Microsoft Visio

Microsoft Visio (pronounced VIZ-ee-oh), marketed as Microsoft Office Visio, is a diagramming program for Microsoft Windows that uses vector graphics to create diagrams. It is currently available in two editions: Standard and Professional.
The Standard and Professional editions both share the same interface, but the latter has additional templates for more advanced diagrams and layouts as well as unique functionality that makes it easy for users to connect their diagrams to a number of data sources and display the information graphically.[1][2]
Microsoft acquired Visio Corporation in 2000. Visio 2007 was released on November 30 2006. Also released alongside version 2002 were Enterprise Network Tools, an add-on product enabling automated network and directory services diagramming, and the Visio Network Center, a Web site where users could locate the latest network documentation content and exact-replica network equipment shapes from 500 leading manufacturers.[3] The former has been discontinued, while the latter's shape-finding features are now integrated into the program itself.[4]
Microsoft has revealed that the next version of Microsoft Visio will feature the ribbon user interface.[5]
Versions
Visio began as a standalone product produced by the Visio Corporation; as of Visio 2000, Microsoft acquired it and branded it as a Microsoft Office application, like Microsoft Project; however, it has never been included in any of the Office suites. Microsoft included a Visio for Enterprise Architects edition with some editions of Visual Studio .NET 2003 and Visual Studio 2005.[6]
• Visio 1.0 (Standard, Lite, Home)
• Visio 2.0
• Visio 3.0
• Visio 4.0 (Standard, Technical)
• Visio 4.1 (Standard, Technical)
• Visio 4.5 (Standard, Professional, Technical)
• Visio 5.0 (Standard, Professional, Technical)
• Visio 2000 (6.0; Standard, Professional, Technical, Enterprise), later updated to SP-1 and Microsoft branding after Visio Corporation's acquisition
• Visio 2002 (10.0; Standard, Professional)
• Visio Enterprise Network Tools, Visio Network Center
• Visio for Enterprise Architects 2003 (VEA 2003) (based on Visio 2002 and included with Visual Studio .NET 2003 Enterprise Architect)
• Office Visio 2003 (11.0; Standard, Professional)
• Office Visio for Enterprise Architects 2005 (VEA 2005) (based on Visio 2003 and included with Visual Studio 2005 Team Suite and Team Architect editions)
• Office Visio 2007 (12.0; Standard, Professional).
• Office Visio 2010 (14.0; Upcoming Version, Currently in Beta)
Native File formats
• VSD - Diagram
• VSS - Stencil
• VST - Template
• VDX - Visio XML Diagram
• VSX - Visio XML Stencil
• VTX - Visio XML Template
• VSL - Visio add-on