“Arrange subordinates” changes the sitemap layout. Step 12 Right click on the sitemap to edit properities. If you follow the Excel template, you can leave this alone. Step 10: This allows you to define the top Sitemap box on the page. Step 9: You can make sitemaps that span multiple pages. Step 8: Ignore the Custom Property fields (though you might be able to think of some use for the other fields in some interesting way). Step 7: Remove “Title” as a displayed field. Step 5: Find the demo file included with this presentation “example_visio_2003.XLS.” Click “Next.” Step 4: Select “A text, Org Plus (*.txt), or Microsoft Excel file. Step 3: Select “Information that is stored in a file or database.” Click “Next.” Step 2: Click on the Sheet tab “Output Visio 2003” (and pay it no mind). Step 5: A sitemap! Edit your sitemap to suit your fancy. Step 4: When the dialog box pops up, set Field separator to Text Delimiter to “Comment Character to. Click “Open.” Choose Files of Type “Text (.txt. You may get the alerts again, hit “OK” and “Yes.” Closing the file is actually important! Step 2: Go to the “Output for Visio 2000” sheet (and pay it no mind). Step 1: Enter your sitemap data in the “Input” sheet in the file “template_for_visio_2000_and_2003.xls.”įor Visio 2003, proceed to the variation below. You store and manage the sitemap data (the list of links in a structured organization) in Microsoft Excel, save it as a text file, and import it into Visio for quick visualization. This approach uses the import data feature of Visio 2000 (Note that this feature has been removed in Visio 2003) and (mis)uses the “Organization Chart Wizard” from Visio 2003. The template is defined for up to 200 elements The top sitemap box must be in field A2.Ĥ. Eliminate blank rows in the middle of your data.ģ. The Excel spreadsheet has been written to do some semi-fancy calculations to let you store your data on the import sheet in a nice format and to output Visio-readable data on the output sheet.Ģ. I suggest doing the exercise once with the sample file to get the hang of it, then editing that file to your needs. You can use this zip file to access all the templates referenced in this article. Each option demonstrates how you can store the data in the first format (Excel or Word) and import it into the second program (Visio or Inspiration) to-Voila!-create the sitemap. I’ve chosen these three options because they use standard applications that store the sitemap data in a format that can be edited by non-IAs. Use these lazy techniques and spend your time on better and more interesting problems than lining up little boxes! Techniques Word and Inspiration (Mac OS and Windows) Excel and Visio 2000 or Visio 2003 (Windows only)Ģ. This article includes step-by-step instructions on how to make sitemaps with:ġ. Unfortunately, this approach requires maintaining a spreadsheet in addition to maintaining the visual sitemap. Storing sitemap data in a structured data format such as Microsoft Excel makes the data easy to edit, easy to share with the team, and easy to elaborate on (e.g., adding example notes and URLs that may not be appropriate for the map itself). So what is an IA to do? Turn to Excel, of course. In fact, I would suggest that making sure the little boxes line up is a waste of an IA’s mental abilities.Įspecially when your sitemap looks like this. The effort required to make and maintain them requires time that might be better used elsewhere. Since they are rarely used to make decisions, information architects may not consider them the valuable tools they are. Sitemaps are common deliverables, desired by clients who want a visual representation of a site. This article further develops the excellent Automating Diagrams with Visio by Michael Angeles. “I would suggest that making sure the little boxes line up is a waste of an IA’s mental abilities.
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