How to Easily Convert a Visio Diagram from Excel

Microsoft Visio is a diagramming tool that Microsoft sends outside of its annual Office 365 package. This diagramming tool is primarily used to create and share diagrams, such as flowcharts, Venn diagrams, organizational charts, network diagrams, P&IDs, and much more. As users need to pay an additional fee to get the annual licensing fees, they tend to start using different tools to create diagrams. One of the prominent tools that most users use is MS Excel, where they tend to create Evacuation Plans for Excel, which look very similar to Visio. However, due to the lack of templates, symbols, and diagramming skills, creating a Visio diagram from Excel is not recommended for professional use.

Create P&ID for Excel from Visio via Excel will be tedious, as it does not provide main templates or diagramming elements. Instead of using complicated and complex tools, you should use EdrawMax, which is considered a solid alternative to Visio for various reasons.

Designing evacuation plans using Excel seems to be an easy task, as most systems today come with a trial version of the Microsoft Suite. However, what most users do not understand is that MS Excel is a tool designed to work with complex spreadsheets.

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You can certainly make an evacuation plan in Excel, but you need to ask yourself: Is the design worth your time and effort? If not, you can start using EdrawMax, which also comes with a free version. There are some other amazing features of EdrawMax.

Excel is predominantly a spreadsheet tool. It allows you to create long and complex accounting tables that you can share with your colleagues without worrying about fonts or formatting. However, the tool lacks various design features, and if you are using an older version of Office, you might not even get good design options. Unlike MS Excel, EdrawMax releases constant updates for its users and is developed exclusively to create over 280 different types of diagrams. From creating tables to working on radar charts, EdrawMax is a powerhouse of amazing options.

Would you like to automatically create a detailed and polished Visio flowchart from an Excel workbook? You can do this using the Data Viewer templates. Each template has an associated Excel workbook used to convert process data into a flowchart in Visio. You can also use your own custom Excel template, map Excel data to shapes in the Create Diagram from Data wizard, and create the diagram automatically. You can even add additional data columns in Excel that are converted into Visio shape data.

Visio also supports two-way synchronization between the Visio diagram and the Excel workbook. You can not only create the flowchart by editing data in Excel and updating the Visio diagram, but you can also make changes to the Visio diagram and update Excel data from the diagram.

Excel relies on third-party tools to take advantage of design options. These third-party tools can sometimes create unnecessary issues in your system, such as slowing it down or putting your data at significant risk. EdrawMax is a tool powered by all design options. You do not need to rely on other tools just to enjoy some basic features to make an evacuation plan. From focus mode to presentation mode, you can perform various activities with EdrawMax.

EdrawMax includes a large number of symbol libraries. You can quickly build any type of diagram with over 50,000 vector-enabled symbols. If you cannot find the necessary symbols, you can easily import some images/icons or create your own shape and save it as a symbol for later use. 

The vector-enabled evacuation symbols in EdrawMax can easily be scaled, reshaped, colored, and formatted to meet your needs. Simply go to the ‘Symbols’ section of EdrawMax and select the ‘Predefined Symbol’ section in the top toolbar. Hundreds of symbol categories are available for you to use and incorporate into your evacuation plan.

Moreover, EdrawMax has a large library of templates. We have over 25 million registered users who have produced a complete community of templates for every design. Just go to the templates section in the left panel and type any template you are looking for in the search bar. It will bring up hundreds of pre-created templates that you can use immediately to meet your needs.

 Are You Looking for an Alternative to Visio?

Here is a list of more 5 alternatives to Visio (paid and free) to help you create professional-looking diagrams in minutes:

1. Visme
2. Draw.io
3. Lucidchart
4. SmartDraw
5. OmniGraffle

1. Visme

Visme is a design tool with some key features that set it apart compared to the other tools in this list.  In particular, Visme designed the drag-and-drop editor with intuitive features that allow anyone to create professional-level visuals. Using Visme, you can create professional and attractive diagrams. It is an effective alternative to Visio, especially for users looking for a suitable tool for their design needs.

 2. Draw.io

The next tool to explore is Draw.io. It is an excellent solution for users looking for a free and open-source alternative to Visio for creating diagrams.  Draw.io has a minimalist interface similar to the style that Google implemented in its web applications suite.

Draw.io is a reliable tool for designing diagrams. It utilizes an open-source stack that IT professionals use to explain complex diagrams.

3. Lucidchart

Lucidchart is a diagram tool focused on collaboration. Lucidchart comes with many shapes in its specialized libraries. You can navigate through Lucidchart’s flowcharts, wireframes, design diagrams, and user interface flows. Lucidchart lets you diagram systems and processes when it comes to services and people’s operations. You can diagram, collaborate, and enhance data visualization on one platform.

4. SmartDraw

SmartDraw is a diagramming software with an interesting set of automated features. These automated features are one of the key differentiating factors that SmartDraw users love.  Additionally, many users use SmartDraw as a tool for mapping complex systems. The wireframing features also make SmartDraw a popular tool for laying out user flows for applications and websites.  Another feature that makes SmartDraw appealing to users is its robust library of templates. This library provides users access to visual resources that some competitors do not have.

5. OmniGraffle

OmniGraffle is an application developed by the Omni Group. The Omni Group has a series of applications and software made specifically for Macs, iPads, iPhones, and other Apple products. One of the critical features of OmniGraffle is that it works on any Apple device you want to use. This cross-device use is excellent for users who enjoy working on mobile devices, tablets, and computers.