Intelligent elements form backbone of Visio 2000

The technical edition of Visio 2000, the diagramming and drawing software package, is now available, incorporating a raft of new features. The package is aimed at primarily at engineers, but will benefit anyone who works with CAD drawings, the company says.

The package uses `SmartShapes' technology, with graphical elements that behave like the pumps, valves, walls and pipes they represent. To create a drawing, designers just have to drag-and-drop these elements onto a page and link them together with `SmartConnectors'. The units can also store data and link up to databases and spreadsheets.

The package also supports larger and more complex drawings, using a pan-and-zoom function to give engineers a birds-eye view of their entire drawing.

`Technical Edition offers engineers a better way to draw, because it alloes them to capture their design intent,' says European product marketing manager Andy Jones. `It means that they don't have to go through the inefficient process of multiple iterations with a drafting department to produce their finished drawing.'