The new Microsoft Visio has:\n- Features designed to make it easier to create diagrams—including quicker access to frequently used tools, new and updated shapes and stencils, and improved and expanded themes and effects.\n- Tools to make teamwork simpler, such as the ability to work together on the same diagram at the same time and improved commenting—in both Visio and Visio Services.\n- Improved touch support, including for Windows 8 and Visio Services in the new Microsoft SharePoint.\n- Options to make your diagrams more dynamic by linking shapes to real-time data, with an expanded set of supported sources.\n- The ability to share your diagrams with others through a browser (even if they don't have Visio installed) through Microsoft Office 365 or SharePoint.\n- Support for updated diagramming standards, including Unified Modeling Language (UML) 2.4, Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) 2.0, and Windows Workflow Foundation 4.0.\n\nIt's easier to start creating and customizing diagrams\nVisio is packed with enhancements to make it easier to get started, find the stencils you want to use, and quickly get great-looking results with over 60 built-in templates, many with updated shapes. You can also create and customize professional-looking diagrams using a rich set of expanded and improved effects and themes that apply a completely different design in just one or two clicks.\n\nPerform common tasks more easily\nDiagrams are seldom static, so Visio makes it easier than ever to update your diagram with new shortcuts for frequently performed tasks. You can get to frequently used tools right away with a significantly improved quick-access floating toolbar and easily replace any shape (or combination of shapes) in a diagram while preserving your shape connections, shape metadata, and the overall layout.\n\nCreate great-looking organization charts more easily\nOne of the most used templates in Visio—the organization chart—just got even better with several new styles—from professional to playful, which you can apply with just one click, the ability to import pictures and improved layout options to help fine tune the way your org chart looks.\n\nWork together on a single diagram at the same time\nStreamline teamwork and reduce the risk of errors by allowing two or more people to work on the same diagram in a single file at the same time—from rearranging and adding shapes, to writing comments, to applying effects. With just one working file, you avoid the need to email files around, figure out what changes others have made to the original diagram, and manually merging multiple versions together.\n\nShare diagrams through a browser on almost any device\nBy saving your Visio diagrams to Microsoft SharePoint—either on your company's servers or through Microsoft Office 365—you can make them instantly viewable through a browser for colleagues without Visio. Visio Services in SharePoint provides a rich experience through the browser, with full detail from the original diagram, refreshable data (in diagrams with data links), the option to view and add comments, and improved touch support so you can view and interact with the diagram through virtually any device.\n\nGive feedback with improved commenting\nThe latest Visio release introduces features designed to make it easier to capture and address reviewers' feedback on diagrams. You can add comments to any diagram from virtually any device, whether through Visio or a browser using Visio Services – and can get immediate clarification on any you are unclear on by initiating an instant messaging (IM) conversation or audo/video call right from within Visio. (Requires a compliant IM application, such as Microsoft Lync.)\n\nLink diagram shapes to data with a simple wizard\nWith Visio, you can link the shapes in your diagram to your business data to visually represent complex information. Several popular data sources are supported, including Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Excel Services, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft SQL Azure, and Microsoft SharePoint Business Connectivity Services. This allows you to reveal patterns and meaning in your data with data graphics, such as vibrant icons, symbols, colors, and bar graphs.\n\nEnhance process management with support for BPMN 2.0 and updated validation rules\nVisio can help you ensure that your diagrams meet the standards required by your business, including support for Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) 2.0 —today's standard for business process modeling—and you can use the built-in validation rules to help ensure your diagrams comply with the specification. You can also continue to open and update diagrams that use BPMN 1.2.\n\nCreate visual workflows and publish them to SharePoint\nVisio simplifies how you create SharePoint workflows and Microsoft Project workflows to support demand management. You can create and publish SharePoint workflows visually with updated support for Windows Workflow Foundation 4.0 (including support for stages and loops and better integration with Microsoft SharePoint Designer) and also use Visio to create visual Project workflows for demand management, which work with both Microsoft Project Server and Microsoft Project Online.
