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Last week VMware send out the invitations for the VCDX defend session at the Partner Exchange Las Vegas 2010. Like many others Iā€™m trying to finish my application on time. So any help, shortcut and timesavers will help realize the goal. At this moment these tools and shortcuts save me lots of time:
Puretext
Steve miller created a simple but awesome tool. Puretext will strip any formatting while pasting text. This IS the lifesaver for me at the moment, because Iā€™m copying text from older documents with different Fonttype and size. Run the small exe file and start loving the windows key + v command.
http://www.stevemiller.net/puretext/
Visio shapes
Besides using graphics from the official VMware Branding Team, I also use visio shapes from the Xtravirt Presentation Pack 2.1. (needs registration)
http://viops.vmware.com/home/servlet/JiveServlet/download/1514-2-5957/VMware-Stencil1-vSphere.zip
http://viops.vmware.com/home/servlet/JiveServlet/download/1514-2-5966/VMware-Stencil2-vSphere.ziph
http://xtravirt.com/presentation-pack
Visiocafe will offer some really sweet vendor shapes, this will make your presentation look even more impressive šŸ™‚
http://www.visiocafe.com/vsdfx.htm
Visio shortcuts:

Align Shapes: F8
Duplicate: CTRL + D
Group: CTRL + G
Ungroup: CTRL + Shift + U
Fill: F3
Line format: ALT O L (ALT O = letter o)
Pointer tool: CTRL + 1
Text tool: CTRL + 2
Line tool: CTRL + 6
Rectangle tool: CTRL + 8
Centre Text: CTRL+Shift+C
Bring to Front: CTRL+Shift_F
Actual size: CTRL + Shift + i
Whole page: CTRL + W

If you have a tip, please feel free to comment

10 Responses

  1. Dave Convery

    Don’t forget – make sure all questions / fields are completed in the application. The application becomes the basis for the design defense.
    If you are a consultant, choose a design in which you are intimately familiar. This will make the conversations easier.
    If you are using a “hypothetical” design, make sure all of your facts are in order and are documented. It should become a design that could be implemented successfully.
    Don’t forget the 15 minute “executive presentation”. This is what I used to reference diagrams for storage and network design aspects. I found myself referring back to it during the conversations.
    RELAX! These guys do not mean to be intimidating or adversarial. They are trying to determine if you have the ability to explain your designs and answer questions. Pretend you are in front of a customer (or your IT team) and are presenting your design to them.
    Good Luck! You’ll do fine!
    Dave Convery, VCDX #20

  2. Dave Murray

    The VMware stencils from the site doesn’t seem to go anywhere. Any ideas where I can get them as I am doing a fair bit of doco during the quiet period.
    cheers
    Dave

    • Frank Denneman

      It appears they were removed from the site this week. Hopefully they will put them back online soon.

  4. Bouke Groenescheij

    Nice shortcut list: I’ve got one too and saves a lot of time with large Visio:
    – to zoom in and out… Hehehe – it’s a lifesaver šŸ™‚

  5. Bouke Groenescheij

    Lol, using brackets breaks up the post – sorry. I’ll do it without them (with a new one I’ve just found out):
    Ctrl-Scroll Wheel Up/Down -> Zoom in/out
    Ctrl-Shift Right Mouse click and move mouse while pressed -> moves the viewport of the Visio
    Cheers.