How to Import Microsoft Visio Stencils

When drawing UML diagrams (e.g. use case diagram), sometimes you might find yourself in a place where you could use other non-UML shapes, in order to explain the concept better. That’s why we made a collection of predefined stencils available for you. You can even import stencils from Microsoft Visio.

This tutorial will show you (1) how to use predefined stencils that come with VP-UML and (2) import stencils from Visio to VP-UML.

How to use predefined stencils in VP-UML

In the Stencil pane, click the Add Stencil button in the corner.

Select predefined stencils

As an example, select Computers > Hardwares.

After the computer hardware stencils load up, you are free to drag and drop any to your diagram.

Using a computer hardware stencil

Note that as these shapes are not part of UML, you would use generic connectors instead of UML-specific connectors and that the properties you usually see with UML-standard shapes are not available.

Generic connector

How to use stencils from Microsoft Visio

• Step 1 – Export Stencils from Visio

  1. In Visio, open a new blank drawing and select the set of predefined shapes to import.
  As an example, select More Shapes > Network > Exchange Objects (Metric).

  

  Select Exchange Objects (Metric) in Visio

  2. Right click Exchange Objects (Metric) and select Save As…

  

  Right click to do a save as for the stencils

  3. In the dialog box opened,

  • choose where you want to save your stencil file.
  • Name your stencil file (e.g. Network Exchange Objects).
  • Save it under the file type of XML Stencil (*.vsx)
  

  Export Stencils in Visio

• Step 2 – Import Stencils from Visio

  1. In VP-UML, click the Import Stencil… button in the Stencil pane.

  

  Click the Import Stencil button

  2. In the dialog box opened,

  • Select Visio XML Stencil (*.vsx) for Files of type.
  • Select your stencil file.
  • Click Open.
  

  Import Stencil File to Import

  3. Once the imported stencils load up, drag and drop any to your diagram as needed.

  

  Imported stencils loaded and available for use

Related Links

• VP-UML Features – Shape Editor
• Watch this tutorial in YouTube

Related Articles

• What to do if you cannot resize shapes in your existing diagram