database Notation 
Data Flow 
Data Flow Model 
Enterprise Application 
IDEFIX (Integrated Definition for Information Modeling) Database Notation 
Program Structure 
UML Activity 
UML Class 
UML Database Notation 
UML Sequence 
UML State Machine 
UML Use Case 
Web Site Map 
Wireframe Diagram 
Visio edition/version comparison. © 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved

16. Copyright© 2012 Microsoft Corporation

17. Visio Versions – All Features
INCLUDED IMPROVED NEW
  
Advanced diagramming made simple
Create diagrams easily
Create professional and engaging diagrams more easily than ever
Ability to import DWG files into Visio   
New and improved stencils and shapes   
Contextual right-click menus   
Improved search to make it easier to find templates and shapes   
Easy-to-apply themes to create modern diagrams quickly   
Organization chart solution improvements—new styles and ability to import images  
Auto Align and Space  
Ability to insert and delete shapes with connection healing  
Drawing canvas auto size  
Quick shapes area, for easy access to the most frequently used shapes  
Microsoft Office Fluent user interface (UI)—the Ribbon  
Improvements to containers and new container styles  
New start experience to make it easier to find shapes 
Ability to change shape while preserving diagram layout and shape metadata 
Live preview of pre-configured theme style changes through variations 
Shape effect options—shadow, bevel, glow, and others 
Streamlined print preview showing diagram page breaks and pan/zoom capability 
17 Visio edition/version comparison. © 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved

18. Visio Versions – All Features
INCLUDED IMPROVED NEW
  
Advanced diagramming made simple
Collaborate as a team
Work together on a single diagram with your colleagues
Commenting   
Easy diagram sharing through a web browser by saving to SharePoint1  
Commenting through Visio Services1 
Co-authoring—two or more people working on a single diagram at the same time2 
Presence awareness and visibility3 
Create data-linked diagrams
Use a wizard to link diagrams to data without writing any code
Data linking in diagrams   
Ability to refresh data automatically, either on a defined schedule or manually  
Automatic data legend creation, providing a key for applied data graphics  
No-code dashboards  
Expanded set of data sources, including Excel, Excel Services, SharePoint Lists, SharePoint  
Business Connectivity Services, and SQL Server
Ability to apply a rich set of data graphics and colors to visualize data  
Ability to save to SharePoint and view diagrams in Visio Services with data refresh  
1 – Requires Office 365 or SharePoint Server (licensed separately)
2 – Requires Microsoft SkyDrive, Office 365 or SharePoint Server (licensed separately)
3 – Requires Microsoft Lync 2013 or other compliant instant messaging (IM) client
18 Visio edition/version comparison. © 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved

19. Visio Versions – All Features
INCLUDED IMPROVED NEW
  
Advanced diagramming made simple
Improve process support
Model business rules with standard process notation
Option to validate diagrams using built-in and extendable business rules  
Support for Business Process Modeling and Notation (BPMN) 1.2 and 2.0 diagrams
(BPMN 2.0 diagrams only supported in Visio 2013)  
Subprocesses to break complex processes into manageable pieces  
Use a powerful platform
Take advantage of enhancements that make Visio a more powerful and complete diagramming tool
Availability as a perpetual license   
Support for SharePoint Server 2010 workflow  
Easy shape customization  
Backwards compatibility to open Visio 2000, Visio 2003, Visio 2007, and Visio 2010 files  
Integration with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Project) and Microsoft Systems Center   
Touch support on Windows 7/Windows 8 PCs  
New XML-based file format 
Touch support on virtually any device through Visio Services1 
Availability through Office 365 as a subscription 
Roaming application—ability to install Visio temporarily on a Windows 7 or Windows 8 PC2 
Support for SharePoint Server 2013 workflow1 
1 – Require Office 365 or SharePoint Server (licensed separately)
2 – Requires Visio Pro for Office 365
19 Visio edition/version comparison. © 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved