NOTE: v3.1 has been superseded
by
RF & Electronics Symbols for Visio™
It has a convenient new single file presentation that replaces
the stencils format. There are hundreds of additional symbols! The file is
native Visio XML (.vsdx) to play well with Visio 2013 and later.

If you would like to buy either the original "RF
Stencils for Visio v3.1" files that will work with Visio 2007 and newer, or
would like a version of the new "RF & Electronics Symbols for Visio" in the
older .vsd file format that works with Visio 2007 and newer, please send me
an e-mail and I will have PayPal send you a separate invoice. Pricing is same as
before: $35 for Single User or $200 for Site License.
---> Shown to the right is a supplementary set of Symbols that will be provided free
of charge to owners of RF Stencils for Visio v3.1
who purchased them on or after August 1, 2019 (when I began work
on the new version).
These Symbols and others are part of the newer version entitled
RF & Electronics Symbols for Visio™.
Send me an e-mail if you qualify and want me to forward you this file. Note that
the new format is a Visio document (.vsd) and not a stencil (.vss).
Site License allows an unlimited number of users at one (1)
location. Users must be officially affiliated with the site during the time of use.
That means the license does not follow a user who permanently leaves the site (graduation,
new employment, etc.). The license extends to persons whose primary job is normally
performed at that location, but works occasionally from home or at a remote location.
Hobbyists employed at the same location are welcome and encouraged to use the software.
The single location restriction is imposed to limit distribution to local use for
companies with multiple physical locations. This software may not be redistributed
in any form, nor posted on the Internet or anywhere that it can be publicly accessed.
The file(s) may be distributed on a server, via e-mail, etc., as needed.
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RF Stencils for
Visio v3.1 has been verified to work in Visio 2002 through 2019. If
your colors are not appearing properly, or if you receive security warnings from
Visio, see the simple resolution instructions
at the bottom of this page.
Visio 2013 and beyond require additional
Security settings to open the Stencils. See screen shot below.

Recommended Usage
I recommend that you begin by using one of the included Page Template .vsd files
for developing your diagram since they are scaled for a good presentation. Some
basic information is on the page to help you get started.
I also recommend creating a new folder titled "RF Stencils" inside the default
"My Shapes" Visio stencils folder and then unzipping the files into it. Doing so
allows the folder to appear along with the standard stencils when the stencil button
is clicked on the toolbar. The default "My Shapes" folder is usually installed in
the "My Documents" folder. So, for versions of Windows through Win10, the path looks
like this:
C:\Documents and Settings\<your ID name>\My Documents\My Shapes\<RF
Stencils>\
You can omit the "RF Stencils" subfolder and just dump all the stencil files
directly into the "My Shapes" folder.
To access the stencils from within Visio, click on the Shapes icon on the toolbar
(yellow folder with green stencil), and then click the "My Shapes" option. The menu
will then show your RF stencils.
Please note that if you have a set of custom colors (aka 'Color Themes') selected
in Visio, it will probably be necessary to turn that feature off in order for the
stencils to appear properly.
END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT (EULA):
This product is NOT Shareware, Freeware, or an Evaluation version. Its legal use
is contingent upon purchase directly from RF Cafe, as no distributors are authorized.
Unauthorized copying, alteration or distribution of this product is prohibited by
law. Please visit the RF Cafe website to submit payment for this product. Simply
put, if you are using this product in any way and have not paid for it, then you
are a criminal.
Disclaimer: RF Stencils for Visio is offered AS IS. Your use of this product
implies you alone accept responsibility for results obtained through its use, and
will hold harmless Kirt Blattenberger, RF Cafe, and all associates for any losses
incurred through its use. This product has been tested very thoroughly, and there
are no known problems at the time of this release.
NOTES:
Version 3b - Node dot replaced in the "Resistors-Capacitors-Inductors-Passives.vss"
stencils.
Version 3.1 - Added "Panel Components.vss" stencils.
Basic Instructions
Every stencil set has a "Info - RF Stencils Visio v3.0" object that contains
tips on Layers and how to edit Grouped objects without needing to first Ungroup
them. This comes in handy for changing line, text, and/or background fill colors.
Page Templates
Standard A- and B-size drawing templates are provided that come with a Page Scale
preset to play well with the supplied stencil objects. You may, of course, change
the page scale to whatever is most convenient for you. If large changes are made,
you might need to re-size text and line widths.
Switches
The position selection pointer has its rotation axis set on the common "C" terminal
so the pointer can easily be made to contact any of the switch positions.
Component Parameters
Rather than attach an electrical parameter set to each stencil, a separate generic
stencil is provided that can be dropped onto shapes and modified as needed.
Rather than clutter the stencil selection with essentially redundant components,
a single version is provided, and the specification text, where applicable, is provided
as a separate component. You can of course add your own text objects to the drawing,
just as you can add any other type of Visio built-in objects.
Download this VSS file
with newly added components that have not yet made it into a overall RF Stencils
for Visio revision.
Known Issues (all due to Visio settings that
can be easily changed)
- Security warning?
In Visio 2013 and newer, you will probably
need to change the "File Block Settings" that have been added for security purposes.
Please see the Microsoft support page for detailed instructions on
File Block Settings
(it's easy to do).
- Per the book
Microsoft Visio 2016 Step-by-Step: "Visio 2016 can open .vsd and .vdx
files from Visio 2002 but cannot save in either of those formats."
New Panel Components brings the total to more than 780
custom-built symbols, this has got to be the most comprehensive set of Visio Stencils
available for RF, analog, and digital system and schematic drawings!
(Panel Components free to v3.0 owners)
Every object has been built from scratch to fit proportionally on the provided
A- and B-size drawing page templates (you can use your own page if preferred). Components
are provided for equipment racks (EIA and ETSI) and test equipment, system block
diagrams and conceptual drawings, and for schematics.
Shapes not aligning to grid?
All components are drawn to align to the grid set up for: Page Setup -> Drawing
Scale ->
-> Architectural Scale of 1" = 1' 0".
Colors not appearing properly?
Make certain that the Color Themes are
set to "No Theme"

Everything in the above example drawing is included in RF Stencils
for Visio v3.1.
Includes 2011 ARRL Handbook Symbols!
* The 2016 ARRL Handbook symbols appear
to be identical to the 2011 set.
The
Standard edition of Visio (~$210) does not include
the extra set of engineering stencils that come with the
Professional version (~$590), and the few symbols
included with Professional are pretty lame. Thanks to RF Stencils for Visio v3.1,
you can own the cheaper Standard edition and still quickly create publication quality
drawings in very little time. If you are already familiar with the basic features
of Visio, there is no learning curve to suffer through.
Test equipment and racks are built at a 1:1 scale so that measurements can be
made directly without needing to have a calculator handy. Page templates are provided
with a preset scale (you can change it) for a good presentation that can mix all
provided symbols. A look through the stencil sets below testifies to the claim of
completeness. These symbols took literally hundreds of hours to create, so the minimal
cost can easily be justified for time they will save you. Additionally, a consistent
appearance will assure a premium quality presentation.
Here are screen captures of all the stencil sets provided with RF Stencils for
Visio v3. Click on the thumbnails for large versions. Please check the
NOTES section on this page for
updates and instructions.
AC, DC, Signal Sources
 Note:
Early v3 file sets were missing the stencils shown to the right in the 2nd and 4th
rows. Please contact me for a replacement. |
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Amplifiers, Opamps
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Antennas, Towers
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Attenuators, Terminations
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Connectors
 Special "Connector
Kit" makes building in-series and between-series adapters simple. |
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Converters, Mixers, Modulators, Detectors
 |
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Couplers, Hybrids, Samplers
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Digital, Logic
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Dividers, Combiners, Circulators, Isolators
 |
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EIA Equipment Racks
 Special "Workbench
Kit" makes building a workbench of any size easy. |
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ETSI (metric) Equipment Racks
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Filters, Diplexers, Duplexers
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Page Templates
 A- and B-size drawings with border and
title block. Portrait and landscape layouts. |
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Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Wireless Devices
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Panel Meters, Switches, Lamps, Connectors, Fuse Holder, Circuit Breaker
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Resistors, Capacitors, Inductors, Transformers, Lamps, Passives
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Semiconductors
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Smith Chart

Smith Chart rights owned by the IEEE |
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Substrate Stacks
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Switches
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Test Equipment

Flanges for rack mounting and frames for bench top placements included. Instruments
are generic and can be modified as needed. |
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Vacuum Tubes
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Waveguide
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