Work with sample diagrams and data

The sample diagrams in Microsoft Office Visio Professional 2007 are a great way to become familiar with some of the program's more advanced features, such as data linking and PivotDiagrams.

Each sample diagram is designed for a specific purpose, such as a project timeline or sales information, and each comes with its own sample data in a Microsoft Office Excel workbook. You can open and edit each sample diagram to see how its features work, and can save the edited diagram. If you also want to edit the sample data, all you have to do is save a copy of the data and reestablish the link between the copied data and the sample drawing.

This topic explains how to open the sample diagrams and save their sample data. For detailed information on how to work with the advanced features introduced in some of the sample diagrams, see the following topics:

• Create a PivotDiagram explains what you can use a PivotDiagram for, how to create one, and how to edit one.

• Import data from Excel, SQL Server, SharePoint sites, and other external sources introduces the data link features that allow you to connect the shapes in your drawing with rows in your worksheet or database table.

• Enhance your data with data graphics covers the wide variety of visual enhancements you can use to display your data clearly, such as conditional formatting, flags, data bars, and text fields.

Step 1. Open a sample diagram

1. On the Help menu, click Sample Diagrams.

2. In the Samples window, click the sample diagram that you want to open.

3. Click Open Diagram on the right side of the window.

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Step 2. Save a copy of the sample data

1. On the Help menu, click Sample Diagrams.

2. In the Samples window, click the sample diagram that has the data you want.

3. Click Open Sample Data on the right side of the window.

   Excel opens with the sample data in a workbook.

4. From the File menu click Save As.

5. Choose a location for the file, such as Desktop.

You can now open your copy of the sample data and edit it.

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Step 3. Link copied data to a sample diagram

Note: The procedure for linking copied data to sample PivotDiagrams is covered in the next section.

1. Open the sample diagram that you want to link the copied data to.

2. On the Data menu, click Refresh Data.

3. In the Refresh Data dialog box, click Configure.

4. In the Configure Refresh dialog box, click Change Data Source.

5. Follow the wizard, using your copy of the data as the data source.

6. After the wizard is complete click OK in the Configure Refresh dialog box, and then click Refresh in the Refresh Data dialog box.

   Tip: Specific help is available for most wizard pages. To access Help, press F1 or click the Help button when the page is open.

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Link copied data to a sample PivotDiagram

How do I determine whether the sample is a PivotDiagram?

On the Help menu, click Sample Diagrams, and in the Samples window, click the sample. A description of the sample appears below its picture on the right side of the window.

1. Open the drawing with the PivotDiagram that you want to link the copied data to.

   Note: If you have more than one PivotDiagram in your drawing you need to repeat this procedure for each PivotDiagram you want to link the copied data to.

2. Select the PivotDiagram shape in your drawing.

3. On the PivotDiagram menu, click Options.

4. In the PivotDiagram Options dialog box, under Data options, click Change Data Source.

5. Follow the wizard, using your copy of the data as the data source.

Tip: Specific help is available for most wizard pages. To access Help, press F1 or click the Help button when the page is open.

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