Visio BackSync

This add-in uses Visio data-binding infrastructure, and allows you to update the data in the external source from Visio (back-synchronize). There are limitations of course, but basically it supports any type of data source which support update (including Excel files, databases, and SharePoint lists).

In addition to this basic functionality, the addin also provides an option to synchronize shape text, and shape properties other than those in the Shape Data section (like position, width, fill/border color, etc).

The Addin is built on top of Visio shape data support; means, it is compatible with existing data you may have already connected. But it will allow you to push data back to the source in a controlled manner. Before applying the modifications to either data source or diagram, the Addin can show preview of the changes it’s going to make, so that you can review them and for example decide to skip some, or do something else for some. Simultaneous editing of the same data in Excel and Visio for example, should not be a problem (i.e. you can keep Excel file opened, and refresh data forward and backward in that file from Visio)

Downloading and installing

You can and install the add-in from this site:

Features

• Bidirectional data synchronization in Visio (create/update/delete) with external data sources
• Integration into Visio using existing data binding (using the built-in Visio interface and wizards)
• Preview of actions to be applied with possibility to control them (exclude/revert/modify actions to be applied during synchronization)
• Support for shape text synchronization
• Easy to configure synchronization with standard Shape Report
• Support for custom attribute (shape sheet cells) synchronization, such as position, size, color, user cells of the shape
• Automatic set up of custom attribute synchronization (user changes, such as moving/resizing/etc shapes are automatically applied to data)
• Most Visio data types are supported (string, number, bool, date, currency, list)

See it in action

This video briefly demonstrates the main features of the add-in:

How does it work?

• On synchronization, it queries the data directly from the external data (using connection data from Visio) – Then, it analyzes the changes in the data source and on the diagram; if there are conflicting changes, it shows Conflicts and allows you to resolve conflicts in the resolution window. – If no conflicts, then it updates the data source directly, and then Visio document. ### User interface

Basically, the add-in adds a single button Synchronize to the Data panel. When you click it, a dialog is shown asking what data to synchronize (in case you have more than one data connection, you can synchronize them separately). It is very similar to the one Visio provides. In Visio, you just have Update instead of Synchronize.

Preview

You can preview all changes which will be made before applying them, via special Preview changes mode. In this mode, no change is performed (dry run), but just analysis of what is to be changed where. The results are shown in the window. If you edit the same value in the external data source and on shape, then you have a conflicting change. The add-in allows you to resolve this situation manually by selecting proper value:

Adding and deleting data rows

The add-in supports row addition and deletion to the data source. If you delete a shape, you have an option in the preview changes window to delete corresponding data from the data source. Note that for excel this is not possible with direct OLEDB data binding; you can enable direct deletion using automation in the settings (but for that excel needs to be installed). By default (without automation) the add-in sets all row values to empty (null). The deletion works with other data sources though (SQL, SharePoint). If you add a new shape (by using Duplicate command for example, or by copy/paste of a data-bound shape), you have an option to add a new row to the data source. Note that new row should have a new primary key (if it is not generated automatically). To force that, the add-in suggests to clear primary keys when you duplicate a data-bound shape. You can keep them as is, in this case new shape will be bound to the same row (default behavior in Visio).

Data source types

Basically, the add-in should work with any data source which supports update. Although, it was tested with Excel, SQL and SharePoint lists.

Calling the addin from VBA programmatically

The add-in supports programmatic access. You can call the main function, Synchronize, using this code snippet:

Application.ComAddins(BackSync).Object.Synchronize

Source code

Full source code is available for the licensed customers upon agreement.

License

The add-in is free for personal use (community edition); to use it in commercial organization, a license is required. For testing purposes, you can run the add-in run without any restrictions for 2 weeks, even in the corporate environment. Order a Business License