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How to Import Visio Charts in Mavim

Mavim uses Microsoft Visio for creating charts. If your organization uses Visio, you can easily import your existing Visio diagrams into your Mavim database. This lets you reuse your information and create a structure in Mavim based on your charts.  This article will show you how to import common Visio chart types, with a focus on flowcharts and generic charts.

Intro and Supported Visio Chart Types

Before you begin, understand the type of Visio chart you want to import. Mavim supports importing several chart types:

  • Flowchart: Visualizes a process or workflow.

  • Hierarchical Chart: Shows an organizational structure or hierarchy.

  • IDEF0 Chart: Models functions and their relationships.

  • BPMN 2.0 Chart: Represents business processes. These charts must align with the BPMN 2.0 specification for successful import.

  • ArchiMate Chart: Models enterprise architecture.

  • Custom Chart: Any chart not officially supported by Mavim can be imported as a Generic Chart.

Please note that the availability of specific chart types may depend on your Mavim license.


 

Importing Flowcharts, Hierarchical Charts, and IDEF0 Charts

You can import flowcharts, hierarchical charts, and IDEF0 charts using the Import > Visio Drawing option in the Modeling tab of the ribbon.

Importing a Flowchart

Mavim offers specific options for importing flowcharts.

  1. Select the Visio File: Go to the Modeling tab on the ribbon, click Import > Visio drawing, and choose your Visio flowchart file.

  2. Choose Import Location and Chart Type:

    • Select where in your Mavim database you want to import the chart.

    • Choose Flowchart as the corresponding chart type.

  3. Import Characteristics (Optional):

    • Check the box if you want to import characteristics (e.g., "yes" or "no" after a decision point) connected to lines in your flowchart. This will automatically add new characteristics to your database.

    • Uncheck the box to avoid clutter if you do not wish to import characteristics.

  4. Start Import: Click OK.

    • When the chart is imported you will be able to make changes to it, as soon as you save the chart for the first time the corresponding topics will be created in the tree structure.

Importing Generic Charts

The Generic Chart type in Mavim is flexible and allows you to import any Visio drawing as a "free form" chart. Unlike other structured chart types, generic charts have no limitations or specific methodologies.

Integration with Mavim Database

While flexible, generic charts still integrate with your Mavim database:

  • Storage Location: Your generic chart is stored on the topic you selected when creating or importing it. Users can open it from this topic in the Mavim Portal.

  • Linking Shapes to Topics: You can manually link shapes in a generic chart to topics in the Mavim tree structure. Right-click on a shape, choose Connect to a topic in the Mavim Manager, and select a topic. This makes the shape clickable in the Mavim Portal and synchronizes the shape's name with the topic's name.

  • Creating Topics and Relationships: Generic charts can create topics and relationships in Mavim Manager based on their shapes.

    1. Open the Generic Chart options.

    2. Select Create corresponding topics and relationships in the Mavim Manager.

    3. Choose the desired topic type and relationship type.

    4. Topics created from the generic chart will be stored under the topic selected during the chart's creation. They can be moved freely while maintaining their connection to the generic chart.

Use Cases for Generic Charts

Generic charts are often used for:

  • Abstract Overviews: Creating high-level overviews.

  • Mavim Portal Start Pages: Designing custom start pages for the Mavim Portal.

    • By creating a network of generic charts, you can enable users to navigate the Portal visually without relying on the tree structure.

    • Examples include a Business Model, a Balanced Scorecard, or a Customer Events and Needs Map.

Importing a Generic Chart

  1. Select the Visio File: Click Import > Visio drawing.

  2. Navigate and Select: Browse to your Visio file and select it.

  3. Choose Import Location: Select the topic in which you want the generic chart to appear.

  4. Create Topics for Shapes (Optional): If the shapes in your Visio drawing do not yet exist as topics in Mavim, you can choose to have Mavim create corresponding topics for all shapes in the generic chart.

  5. Create Relationships (Optional): If lines are drawn between topics in Visio, Mavim can automatically create relationships for them. Enable this option if desired.

  6. Start Import: Click OK.

After import, the topics will be created in the Mavim tree structure. Clicking a shape in the generic chart will select its corresponding topic in the tree structure.

 

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