Visio when and where you need it

If you've downloaded the new Visio Preview, then you probably noticed that your installation experience is quite a bit different than in any previous version of Visio. These changes aren't just cosmetic, they're part of our strategy to align with the overall Office vision to bring the rich applications that you know and love into the future as an integrated part of our Software + Services offering. In this post we'll explain what our goals were, what we did, and what it means for you in your everyday interactions in the new Visio.

Click-to-Run v2.0

User expectations for software delivery have changed significantly over the past five years. Getting a new app on your phone is a fast and painless experience, as is accessing rich web applications from your internet browser. Our goal with integrating Click-to-Run in the new Visio is to make installing and using the new Visio as fast, easy and secure as possible.

What exactly is Click-to-Run? Click-to-Run was a technology first introduced in Office 2010 to improve downloading Office from the internet. Traditional Windows Installer packages remained the primary distribution method, but Click-to-Run v1.0 was available for a limited number of consumer SKUs in some markets. Ultimately, the technology proved successful but also had room for improvement.

Click-to-Run v2.0 takes what we've learned and improves upon it. To do so, there were four goals:

1. Be fast
2. Be integrated: Office applications are a productivity platform. Part of their value is that they are rich, integrated, and extensible.
3. Be up to date and modern: Gone are the days where you install software and forget about it for the life of your PC. Beyond just ensuring your software is secure, we need the ability to evolve the client to support new value coming online with Office services.
4. Be agile: There are times when the rich client applications are the only tool for the job, but doing a full installation isn't always an option. We wanted to give users the mobility of a web application and the richness of installed Office applications.

The new Visio has now integrated with Click-to-Run v2.0. Details on the provisioning experience can be found here, but once provisioned, one of the most immediate benefits of Click-to-Run v2.0 is that you can actually begin using the new Visio while it is still downloading. We prioritize the download of Visio functionality in the order we think you'll need it.

If you try to access something in Visio that's not downloaded yet, you'll get the following dialog. Depending on the speed of your network connection, you may never see this dialog, or you may see it multiple times if you're on a slow connection and accessing a wide variety of the new Visio while it is still downloading.  

Early data says that Click-to-Run v2.0 installs actually succeed at a higher rate than Windows Installer packages, and we're doing everything we can to make it the best installation experience ever. However, it's important for us to note that traditional MSI installs of the new Visio will still exist for those who need it.

While the streaming install is the most apparent of Click-to-Run v2.0's features, it is not the only value it provides. It also provides things like additional side by side support, repair and uninstall functionality, sustainability, and administrator functionality to help automate deployments in organizations of all sizes. For more information, check out this Office Next blog post and TechNet article.

Visio on Demand

What if you could use the new Visio without doing an install at all? What if you could just use the new Visio on whatever Windows computer you happen to be on, wherever you happen to be? This is now possible with a unique feature called Visio on Demand, available to Visio Pro for Office 365 subscribers.

To access Visio on Demand, just click the "My Office" tab of the Office 2013 Customer Preview site and click the Visio icon under the "Office on Demand" section to launch the application. When you close Visio, it simply goes away-it will not stay installed on the computer. This will enable you to use Visio in a variety of places and scenarios, such as a kiosk or an in-room hotel PC, where it wasn't possible before.

A few important notes you should know about Visio on Demand:

• Visio on Demand is a feature for subscribers of Visio Pro for Office 365.
• Only the parts of the application you need are actually downloaded as you need them (not the whole thing). They run locally and it's very fast, only seconds depending on connection speed.
• It's always the latest version of the application.
• Visio does leave behind cache files for performance reasons, but the applications cannot be launched from shortcuts on the local computer. To use the applications again, always start from the website.

• Since Visio on Demand is a feature of Visio Pro for Office 365, you need to have a valid subscription and be logged in to your Office 365 account to use it.

For more information on Visio on Demand, check out this Office Next blog post Click-to-Run and Office on Demand.

Identity

Another important aspect of Visio when and where you need it, is that it's your Visio, when and where you need it. To do this, we have introduced the notion of identity to the new Visio.

One of the first ways you'll notice identity integration is via the ability you now have to sign-in to Visio. When you install the new Visio, you'll see what we call the "First Run Experience" where you're welcomed with a video and offered a chance to sign-in. You can also sign-in from the top right of the new Visio. 

Additionally, since we know folks don't like to sign-in a lot or maintain multiple accounts, if you're already signed into another Office application or signed into your Windows 8 computer with a Microsoft account, Visio will recognize that and sign you in automatically. And if you work at an organization that uses domain accounts, you'll also automatically be signed into the new Visio on both Windows 7 and Windows 8.

For more on the different types of accounts you can sign-in with, how to use multiple accounts, and where you can get an account if you don't already have one, watch for a future blog post from the Office Next blog on Sign-In and Identity.

Roaming

Once you're signed in, you'll start to benefit from the power of identity, such as "roaming"--your documents, settings and services going with you whether you're on your home or work PC, or someone else's, like a school, library or a friend's.

One of the first and most useful places you'll notice your settings roamed is in the Start place when you first launch the new Visio. You'll see your most recent Visio diagrams in the left column and your most recently used templates on the right. Have a favorite template pinned? No longer do you have to reconfigure Visio every time you install it on a new computer-just sign-in and get to work. 

In addition to recently used documents and templates, the following will also roam with you:

• Visio specific: "Zoom on roll with IntelliMouse" and "Run in developer mode" are two specific settings we've heard many users often customize Visio by setting manually. Now that they're roamed, set it once and forget it-they'll follow you wherever you're using the new Visio.
• Places: The SkyDrive associated with your Microsoft account is already there to save to or open documents from, but if you have multiple SkyDrive (or SkyDrive Pro) accounts, you can easily add them by clicking "Add a Place".
• Personalization: If you selected a theme for Office when you first installed it, this also goes with you. It's a visual cue that you've signed in as yourself and another way to make Visio feel like it's yours.
• Custom dictionary: Tired of having your last name always show up as misspelled when you first use a program? Now you only have to add a word to your dictionary once, instead of every time you install Visio or switch computers!

Summary

Ultimately, with the power of Click-to-Run, Visio on Demand, Identity and Roaming, your new Visio will let you get to work quicker and in more places than ever before. Now you can worry less about installations and configuring settings, and more about creating awesome diagrams.