I am new to Visio. My company needs to use it to be able to draw ethernet network diagrams in industrial automation environment. I have been looking everywhere possible on the net to find a free stencil with a set of shapes that are basic controllers (e.g. Industrial PLCs, etc.) but I haven't been successful. Sep 03, 2008  This is the ultimate stencil for folks designing iPhone apps. Contains backgrounds, title bars, buttons, selectors, and other iPhone UI elements. Text is fully editable on lists, title bars, buttons, and scroll wheels. Buttons can be resized horizontally by ungrouping, resizing the middle element, and then regrouping the elements back into a single button. Taken from actual.

Updated December 27, 2013. Check what's new in the Update Log.

The UML stencil for Microsoft Visio supports complete UML 2.5, i.e. UML use case diagram, class diagram, package diagram, object diagram, composite structure diagram, interaction diagram, sequence diagram, communication diagram, interaction overview diagram, activity diagram, state machine diagram, component diagram, deployment diagram, profile diagram, timing diagram, and all symbols of the UML 2.5, specified in OMG Unified Modeling Language (OMG UML), ptc/2013-09-05, as well as all previous UML versions, UML 2.4, UML 2.3, UML 2.2, UML 2.1, UML 2.0, UML 1.5, UML 1.4, UML 1.3 and UML 1.1.

The Visio stencils can also be used for SoaML and other UML profiles and dialects.

The stencil also contains several non-normative UML symbols, that are not specified in the standard, but used in some UML books and papers. These non-normative symbols are always last items on the right-click menu, below the menu item called 'non-normative'.

If you discover omissions in the UML stencil or have suggestions for improvements please contact me at ph@ phruby.com.

Content of this page

Terms of use
How to download
How to get help
Do you find the stencils useful?
Stencil and template for Visio 2013
Stencil and template for Visio 2010
Stencil and template for Visio 2007
Stencil and template for Visio 2003
Stencil and template for Visio 2002
Stencil and template for Visio 2000
Stencil and template for Visio 5.0
Stencil and template for Visio 4.1
Previous versions of Stencils and Templates
Future versions of Stencils and Templates
Acknowledgements

Terms of use

You can use, copy and modify the template and stencils for your own use as you like. You are not allowed to redistribute, or make available to public, the modified or original template and stencils, and any of its shapes packaged in the same or another stencil, without my prior permission. The reason for this restriction is updates; I'd like the latest version of the shapes being available at this site.

There are no restrictions regarding the drawings you create using the shapes downloaded from this site.

How to download

Don’t left-click the files, if you use older versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer! It will start Visio on your computer. Instead, right-click the file you want to download and select 'Save Target As..' If the option 'Save Target As..' is dimmed, disable Content Advisor in your browser. Please make sure that the names of the files you are downloading are the same as those on this page and that your browser has not changed them. Sometimes, some browsers mysteriously change the file extensions to .exe, or add (1) to the file names. If you have difficulties downloading the files, please contact me.

How to get help

The stencils are very easy to use. For those who are new to Visio, have a look at Tips - Visio 2000-2010, or Tips - Visio 2013. If you cannot find an answer, please send me an e-mail to ph (at) phruby.com.

Do you find the stencils useful?

Stencil and Template for Visio 2013

Visio 2013 represents significant usability and functional change, mainly due to new Themes. Consequently, I redesigned most shapes to allow applying the Themes, while preventing their sometimes damaging effects. I succeeded for most themes; except of the “hand-drawn” themes and the Shady theme in the Trendy group that behave differently than documented, which is usually called “bugs”.
Please avoid using the 'hand-drawn' themes and the Shady theme until Microsoft fixes them and I after that update the stencils. If you came across another theme that has damaging effect on some UML symbol or icon please contact me.
Install: Unzip the files into a folder of your choice, for example, 'C:Users<username>DocumentsCustom Office Templates'. Start Visio 2013. Click File/Options/Save. Insert full path of the folder with the UML template and stencils into the field “Default personal templates location”. Click OK. Note: if the field “Default personal templates location” already contains a path to some folder, move the Visio files into the folder specified in this field.
When you click File/New in Visio, the template “UML 2.5 Complete (Visio 2013)” will appear under PERSONAL tab. The PERSONAL tab is located between FEATURED and CATEGORIES, when you click File/New. If you use the template often, Visio will also place it into the FEATURED tab.
I am not sure whether this is a good idea from usability point of view, but if you'd like the template to appear in the 'Software and Database' category, together with Visio's own UML templates, follow the install instructions for Visio 2010.

The stencils and template are here: UML2.5-Visio2013.zip.

Stencil and Template for Visio 2010

Visio 2010 represents the first noticeable improvement in usability since Visio 2000, but no enhancement in the funtionality, upon which the UML 2.2 shapes are built upon. Therefore, the shapes for Visio 2010 are the same as for Visio 2007; there are minor changes in the template.
Install: If you'd like the template to appear in the 'Software and Database' category when you click File/New, together with Visio's own templates, create in any folder a subfolder called 'Software and Database', for example, '..My DocumentsMy ShapesSoftware and Database'. You could choose any folder, except of the Visio program folder, i.e., don't use C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice14Visio Content1033. Unzip the stencils and template into '..My DocumentsMy ShapesSoftware and Database' or the folder you created.
Start Visio, click the File tab, click Options, click Advanced, and then, under General at the very bottom, click File Locations. Type full path of this folder without the last segment 'Software and Database' into the fields 'Stencils' and 'Templates'. That is, type in 'C:Document and Settings<user name>My DocumentsMy Shapes' . The template 'UML 2.2 Template (Visio 2010)' will appear in the category 'Software and Database'.
If you'd like the UML 2.2 template to appear in another category, such as a 'UML' category, use 'UML' instead of 'Software and Database' in the steps above.

The stencils and template are here: UML2.2-Visio2010.zip.

Stencil and Template for Visio 2007

This stencil for Visio 2007 contains all the same shapes as the stencil for Visio 2003, as Visio 2007 has almost the same functionality as Visio 2003; there were only usability improvements.
Install: If you'd like the template to appear in the 'Software and Database' category when you click File/New, together with Visio's own templates, create in any folder a subfolder called 'Software and Database', for example, '..My DocumentsMy ShapesSoftware and Database'. You could choose any folder, except of the Visio program folder, i.e., don't use C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice111033. Unzip the stencils and template into '..My DocumentsMy ShapesSoftware and Database' or the folder you created.
Start Visio, click 'Tools' and 'Options'. In the 'Advanced' tab, click 'File Paths..' and type full path of this folder, without the last element 'Software and Database' into the fields 'Stencils' and 'Templates', that is insert 'C:Documents and Settings<user name>My DocumentsMy Shapes'. Restart Visio. The template 'UML 2.2 Template (Visio 2007)' will appear in the category 'Software and Database'.
If you'd like the UML 2.2 template to appear in another category, such as a 'UML' category, use 'UML' instead of 'Software and Database' in the steps above.

The stencils and template are here: UML2.2-Visio2007.zip.

Stencil and Template for Visio 2003

This stencil for Visio 2003 contains all the same shapes as the stencil for Visio 2002. Visio has disabled some functionality compared to previous versions, therefore 'Edit Text' in right-click menus is not available.
If you'd like the template to appear in the 'Software' category when you click File/New, together with Visio's own templates, create in any folder a subfolder called 'Software', for example, '..My DocumentsMy ShapesSoftware'. You could choose any folder, except of the Visio program folder, i.e., don't use C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice111033. Unzip the stencils and template into '..My DocumentsMy ShapesSoftware' or the folder you created.
Start Visio, click 'Tools' and 'Options'. In the 'Advanced' tab, click 'File Paths..' and type full path of this folder, without the last element 'Software' into the fields 'Stencils' and 'Templates', that is insert 'C:Documents and Settings<user name>My DocumentsMy Shapes'. Restart Visio. The template 'UML 2.2 Template (Visio 2007)' will appear in the category 'Software'.
If you'd like the UML 2.2 template to appear in another category, such as a 'UML' category, use 'UML' instead of 'Software' in the steps above.

The stencils and template are here: UML2.2-Visio2003.zip.

Stencil and template for Visio 2002

This stencil for Visio 2002 contains all the same shapes as the stencil for Visio 2000. As Visio 2002 has disabled some functionality compared to Visio 2000, the right-click menu items that inserted stereotype and constraint brackets are not available. This functionality is considered a security risk in Visio 2002 and 2003. You must insert the symbols « » and {} by typing them in, not just by clicking the right-click menu. I am working on a user-friendly solution to put this functionality back.

Install: Unzip the stencils and template to the same folder. Typically, Visio 2002 keeps stencils and templates in the folder C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeVisio101033SolutionsSoftware

The stencils and template are here: UML2.2-Visio2002.zip

This stencil for Visio 2000 is the stencil with most functionality, compared to the stencils for other versions of Visio. The stencil does not contain angled connector available in Visio 5.0. I removed the angled connector because the more advanced routable connector provides the same functionality and is more reliable in Visio 2000 than in Visio 5.0. Compared to Visio 5.0, the sizes of line ends can be set independently for line begin and line end.

Install: Unzip the stencils and template to the same folder. Typically, Visio 2000 keeps stencils and templates in the folder C:Program FilesVisioSolutionsSoftware Diagram

The stencils and template are here: UML2.2-Visio2000.zip.

The stencil for Visio 5.0 contain UML shapes except of timing diagrams. The stencil contains all the same shapes as the stencil for Visio 4.1, as well as a routable connector that automatically changes its path to avoid crossing through two-dimensional symbols. The stencil also contains an angled connector that you can use as a reliable alternative to the routable connector. Compared to the stencil for Visio 2000, the size of the pentagon in the Frame and Interaction Occurrence symbols is determined by size of text, and cannot be set independently on the text size.

Install: Download the following three files to the same folder. Typically, Visio 5.0 keeps stencils and templates in the folder C:Program FilesVisioSolutionsSoftware Diagram.

The stencils and template are here: UML2.0-Visio5.0.zip

The stencil for Visio 4.1 contains all the same shapes as the version for Visio 5.0, except for the routable connector. Transition Edge has limited functionality compared to later versions of Visio. The shapes’ right-click menus are limited to 10 items, therefore some menu items available in the stencils for later versions of Visio are not available in this stencil. You must insert the symbols « » and {} by typing them in, not just by clicking the right-click menu.

Install: Open the zip file and extract the template (the .vst file) into the folder in which Visio keeps your other templates. It is typically the folder ..VisioTemplateTechncal. Extract the stencils (the .vss files) into the folder in which Visio keeps other stencils. It is typically the folder..VisioStencilsTechncal

The stencils and template are here: UML2.0-Visio4.1.zip

The UML 2.0 stencil, template and stereotype are here: UML2.0-Visio2007.zip, UML2.0-Visio2003.zip, UML2.0-Visio2002.zip, UML2.0-Visio2000.zip. They have been last updated February 20, 2005; the stencil for Visio 2007 is from May 27, 2007.
The UML 1.5 stencil, template and stereotypes are here: nbsp;Visio 2002, Visio 2000, Visio 5.0, Visio 4.1. They have been last updated June 10, 2003; the stencil for Visio 5.0 is from July 18, 2003. Almost all shapes have been updated in the current version; relationships have been redesigned from scratch.
The UML 1.4 stencil, template and stereotypes are here: Visio 2002, version from May 4, 2003; and Visio 2000, Visio 5.0, and Visio 4.1, version from October 9, 2001. This version uses dashed lines in style 2 (medium dashes); while the current version uses style 9 (very short dashes). In addition, in the later versions I corrected omissions in the Use Case and Activation shapes, improved the Interface and Pseudostate shapes, and changed names of Messages in collaboration and sequence diagrams, according to the UML standard.
The UML 1.1 stencil and template are here: Visio 4.1, and Visio 5.0.

Finale 2010 torrent download. It is my intention to update the stencil whenever UML is updated, or when I get some good suggestions from you. Please send me e-mail if you have any suggestions or found omissions in the stencil design. If you make any improvements yourself, please be so kind as to let me know.

I would like to express my thanks to Rebecca Wirfs-Brock, Conrad Bock of NIST, James Odell of OMG, Oystein Haugen, Birger Møller-Pedersen of University of Oslo, Claudia Frers of UML Academy, Martin Fowler, Michael Welch of Johnson Controls and Achim Bursian of Siemens for useful suggestions, comments and for correcting omissions in the stencil design.

Last update of the stencil for Visio 2013: December 27, 2013.
Last update of the stencil for Visio 2010, 2007, 2003, 2002 and 2000: July 10, 2010.
Last update of other stencils: February 20, 2005.

You can quickly insert a shape from the iWork shapes library into your document.

• On your Mac, click the Shape button then choose a shape.
• On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, tap the Insert button , then tap the Shapes button . Tap a shape.
• On iCloud.com, click then choose a shape.

After you add and position the shape, you can break it into parts, or combine it with other shapes to create a custom shape. When you’ve finished editing your shape, add it to your shapes library for later use.¹

Break a shape into parts

Some shapes have multiple pieces. When you break apart a shape, you’re able to change the color, edit the shape, or delete the individual pieces of a shape.

• On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, select the shape you want to break apart, then tap the Format button . Tap Arrange, then tap Break Apart.
• On your Mac, Control-click on the shape and choose Break Apart.
  

Some shapes in the shapes library include other potential shapes you might want to use. For example, if you wanted to use the shape of California, you could insert the complete map of the United States and enlarge it. After you break apart the shape, you can use the California shape by itself. If you want to be able to use that shape again in the future without breaking it apart from its parent shape, add the shape to your shapes library.
After you break apart a shape, you can make each piece a different color. For example, you could change the color for each state in the map, or change the color of a piece you've isolated from the remaining parts of the shape.

Create new shapes

You can combine and subtract shapes from each other to create new shapes. There are four different ways to create new shapes from existing shapes: Unite, Intersect, Subtract, or Exclude.

• On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, select the shapes you want to use, then tap the Format button . Tap Arrange, then choose how you want to combine the shapes.
• On your Mac, select all of the shapes that you want to use, click the Format button , click Arrange, then choose how you want to combine the shapes.

Unite
When you unite multiple shapes, they combine into one shape.

Intersect
When you intersect multiple shapes, it creates a shape out of the overlapping areas.

Subtract
When you subtract a shape from another, it removes the part of the shape that’s layered on top of another shape.

Exclude
When you exclude two shapes, it creates a shape that excludes the overlapping area between the shapes.

Add styles to your shape

After you add a shape to your document, you can change the following styles of your shape:²

• Fill You can fill shapes with an image, a solid color, or a gradient (two or more colors that blend into one another).
• Border You can add a border, such as a picture frame or a dotted line, then modify the border’s thickness, color, and other attributes.
• Shadow You can add up to six different preset shadows to your shape, then adjust the blur, offset, and opacity of your shadow.
• Reflection You can add a reflection to your shape and adjust its visibility.
• Opacity You can create interesting effects by making objects more or less opaque.

If you want to change the style of your shape:

• On your Mac, select the shape, click the Format button , then click Style. Click the disclosure triangle to expand any individual style and see advanced options.
• On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, tap the Format button , then tap Style. Turn on an individual style to see advanced options.
• On iCloud.com, click > Style. Select an individual style to see advanced options.

Save and set default styles on your Mac

On your Mac, you can save a style and change the default style for new shapes in your document.

Here's how to save your style:

1. Click the Format button , then click Style.
2. Click the arrow to the right side of the style thumbnails to go to the last group of styles.
3. Click the New Style Preset button .

After you save your style, you can redefine it at any time. Select the shape with the style changes, then Control-click on the style template and choose 'Redefine Style from Selection.'

Here's how to change the default style for new shapes in your document:

1. Click the Format button , then click Style.
2. Click and hold the style that you want to move.
3. Drag it to the top left of the first page of styles.

When you open the shapes library, the style is applied to the shape previews.

Add text and other objects within a shape

To add text inside a shape, double-tap (on iPhone or iPad) or double-click (on Mac) the shape, then enter the text.

You can also place objects like shapes, images, videos, text boxes, and equations inside a shape, so they're nested. If you type inside the outer (parent) shape, the inner nested object moves with the text as you edit:

• On iPhone or iPad, add the new object to your document. Select the new object, then tap Cut. Double-tap the shape in which you want to nest the new object so the insertion point appears inside the shape, tap it again, then tap Paste.
• On Mac, add the new object to your document. Control-click the new object, then choose Cut. Control-click the shape in which you want to nest the new object, then choose Paste.

Add a shape to your shapes library

You can add customized shapes to your shapes library. When you save a custom shape, the shape’s path, flip, and rotation properties are saved; size, color, opacity, and other properties aren’t.

• On your Mac, Control-click the shape and choose Save to My Shapes.
• On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, tap the shape, then tap Add to Shapes.

To use iCloud to sync your custom shapes across your devices, here's what you need:

• An iOS device with iOS 11.2 or later, an iPad with iPadOS, or a Mac with macOS 10.13.2 or later
• Sign in to iCloud with the same Apple ID and turn on iCloud Drive on all your devices.

You can use your custom shapes in the same app on your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. For example, if you add a shape in Pages on your iPhone, you can use it in Pages on your other devices.

1. Custom shapes are supported on Mac, iOS, and iPadOS only. You can't create or use custom shapes on iCloud.com.

2. Some styles are only available in Pages, Numbers, and Keynote on your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.