Visio Stencils

Version21, ORM2_Draw2 Visio stencil and templates

Andy Carver — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:36:01 GMT

Version 21 adds a macro that can update all the fact type and object type shapes in a (possibly earlier-version) ORM2_Draw2 diagram that is copied into an ORM2_Draw2v21 document. This will suffice to allow use of the latest macros, as well as the latest fact-type and object-type features, in any earlier-version models. As of version 17, there are also a discussion of how to get Visio 2007 and 2010 to enable macros automatically that are in Visio solutions or documents in specific folders on your computer, and a discussion of how to install the solution in Visio 2010.

The ORM2_Draw2 Visio stencil for ORM diagrams is an updating and upgrading of the ORM2_Draw Visio stencil which itself resulted from ORM stencil development by various people, including Peter Ritson, Terry Halpin, and Andy Carver. It is an updating in that it updates (for Visio 11, 12, and ff.) the Table shape, and includes the deontic constraints and value-comparison constraints. It is an upgrading in that it adds built-in shadowing (for fact types and object types), built-in text-arrows (for fact types), built-in constraint-connectors, and some adjustable-arity fact types, as well as several relatively minor upgrades and fixes, including internal and external frequency constraints. Since version 1, many other improvements have been added (see the readme file).

Version 1's stencil (.vss) and template (.vst) files were created, based on ORM2_Draw, during the Winter of 2008-9, by Andy Carver with the help and supervision of Dr. Terry Halpin. The files have been tested and used pretty extensively in both Visio 10 and Visio 12. A readme.txt file is included.

Latest ReadMe text-file date: 28 December 2011.

Version20, ORM2_Draw2 Visio stencil and templates

Andy Carver — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 07:53:48 GMT

Version 20 corrects a glitch, from v18, regarding the arity-changeability of the unary fact type shape. It also includes instructions on how easiest to upgrade a Visio drawing that used the template for v17 or later, to a later version's stencil and shapes (it is not sufficient simply to open, and start using, the later-version stencil). Also new, as of version 17, are a discussion of how to get Visio 2007 and 2010 to enable macros automatically that are in Visio solutions or documents in specific folders on your computer, and a discussion of how to install the solution in Visio 2010.

Latest ReadMe text-file date: 7 December 2011.

Version19 and later are on the next page!! -->...

Andy Carver — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 07:37:31 GMT

...So, come visit us on page 3!!

Version19, ORM2_Draw2 Visio stencil and templates

Andy Carver — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:04:49 GMT

Version 19 implements the objectification-symbol for regular-entity-type shapes that are being used as shape-instances of a nested entity type appearing elsewhere in the diagram. (This objectification-symbol is implemented also in the NORMA tool). The symbol can be invoked from the entity type's context menu; but it is also now set (or un-set) automatically, for all entity types, by the shadow-setting macro (available also thru the shape's context menu: see v14). Also new, as of version 17, are a discussion of how to get Visio 2007 and 2010 to enable macros automatically that are in Visio solutions or documents in specific folders on your computer, and a discussion of how to install the solution in Visio 2010.

Latest ReadMe text-file date: 1 December 2011.

Version18, ORM2_Draw2 Visio stencil and templates

Andy Carver — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 03:49:06 GMT

Version 18 adds insertion or removal of a role at any position, in any fact type, via the roles' context menus (works only in Visio 2003 or later). Version 18 also fixes a bug from version 17, updating the O.T.-shadow-setting macro to support the new, objectified-quaternary shape. Also new, as of version 17, are a discussion of how to get Visio 2007 and 2010 to enable macros automatically that are in Visio solutions or documents in specific folders on your computer, and a discussion of how to install the solution in Visio 2010.

Latest ReadMe text-file date: 23 November 2011.

Version17, ORM2_Draw2 Visio stencil and templates

Andy Carver — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:03:04 GMT

Version 17 adds fact-type objectification (nesting), and un-nesting of entity types, via their context menus; a new, objectified quaternary shape; an improved adjustable-arity nested fact type shape; and a more flexible frequency constraint shape, useable also as a connected note. Also new are a discussion of how to get Visio 2007 and 2010 to enable macros automatically in Visio solutions or documents in specific folders, and of how to install the solution in Visio 2010.

Latest ReadMe text-file date: 11 October 2011.

Version16, ORM2_Draw2 Visio stencil and templates

Andy Carver — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 12:21:04 GMT

Version 16 extends the nicer automatic text-positioning to include the name-text of nested entity types; disables rotation on non-nested object types; and moves the pin (rotation-point) on adjustable fact-type shapes to the fact types' normal, midpoint position. The readme.txt file for version 16 adds a fuller list of the rules followed by the macro in identifying duplicated object-type shapes. As of versions 3 and 9, the readme file also includes new, better discussions of stencil version management, and of installation details.

Latest ReadMe text-file date: 7 September 2011.

Version15, ORM2_Draw2 Visio stencil and templates

Andy Carver — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:21:54 GMT

Version 15 adds nicer automatic positioning of the predicate text upon rotation of a fact type: the text never overlaps the fact-type shape; adds fact-type and object-type rotation in 90-degree increments, when rotating them via their rotation handle(s) (thanks to Dr. Roger Cass for both these great ideas!); and improves the text-parsing code used by the shadow-setting macro, making it more robust. As of versions 3 and 9, the readme file also includes new, better discussions of stencil version management, and of installation details.

Latest ReadMe text-file date: 1 September 2011.

Version10 and later are on the next page! ..... -->

Andy Carver — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 05:24:51 GMT

... so please check out page 2! :-)

Version14, ORM2_Draw2 Visio stencil and templates

Andy Carver — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 16:35:17 GMT

Version 14 adds a Visual Basic macro (user-run) for setting the object-type shapes' shadows, and which also does a fair amount of model-checking along the way; automatic management of the appearance and hiding of the text arrows, as you rotate or flip a fact type; and removal of the possibility of accidental, manual rotation of the fact-type text -- and of inadvertently breaking thereby the automation of that fact type's text-angle adjustment. As of versions 3 and 9, the readme file also includes new, better discussions of stencil version management, and of installation details.

Latest ReadMe text-file date: 22 August 2011.

Version13, ORM2_Draw2 Visio stencil and templates

Andy Carver — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 11:25:11 GMT

Version 13 adds easy conversion from value type to entity type and vice versa; and automatic adjustment of the predicate text angle, when you rotate a fact type. As of versions 3 and 9, the readme file also includes new, better discussions of stencil version management, and of installation details.

Latest ReadMe text-file date: 8 July 2011.

Version12, ORM2_Draw2 Visio stencil and templates

Andy Carver — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 06:23:08 GMT

Version 12 overhauls the ring constraint section, increasing the number of ring constraint shapes to 26 -- thus supporting all the combinations that make logical sense, and that are currently supported by the NORMA tool; fixes a glitch with the connection points on the new link binaries; strengthens the internal structure of the fact type shapes; and makes minor improvements to the context menus of all the constraint shapes. As of versions 3 and 9, the readme file also includes new, better discussions of stencil version management, and of installation details.

Latest ReadMe text-file date: 1 July 2011.

Version11, ORM2_Draw2 Visio stencil and templates

Andy Carver — Sat, 07 May 2011 12:55:23 GMT

Version 11 adds "link" binary fact type shapes (on which, see Halpin, T. and Morgan, T., INFORMATION MODELING AND RELATIONAL DATABASES, 2d ed., Morgan-Kaufmann, 2008, pp. 440 and ff., and/or see the enclosed readme file); improves users' ability to color fact type and role shapes; improves use of the template's macro that brings some shapes "to front" when manipulated; and moves the initial position of the deontic "o" on internal uniqueness constraints, to the end that is standard in ORM 2. As of versions 3 and 9, the readme file also includes new, better discussions of stencil version management, and of installation details.

Latest ReadMe text-file date: 9 May 2011.

Version10, ORM2_Draw2 Visio stencil and templates

Andy Carver — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:50:31 GMT

Version 10 provides easy convertibility between preferred-identifier and non-preferred-identifier uniqueness constraints. As of versions 3 and 9, the readme file also includes new, better discussions of stencil version management, and of installation details.

Latest ReadMe text-file date: 22 Apr. 2010.

Version 9, ORM2_Draw2 Visio stencil and templates

Andy Carver — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:10:20 GMT

Version 9 fixes an issue with fact type text-arrows getting disconnected from the predicate text in certain situations in Visio 12. As of version 3, the readme file also includes a new, better discussion of stencil version management, and of installation details.

Latest ReadMe text-file date: 07 Mar. 2010. (Clarified further the installation-filepath needed for Visio 12. Also corrected a minor typo.)