Create table / grid in a Wireframe Visio 2010 diagram

Question

I'm loving the added Wireframe template and corresponding shapes in Visio 2010. One thing I can't seem to find though (not in Visio, Office help or using Google) is a good way to draw tabular controls.

The only built-in shape that comes close is a List Box of which I can link several together. However this has several disadvantages as this leaves me without "rows" in my table.

Does anyone have a good suggestion on how to do this? I'd prefer a shape that is aware of the Visio2010 'theme' stuff, but at this point any quick way to draw a grid in a wireframe would be much appreciated.

PS. Searching for shapes on "table" gives me lovely picnic-table-shapes but no usable grids. Searching for "grid" gives me one or two shapes which aren't particularly helpful either.

Answer 1

I find Excel a good way to manage grids in Visio. You can easily add and remove columns, manage formating etc.

In Visio 2010 go to Insert -> Object -> Microsoft Excel Worksheet.

Answer 2

Is was looking for the same and found a way: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/visio-help/using-shapes-to-create-tables-in-visio-HA001182242.aspx

So you have to search in the stencils "Charting shapes" to find the grid. Still not that intuitive to work with, but will do.

Answer 3

Insert->Shapes->More Shapes->Charting Shapes->Grid

Answer 4

If we are looking for Visio Stencils for Grid/Table, a great resource can be downloaded here: http://developer.yahoo.com/ypatterns/about/stencils/

Answer 5

Too bad no one had a solution. I'll mark this response as an answer to my own question then.

The answer to my problem (for so far I could find) in fact then seems to be that you have to work around this omission in Visio by either:

• using linked "List box" shapes
• use one of the (rather crappy) table shapes you can search for and find online
• use a screenshot (or something alike) from another program

If anyone ever lands at this question with a better workaround or even a real solution please be sure to add it.

Answer 6

I use Visio to design wireframes. When I need datagrids or tabular data, I end up using Excel to design a grid with some data and formatting (fonts, size, border, etc.) Then I select the grid in Excel, copy it to clipboard and then Paste Special in Visio and select Image. Not perfect but works for me.

Answer 7

Create the desired table in Excel. Simply copy and paste special as Microsoft Excel Worksheet, and you can then click into it and do whatever you want.

Tip: Color your grid before copying it so that you don't see the Visio gridlines. Looks much nicer on-screen!