Using Microsoft Visio (VISIO) to create room diagrams for your Facility… “THE BASICS” Using Microsoft Visio (VISIO) to create room diagrams for your Facility… “THE BASICS” Shared by David Shaw Assistant Director for Student Activities Facilities University of Louisville

I was looking for an inexpensive and practical way to create room diagrams. I had used MS Visio to create organizational charts I decided to try my hand at creating room diagrams How did I get here today?

I asked many colleagues if they had tried using Visio to create room diagrams Most did not know what Visio was… let alone what it was capable of… At that point I made up my mind to share the little that I knew with you in 2008 At the 2007 ACUI Conference In Atlanta

Measure the dimensions of the room Basic Layout = empty room Begin layout with the walls Add doors and windows Include non-movable features Creating a Room Template

What scale size? How much detail? Who will be using the drawings? Accuracy – the smaller the room… the more important Create a Key for symbols Things to consider…

Create the Base Room Template

Go to “Edit” and then “Select All” Go to “Format” and then select “Protection” Many choices here… I usually select… “Aspect ratio” & “From deletion” Selections can always be undone! Protect Your Templates From Unintentional Changes

Sample Room Template

Sample Room Dimensions

Sample Room Electrical

Sample Event Layout

Close-up of Layout

Doors & Windows Projection Screen Dry Erase Boards Chalk Boards Bulletin Boards Thermostat Duress Alarms Types of Room Details (non-movable) Microphone Jacks Power Outlets Data Ports PC connections Data Projector Light Switches Other ???

Chairs Tables Podium / Lectern Audio / Video Staging / Stairs Staffing Positions Bus Trays Types of Furniture / Details (movable) Movable Partitions Portable Projection Screen Pipe & Drape Trash Cans Lounge Furniture Plants & Flowers Other ??

48” Round SICO with 6 to 4 chairs 60” Round Palmer Snyder Woody with 10 to 6 chairs 8’ x 30” Virco Gator with 10 to 6 chairs 6’ x 30” Mity Lite with 10 to 6 chairs You Can Create Table / Chair Clusters

Sample Event Layout

Let’s Create This Room On Visio - Together Measure the dimensions of the room Basic Layout = empty room Begin layout with the walls Add doors and windows Include non-movable features

Doors & Windows Projection Screen Dry Erase Boards Chalk Boards Bulletin Boards Thermostat Duress Alarms Types of Room Details (non-movable) Microphone Jacks Power Outlets Data Ports PC connections Data Projector Light Switches Other ???

Chairs Tables Podium / Lectern Audio / Video Staging / Stairs Staffing Positions Bus Trays Types of Furniture / Details (movable) Movable Partitions Portable Projection Screen Pipe & Drape Trash Cans Lounge Furniture Plants & Flowers Other ??

The Beginning Steps in VISIO Open Visio Select “File” then “New” Choose Drawing Type… “Building Plan” “Floor Plan (US Units)” Under “Shapes” Under “Walls, Shell and Structure (US Units) – Select “Room” Drag “Room” onto the Desktop

Continued - Steps in VISIO Note: the markings on the rulers and drag the corner of the room until “Room” is close to it’s actual size This is when you want to adjust the scale of the room so that it fits well on your page Select “File” then “Page Setup” Select “Drawing Scale” Tab “Pre-Defined Scale” as Architectural Select appropriate scale… (i.e. ¼”=1’ 0”) Drag a door onto the room and orientate it properly Zoom in on the size of room and locate door. Adjust door size and placement

Continued - Steps in VISIO Adjust the walls so that they are exact Add room details Lock the template and save it as a unique name Add furniture / shapes Have fun trying different things

Creating and Working with Shapes Under “Shapes” Under “Search for Shapes” Type items you are searching for (i.e. tables, chairs) Select and drag Item onto the desktop You can use guide lines to create straight rows If you create a shape with multiple parts (i.e. tables and chairs) lock the grouping & aspect

Continued: Creating and Working with Shapes Under “Shapes” Save your favorites as My Shapes Default location for favorites is: “C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\My Shapes ”

Now Let’s Work In MS Visio to Create this Room Together

Helpful Links Search …Visio 2003 Sample: 20 Sample Diagrams While using Visio… Search Office Online for “Event Planner” This lists sites of hard to find Visio stencils, Visio templates and Visio drawings that have been found on the web ranging from free to thousands of dollars. Search for… “Create an office layout” Search for… “Create a floor plan ”

Using Microsoft Visio (VISIO) to create room diagrams for your Facility… “THE BASICS” Using Microsoft Visio (VISIO) to create room diagrams for your Facility… “THE BASICS” Shared by David Shaw Assistant Director for Student Activities Facilities University of Louisville