Generate Visio Network Diagrams from Excel Data?

[boodox]

Hi All.

I'm looking for a way to try and automate the process of network planning and I'm looking for some help/advice on using data from Excel in Visio.

To add some flesh to what I'm looking to do, there are certain elements within the network designs that I implement that are done that are known quantities, ie.

What kind of equipments is required for what purpose
How these devices interelate
How long it takes to configure equipment
How much the equipment costs
Naming conventions

What I would like to do is enter data into an Excel (or ideally, have these generated through a series of prompts or drop down boxes) and then have that data auto-generate a network diagram.

An example of the concept I'm looking to is already possible using Visio and it's reporting function (see link)

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa701255.aspx

..but I would like to is the other way around (ie. use Excel data to generate a Visio diagram) Secondly, the resulting diagram is not very attractive solution and I would ideally like to generate something more along the lines of:

http://www.fr3d.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/network-current.png

...obviously within the remit of what is realistically possible. I found one way of doing this using Excel data and the Org Chart Wizard here:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA102410821033.aspx

but again, it's not a particularly pretty solution.

Does anyone have any suggestions/examples/links of something like this being possible or in action?

I'd really appreciate the help.
Many thanks!
bdx

 

[white605]

A start might be:
1-creating all the objects you use in visio
2-using vba in visio to automate the creation of the document you want

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa173160(office.11).aspx

3-use excel vba to open and run visio with reference to excel data

The problem i see is the non-standard way you want to create the drawings - each one will be different and the logic will be difficult at best.

It might be easier to automate in separate visio docs parts of the puzzle and manually put them together for an end result

This old world keeps spinning round - It's a wonder tall trees ain't layin' down

 

[boodox]

Thanks white605,

I know what I'm hoping to do is a bit unorthodox. It's just that I want to try and take away the base planning of such things away from myself and put it in the hands of a project manager who are, from what I've seen, partial more to creating and working with spreadsheet as opposed to Visio diagrams.

I'll give your suggestion a go and see how it works out and let you know. If you or anyone think of any other ideas, I'm all ears

bdx