Chapter 1, Data within Visio Essentials, reviews the evolution of data within Visio from the early nineties to the present day. The chapter also introduces the key features and add-ons in Visio that make data visual.

Chapter 2, Understanding How Data Is Stored within Visio, presents the different ways in which data is stored within Visio documents, pages, and shapes. It explains the relationship between the Visio API and the unique ShapeSheet and introduces the concept of structured diagrams.

Chapter 3, Linking Data to Shapes, explains how data can be imported into Visio documents and linked to shapes, both manually and automatically. It also shows how multiple hyperlinks can be automatically created by data,

Chapter 4, Using the Built-In Data Graphics, demonstrates how the built-in Data Graphics ( Icons Sets, Data Bars, Text Callouts, and Color by Value) can easily display data values.

Chapter 5, Using the Pivot Diagram Add-On, explains how this useful add-on can breakdown and aggregate data and be overlaid with refreshable data.

Chapter 6, Creating Custom Master Shapes, reveals how built-in Masters can be enhanced to provide better data visualization, and how custom Masters can be created from scratch.

Chapter 7, Creating Custom Data Graphics, shows how built-in Data Graphics and Graphic Items can be modified and new ones created.

Chapter 8, Validating and Extracting Information, explains how diagrams can be checked for conformance and integrity, and how data can be exported from Visio diagrams.

Chapter 9, Automating Structured Diagrams, demonstrates how data can be used to create Structured Diagrams automatically by connecting shapes together, by adding them to containers and lists, and by associating callout shapes.

Chapter 10, Sharing Data Diagrams, explains the different options available for sharing Visio data and graphics with other viewers, especially if they do not have Visio available.

Chapter 11, Choosing a Deployment Methodology, discusses the different ways in which custom templates, stencils, and code can be distributed for others to create their own data diagrams.