RF Microwave Wireless Analog Block Diagrams Stencils Shapes for Visio - v3.1

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).

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.

Important: 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.

Important: 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.

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.

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.