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Creating Site Plans in Microsoft Visio

A self-paced tutorialby MCFRS Technology Training

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Table of Contents

Introduction and Objectives Lesson 1: Visio Tutorial Lesson 2: Map Guidelines and Examples Lesson 3: GIS Maps Lesson 4: Existing Maps Lesson 5: New Maps Review

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Introduction and Objectives

This tutorial is intended for personnel who have been assigned to create and/or edit site plans in Microsoft Visio.

It is assumed that you are familiar enough with a computer to understand how to access menus, drag objects and scan pictures.

This tutorial is intended to be used with Microsoft Visio 2002.

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Introduction and Objectives

After completing this tutorial you will be able to create a site plan from: Geographic Information System (GIS) Maps An existing (scanned) site plan A new file based on minimal information

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Lesson 1: Visio Tutorial

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Lesson 1: Visio Tutorial

Examining Visio Using stencils Resizing objects Duplicating objects Rotating objects Changing line thickness

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Lesson 1: Examining Visio

Main parts of the Visio screen:

Menus and ToolbarsMenus and Toolbars

Grid and WorkspaceGrid and Workspace

Stencil WindowStencil Window

RulersRulers

Page Tabs and Status BarPage Tabs and Status Bar

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Lesson 1: Examining Visio

Menu and Toolbar breakdown:

Menus (as in other programs) offer all of the program functions and will often offer more options than use of the toolbars.

Toolbars offer quick access to the tools you need most.

Menus and ToolbarsMenus and Toolbars

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Lesson 1: Examining Visio

Visio-specific tools from the Standard Toolbar:Open stencil – access other stencils

Find a shape – access shapes by name

Pointer tool – select objects for editing

Connector tool – draw a line between two objects

Text tool – draw a text box

Rectangle tool – draw a rectangle or ellipse

Line tool – draw a line or

Rotation tool – rotate or crop an object

Zoom – enlarge your view of an object

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Lesson 1: Examining Visio

Rulers: For easier alignment and

measurement, keep your rulers visible.

If they are not visible, they may be seen by the following: Access the View menu. Select Rulers.

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Lesson 1: Examining Visio

Stencil Window Stencils are pre-shaped drawing

tools. Need a school in your map, simply click and drag the school stencil to your grid workspace.

A station mapping group of stencils is available for you to use and it is called PS2000.

Switch from one stencil group to another by clicking the group name (found in a gray bar).

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Lesson 1: Examining Visio

Grid and workspace: Visio offers a grid for

you to use so that your alignment and spatial relations may remain realistic.

Simply click and drag objects wherever they are needed.

The entire page is shown, so do not expect objects placed in the blue area to print.

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Lesson 1: Examining Visio

Page tabs and status bar: Right-click the page tab to add new pages,

delete unwanted pages and rename existing pages.

See the dimensions of a selected object in the status bar. Simply click once on a building, road or other object to see length and width.

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Lesson 1: Examining Visio

To be successful in Visio, you need three things: Patience: The difference between frustration

and fixing something that is one pixel or space out of alignment may just come down to a deep breath.

Practice: No one becomes and expert in any software package without a lot of practice.

Perspective: Use your rulers and other measurement tools to ensure that things measure correctly.

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Lesson 1: Examining Visio

Now that you’ve seen what’s involved in using Visio, it’s time to learn the basics.

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Lesson 1: Using Stencils

Find a stencil you would like to use.

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Lesson 1: Using Stencils

Click and drag a stencil across the page for use.

watch it!

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Lesson 1: Using Stencils

Release your mouse wherever the object is needed.

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Lesson 1: Resizing Objects

Ensure that the object is selected. If you can see the eight green squares (called handles), it has been selected.

Note that selected lines only show two handles instead of eight.

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Lesson 1: Resizing Objects

Click and drag a handle to resize.

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Lesson 1: Using Stencils

Corner dots affect two dimensions.

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Lesson 1: Duplicating Objects

Instead of dragging a stencil to the grid twice, Visio enables you to duplicate an object.

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Lesson 1: Duplicating Objects

Hold down the Ctrl key and drag the object.

watch it!

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Lesson 1: Duplicating Objects

Release both Ctrl and the mouse button.

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Lesson 1: Rotating Objects

Locate and click the rotate tool icon (next to the zoom control on your Standard toolbar).

Notice that the green handles change from squares to dots.

Leave the center dot alone; it is your pivot point.

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Lesson 1: Rotating Objects

Click the rotate tool icon.

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Lesson 1: Rotating Objects

Hover over a green handle, click and drag.

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Lesson 1: Rotating Objects

Release the mouse when the angle is appropriate.

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Lesson 1: Changing Line Thickness

Weight is the computer term for how thick or heavy a line appears. Building footprints, streets and even parking lots have line weights associated with them.

You will now learn how to set/change your line weight.

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Lesson 1: Changing Line Thickness

Access the Road Shapes stencils and drag a road to your file.

Note that your road is an object and has two handles (green squares), making things easy for you to resize the road as needed.

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Lesson 1: Changing Line Thickness

Access the Format menu and select Line.

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Lesson 1: Changing Line Thickness

Click the drop-down menu for Weight.

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Lesson 1: Changing Line Thickness

Select the appropriate weight (5 for streets).

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Lesson 1: Changing Line Thickness

Click the OK button.

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Lesson 2: Guidelines and Examples

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Lesson 2: Guidelines and Examples

The following guidelines should be used on all MCFRS Visio Maps. For future reference these items are listed on the Tech Training Website.

Note: An example of each property will follow.

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Lesson 2: Guidelines and Examples

Line Weights Building Footprints:

Use a solid line with a weight of 13. Streets and Parking Lots:

Use a solid line with a weight of 5. Fences:

Use a pattern line 13 and a line weight of 5.

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Lesson 2: Guidelines and Examples

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Lesson 2: Guidelines and Examples

Fonts Use 12 point Arial font. Apply bold formatting as needed:

House and building numbers Any fire-related information

Minimum building size: e.g. townhouse Note that a five digit house number (still

using 12 point Arial) fits in the building/townhouse footprint.

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Lesson 2: Guidelines and Examples

The following images are examples of the Visio Site plans.

Notice the key items (which you should also use): Access and lack of access Hydrants Fire/Rescue-related items

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Lesson 2: Guidelines and Examples

Visio Site Plan Template

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Lesson 2: Guidelines and Examples

Site Plan Example

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Lesson 2: Guidelines and Examples

Floor Plan Example

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Lesson 2: Guidelines and Examples

Floor Plan Example

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Lesson 3: GIS Maps

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Lesson 3: GIS Maps

The following slides will explain the process of creating a new Site Plan from converted GIS Maps.

From this point on it is understood that you have a general knowledge of MS Visio and simple items (e.g. save, open and close) will not be explained.

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Lesson 3: GIS Maps

Open a New Site Plan Template in Visio. Access the PS2000 folder from your C:

drive. Open the Converted GIS folder and locate

your station:C:\PS 2000\converted gis\sta ## gis.vsd

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Lesson 3: GIS Maps

Find the building or complex that you will be creating.

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Lesson 3: GIS Maps

Zoom in considerably (e.g., 2000% - 3000%).

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Lesson 3: GIS Maps

Press and Hold the Shift key while left clicking the items you wish to select.

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Lesson 3: GIS Maps

Once all items have been selected go to the Shape menu and select Grouping >> Group.

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Lesson 3: GIS Maps

Copy and Paste the grouping/site or complex to the Template you opened in Visio. Notice that your pasted map is very small. Zoom in to the site and then click and drag

a corner to enlarge the site plan.

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Lesson 3: GIS Maps Example

Before EnlargingBefore Enlarging After EnlargingAfter Enlarging

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Lesson 3: GIS Maps

Finish your site plan now once you have resized your complex.

Remember the drawing guide and add or delete any necessary fire-related items to the site plan from the PS2000 stencil.

Use Visio’s extensive stencil library. Save as often as you prefer not to have to

redo whatever tasks you have just accomplished.

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Lesson 3: GIS Maps Practice

Open a new site plan template. Open the converted GIS maps, locate FS31

and open this file. Locate the PSTA. Select only the engine bay and parking lot. Copy and paste this to your site plan

template. Add the AS connection, doors and any other

fire-related items, based upon your knowledge of the PSTA.

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Lesson 4: Existing Maps

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Lesson 4: Existing Maps

You will now be creating a new site plan from an existing one.

First, you must know how to scan. If you do not know how to scan seek help from someone in the firehouse that does. Alternatively, you can contact the MCFRS IT HelpDesk for information.

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Lesson 4: Existing Maps

The following are recommended settings to use when scanning the existing map. Keep the final scan area no larger than 8.5

x 11.0 inches. Choose File as destination.

Create a Scanned Station ## Map Folder on the Desktop.

Consider optional adjustments Output Type: Select Best Color Photograph Output Size: Use Original Size

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Lesson 4: Existing Maps

(Scanning continued) Press Save Scan Now.

Select the following format:JPEG File Interchange Format (*.jpg or *.jpeg)

Create a name for the scanned map. Use the existing map number or complex name.

Click the Save button.

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Lesson 4: Existing Maps

Start a new Site Plan Template in Visio now that you have a scanned map.

Open the Scanned Maps folder and select the map to be recreated.

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Lesson 4: Existing Maps Example

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Lesson 4: Existing Maps

Adjust the scanned map over the template.

Zoom in to the site or complex and trace the building footprints and parking lots with the recommended lines.

Apply other stencils as needed.

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Lesson 4: Existing Maps Example

Note the tracing of buildings and parking lots:

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Lesson 4: Existing Maps

Click on the scanned map and delete it once you have added all the buildings, parking lots, fences, etc.

Add new stencils as needed.

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Lesson 4: Existing Maps Example

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Lesson 5: New Maps

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Lesson 5: New Maps

In the event that you are unable to scan a map at this time, you may create a new site plan with Visio using the information you have and the tools the application provides for you.

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Lesson 5: New Maps

Open a Site Plan Template. Access more stencil libraries to help you

with creating your site plans. Basic shapes Road shapes Landmark shapes And more...

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Lesson 5: New Maps

The townhouse complex below was drawn from memory. It is possible to create great site plans with no traceable image. It just takes practice.

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Review

Now that you have experienced Visio mapping first-hand, it is time to apply what you have learned.

Return to Visio and create a site plan from each of the following for your station: Geographic Information System (GIS) Map An existing (scanned) site plan A new file based on minimal information

Contact Tony Cochran (station 21) or the MCFRS IT HelpDesk if you have questions or concerns.

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