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 Software : Microsoft Visio Professional 2002 |
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Rating:  - Java support in the UML Diagrams
You could easily create any data type for any programming language. Just read the online help.
1. Open the UML diagram file that represents your system.
2. Right-click the UML System icon in the tree view, click Packages, and then click New.
3. In the Package column, type a name for the data types package (for example, Java Data Types), type or choose other package properties, and then click OK.
4. Right-click the new package, then click New, and then click Datatype.
5. Type a name for the data type, type or choose the other properties you want, and then click OK.
An icon for the new data type is added below the package in the tree view.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you have added all the data types you need.
7. If you want the new data types to appear in each new system model you create, save the file as a template. In the Save As dialog box, for Save As Type, choose Template (*.vst). Open this template when you start a new model.
Rating:  - No Java support in the UML Diagrams .... WT%*#^!
One would hope that a company with Microsoft's resources could produce a piece of working software and Visio does work. However, excluding Java from UML diagrams is such an outrageous affront to half the programming community that it's a 1 for me.
Rating: - No Java support
I didn't choose Visio as my modelling software, I was compelled by the corporate standards at my place of employment. That said, I freely admit that this software is one of the better packages available for sale.
As every programmer knows, all software design starts with requirements. Requirements are determined by defining your users and identifying business constraints. Business requirements are then fulfilled by implementing "features". Therefore given a piece of software, one could derive via the provided featureset who the intended "users" are, and what requirements this software is intended to fulfil. For purely academic purposes I have done a short analysis of Visio in this manner while assuming myself as the user. I will also attempt to identify other users based on the featureset. For the sake of brevity, I will limit myself to the most prominent Visio features in my daily work.
I am a Java programmer, and I rarely foray into the world of Microsoft Visual Basic, C++, .NET anything, or GDI/DirectX. So basically, I need UML support, and some basic OO types to play around with to be happy. The first thing I as a Java programmer notice about Visio is that there are no Java types, and as far as I can tell, no way to add them. However, I do have the option to choose from Microsoft Visual Basic types, Microsoft C# types, C++ types, or Microsoft IDL types.
And there it ends. De facto I have been disqualified from the list of intended users. Who was this software intended for? What features does it provide them?
I have determined two users: Programmers on strictly Microsoft-only platforms; and Microsoft itself. How can Microsoft be a "user?" They are providing the software, aren't they? I think we can show that Microsoft itself is a user of the software because built into Visio are features that are to the sole benefit of Microsoft. Who benefits from the exclusion of non-Microsoft programming language types in an ostensibly "programmer-oriented" tool? Sure, Microsoft programmers benefit from the inclusion of those types, but Microsoft itself benefits from the exclusion of others. The feature is making it that much harder for the rest of us to use anything non-Microsoft.
Now, I sat down and looked through the Visio sales literature, and I didn't see anything that said this product was only for developers for the Microsoft platform. On the featureset, I didn't see a bullet-point labelled "bolster illegal monopoly power". There's no box that says "If you use Java, don't bother."
This product is advertized as a general purpose software design tool. I am neither provided with general purpose language types or a way to add them. I am sure that if I were working at a Microsoft shop, I would be happy with Visio. I can tell from attempting to use it daily that had I been developing for .NET, I could do a lot of things that instead I have to work around. Those features have become useless to me. I will not give "stars" to features not provided or not available, and I especially will not gives "stars" to features that benefit the vendor at my expense. And that is why I rate this product:
NO STARS.
Rating: - De facto standard for drawing pro diagrams in no time!
As a Project Manager in charge of diverse areas, ranging from software development responsibilities to administration of a production area, I've found this tool to be of extreme use since day one. This application allows to draw on a "white" canvas diagrams in ways that exceed any other tool in the market, including flowcharts, floor plans, office layouts, network diagrams, database ORMs, organization charts, etc. You name it and the software comes with a template of standard shapes for you to drag and drop, unite with arrows/lines as needed, and put out a professional-looking diagram in a matter of minutes (you need to put in the brainwork, no discussion about that, of course!)
If you are going to compare Visio with anything else, the "closest" thing would be the very limited charting capabilities offered by PowerPoint (no wonder Microsoft acquired the company that created Visio!) This is no substitute (never was meant to be) for Adobe Illustrator or any similar graphics program. Hands down, without a doubt, this is the de facto standard for drawing professional diagrams of all types in no time!
Rating:  - A True solution for Visual Communication
I recently upgraded to this new version of Visio and I'm very much pleased with its intuitive user interface that provides an array of tools for presenting information visually. Whether its an Office layout or computer network, Visio 2002, bridges the gap when it comes to defining how data is understood and interpreted in different scenarios. The update to this application has adapted most of the common elements of Microsoft Office, which makes it very easy to learn and share among other Office applications. Integration with Word and PowerPoint is flawless. The shapes are many and satisfactory to build that particular diagram. Simple drag and drop adds to the simplicity of the program. Visio 2002 does have some drawbacks though, this includes the consistency in terms of the components of the application with other Office applications. For instance, the WordArt gallery is actually the old type and not the new one with the more inviting colourful WordArt you are probably accustomed to using in Microsoft Word or PowerPoint. The application still needs to improve on how the user can manuvre connectors if they are building networks. Visio 2002 Professional is very flexible, I even use it to create flyers and time lines that are usually used in Project management. It provides a comprehensive set of tools to make diagraming an essential tool in most IT work spaces, for the average user though forking out the amount for this product may not be recommended, but with the array of tools it provides, it is truly a solution for any organization.
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