Visions.eZine - For Visio Users
Visions.eZine Web site

26 January, 2000: Vol. 2 No. 2

Top of the News:

New Viruses Target Visio Drawings

On 21 January, a programmer submitted a "proof of concept" virus to several anti-virus companies. The virus was written in VBA. It was written to show that Visio drawings are not immune to viruses -- just as macro-enabled Word documents have become the most common source of computer virus infections. (Of the half-dozen viruses that have shown up on my computer in the last year, four were transmitted via corporate press releases sent as Microsoft Word documents; two other viruses were email attachments.)
     The Visio virus infects VS* files with VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) in the same way that Word documents are infected. Explains Computer Associates: "Macro viruses in the MS Office suite are able to spread by intercepting particular keys, menu items, auto-macros, and events (such as Auto-Open and Auto-Close). VBA provides viruses with all the functionality and access necessary to copy macro code from one document to another."

Interestingly enough, two different anti-virus companies each declared they were the first to discover the first instance of a Visio virus. Last Friday, the headlines of their press releases read:

I am guessing the virus author had some fun by sending a different virus to each anti-virus firm. Symantec also received a Visio virus, but chose not to publicize it, since the virus was "in the zoo" (exists only in virus and anti-virus labs), rather than "in the wild" (is contaminating users' files). Symantec told me the press releases from their competitors are "pretty much marketing hype that [they are] engaging in, in order to help sell their software.
     "Symantec generally does not send out press releases regarding Zoo viruses. We feel it is not appropriate to 'hype' a Zoo virus in this manner. The fact is that many Zoo viruses are never, ever placed into circulation. These viruses thus never end up posing any real threat, as no one ever gets them.
     "Symantec will also be updating our virus definitions file for the Norton AntiVirus for this new virus. Symantec recommends that our customers update the virus list in their software (no matter the brand) at least twice a month in order to maintain a good level of protection."
     I spent Tuesday morning searching other anti-viral Web sites, but they appeared to contain no information on the new Visio viruses.

Feature:

How the Viruses Work

McAfee calls the virus "V5M/Unstable" because it works with Visio 5; is a macro virus; and displays phrases that include the word "unstable." It has variants called "V2KM/Unstable", "Visio2000.Unstable", and "Visio2k.Unstable" that work with Visio 2000.
     The virus can lurk in VST (template), VSS (stencil) and VSD (drawing) files. It is activated when you open an infected Visio document...

You can read the complete feature article at http://www.upfrontezine.com/visions/articles/a-v02n02.htm  , which describes both viruses in detail, and includes comments from Visio, withlinks to related Web sites.

IntelliCAD for Linux

Last fall, Risto Saarikko and Surya Sarda began promoting a version of IntelliCAD for the open-source Linux operating system. They had set up a survey site to ask if users were interested in such a product. I recently asked Risto how the effort was coming along:

"Surya says the survey results are promising. I don't know if that translates into affirmative action, though. I'm going to wait for the IntelliCAD 2000 release for Windows, and see if they accomplish any notable changes versus the Icad98 version.
     "I'm starting to see more AutoCAD solids coming my way, and I've alerted the Icad group to that effect. If they don't plug in solids soon, or at least spiff up the surface modeling tools, I think they'll lose a few followers, including myself -- Linux or not.
     "I've played with Linux for about six years and have come to appreciate some of the very useful but somewhat cryptic Unix tools. They say there's sort of a Zen to it. It seems that way."

News of the Visio World

A free DWG viewer has been developed by the new Piping department of TRACE Software, a French CAD developer. You can view 12 drawings per page, zoom one of them without AutoCAD, and deal with AutoCAD with a drag'n drop operation like your Windows Explorer does. The only limitation is that, based on OpenDWG, is unable to view ACIS entities. This tool can be downloaded and used for free, after leaving your name, at the following addresses:
http://www.trace-software.com (English)
http://www.trace.fr (French)

The Business Software Alliance announced that reports of software piracy to its anti-piracy hotline increased by 35% in 1999 due to BSA's new Worker Bee campaign. Visio and Microsoft are members of BSA.

The Infortel suite of voice enterprise telemanagement products from ISI has new features that include IP Telephony Management and Web Reporting and Directory. ISI says their Infortel-CMS cable management software is the only product that offers optional integration with Visio and AutoCAD to offer more ways of accessing cable data.
http://www.isi-info.com

E-business services firm Event Zero announced the completion of US$13.75 million in a first round of financing. Led by Shawmut Capital Partners with investments from Trident Capital, Integral Capital Partners, Sparkventures and other select investors. The funding will be used to fuel growth as it opens offices in leading technology markets and expands its service offerings. Past venture investments of  Integral Capital Partners include Visio.
http://www.eventzero.com
http://www.integralcapital.com

Computer News Summaries

Microsoft yesterday again revised its long-term plans for its consumer operating system (currently Windows 98). According to CNET, "until recently, Microsoft planned to introduce in 2001 a consumer version of Windows code-named 'Neptune' [a Windows NT-based consumer operating system]. That initiative has been combined with another, vaguer, project known as 'Odyssey' [another NT-based operating system] and the combined development effort will be known by the code-name 'Whistler' [a speech-to-text translator project]."
     Windows 98 was supposed to be the last DOS-based operating system for consumer. A third version of Windows 98, named 'Millennium,' is due out in the second half of 2000. Future versions of  Windows for consumers will be based on Windows NT (now renamed Windows 2000).

A federal judge has placed restrictions on how Microsoft can use Java. The judge made his ruling on the basis that this was a contract dispute between Sun and Microsoft.
      A lawyer for Sun said, "As we have said from the start of this case, Microsoft's misconduct with respect to Sun's Java technology has harmed competition, as well as those who use and rely on the Java technology." Sun began its lawsuit against Microsoft in October, 1997. The effect on Microsoft is that its Visual J++ product has been frozen for 14 months, and is based on Java v1.1. The latest version of Java is 2.0.

Visio Tips

Tip #8: Importing LT Drawings into Visio

Q: At our firm, we use AutoCAD LT, of which the majority of our floor plans are currently located. Some of use also use Visio 4.0, but are not proficient; it is being used because it can be Fox Pro.
 From what I understand, Visio Technical can import AutoCAD files. If this is the case, then a lot of time can be saved by not having to redraw these. My questions then are:
1) Can Visio 4.0 read Visio Tech files?
2) Can Access utilize Visio?
3) From what I have told you do you think we can get by with Visio 4.0?
     -- Brian Miner

A: Can Visio 4.0 read Visio Tech files? Yes. All versions of Visio (Standard, Technical, Professional, and Enterprise) can read each other's files of the same version. Visio 4.0 cannot directly read files created by Visio 5.0. Instead, you need to use Visio 5.0 to save the drawing in v4 format. Some data, however, may be lost.
 The situation of having AutoCAD drawings in Visio Technical is not simple. There are two ways you can display an AutoCAD drawing:
(1) actually translate AutoCAD drawing entities into Visio entities.
(2) import an image of the AutoCAD drawing. The drawing is uneditable, but you can place Visio shapes overtop the AutoCAD drawing.

Can Access utilize Visio? Yes, Visio can link with ODBC databases, such as Access.

From what I have told you do you think we can get by with Visio 4.0? I would recommend upgrading to Visio Technical 2000 since it has a vastly improved ability to import AutoCAD drawings, and I find it much easier to use than earlier versions of Visio.
 

Tip #9: Creating and Saving Custom Shapes

Q: I am trying to create custom shapes and save them for future use. How does one go about this? I've tried using Shape Explorer, and even manually creating them within the drawing, but I can't seem to find where to save them.
     - Mike Walsh

A: To create a new stencil:

    1. From the menu bar, select File | Stencils | Blank Stencil. Notice that Visio opens a blank stencil (the green window).
    2. Create your shapes and drag them into the stencil. When in a stencil, the shape is called a "master."
    3. You can right-click the master to change its properties, such as give it a different name, edit the icon, and even edit the master itself.
    4. When done creating masters, save the stencil with File | Save As, and give the stencil file (VSS) a name.

You can now open the stencil like any other. The tricky part is when you want to open the stencil to add more masters. Visio normally opens the stencil as read-only, which means you cannot add masters. Here's what to do:
    From the menu bar, select File | Stencils | Open Stencil. Select the VSS file; in the dialog box, notice the Open section: select either Original or Copy to open the original VSS file or make to work with a copy of the VSS file.
 

Tip #10: Assigning Spacing Attributes

Q: If I can indeed save these shapes for future use, can I assign them spacing attributes? I am trying to create a flooring panel that is a component of a low profile, raised floor for data, power, and telephony cabling. When I put the panel down in Visio, I would like it to automatically space the next panel put down to create this same cable trench.
     - Mike Walsh

A: You can space the panels in Visio via the alignment box. Here is an example:
     Draw a circle. Notice that the circle is surrounded by a dotted square. This is the alignment box. While it usually encompasses the shape, it need not. You can make the alignment box larger than the shape, which gives you the spacing you are looking for.
     How to change the alignment box? This gets a bit tricky, since you have to edit the ShapeSheet. To see the ShapeSheet, select from the menu Window | Show ShapeSheet. The geometry of the circle is defined in the Geometry 1 section, while the alignment box is defined in the Shape Transform section. You need to work out the math to make the spacing.
     There are alternative methods. In the Tools menu, check out the following items:
* Align shapes
* Distribute shapes
* Layout shapes
* Connect shapes
* Array shapes
 

Tip #11: Calculating the Number of Components

Q: This one's a real big IF: if I am able to create and save all these components of the flooring, can Visio be automated to the point of calculating the amount of components needed? Can I simply click within this space and have Visio both layout the components and tally how many of each were needed for the installation?
     - Mike Walsh

A: You can try the Property Reporting Wizard to calculate the quantity of components. You find this in Tools | Macros | Visio Extras | Property Reporting Wizard.
 Visio Technical has additional tools that might be useful to you. Or, if necessary, a VBA program might have to be written.
 

Puzzled about Visio? Got an idea on how to make Visio work better? Send your questions and tips to ralphg@xyzpress.com .

Brand New Visio Book

Now available in bookstores is editor Ralph Grabowski's latest edition of Learn Visio 2000 (US$29.95). This new edition is suitable for new users of all editions of Visio 2000: Standard, Technical, Professional, and Enterprise. The module-based approach allows you to start reading anywhere; each module include step-by-step tutorials. Available for online purchase from here.

Conferences

CeBit 2000, the world's largest computer show, will be held in Hannover, Germany on Feb 24 - March 1st, 2000.

A workshop on Evaluating Collaborative Enterprises, June 14-16, 2000 at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg MD, USA. The workshop is part of the IEEE 9th Intl. Workshops on Enabling Technologies: Infrastructure for Collaborative Enterprises.

The first International Conference on Axiomatic Design to be held in Cambridge MA, USA, in June. Details can be found at http://axiom.mit.edu/icad2000/.

Letters to the Editor

If you have any friends over there [at Visio], please try to persuade them to establish support for the "Steel and Aluminum Shapes Stencil" found in the Mechanical Engineering Section of 5.0. It was left out of 2000 and also will not work in 2000 when retrieving it from 5.0. This is an extremely important feature for structural users!
     - Steve Wise

The editor replies: "Some Visio employees read this e-newsletter, so we'll see if there is a reaction to your request."

Contact!

All contents copyright 2000 by XYZ Publishing, Ltd. Inc., and all rights are reserved. No material may be reproduced electronically or in print without written permission from XYZ Publishing, 34486 Donlyn Avenue Abbotsford BC, V2S 4W7, Canada, unless otherwise noted.