Importing Excel Data into Visio Standard 2010 shapes

Question

Is it possible to import Excel data into Visio 2010 shapes?  If so, please provide some guidance (Please don't point me to any online tutorials or guides - I've trawled for hours and had no luck).  Also, is there a particular type of shape that this only works for?

Thanks

Answer 1

Hi,

Importing Excel data in Visio will not generate Visio shapes automatically. In Visio 2010, we can just import the Excel data to Visio, then drag the data to the drawing page manually to link data.

To import Excel data into Visio 2010, please do:

1. In the drawing, go to Data tab, in the External Datagroup, click Link Data to Shapes.
2. In the Data Selector window, select Microsoft Excel workbook, Next.
3. Click Browse to select your Excel file, click Open > Next.
4. Select Custom Range or directly use the default Sheet, next.
5. Select Columns or Rows or directly keep the default settings, click Next.
6. Configure Refresh Unique Identifier, click Next.
7. Click Finish to import data.
8. Then an External Data panel would be shown under the drawing page, drag rows onto the page to link data to existing shapes or to add new linked shapes.

For more information about data importing in Visio 2010, please read:

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Import-data-from-Excel-SQL-Server-SharePoint-sites-and-other-external-sources-a4789a07-46de-4f66-bcaa-4a58d0c41fe1

Regards,

Winni Liang

Answer 2

Thank you for your swift response, Winni. I have gone through this process a number of times  but no External Data panel loads. What would be the reason for this? 

Thank you

Answer 3

Winnie,

Linking data to shapes is in the professional, not the standard version. It can be accomplished but requires custom code, not a trivial task.

Al Edlund

Answer 4

Hi Edlund,

Thanks for point in out for my mistake. I read the issue body and tested it in my Visio Premium 2010 but ignored the question is related to Visio Standard version in title.

Thanks again for your kindly reminder.

Regards,

Winni Liang