To quickly access Help, use the Type a question for help box on the menu bar. You can type questions in this box to quickly find the answers you need. For example, type how do I create an ink shape to learn about using ink in Microsoft Office Visio. The content returned is shown in order of relevance, where the most likely answer to your question appears first.

Note  Not all languages versions support the Type a question for help box.

You can click Microsoft Office Visio Help on the Help menu to display the Visio Help task pane, a resource that provides a variety of help options. You can type specific words or phrases in the Search box to return a list of possible answers (in order of relevance, with the most likely answer to your question at the top), or click the Table of Contents link to browse for the help you need. When you are connected to the Internet, the information available to you from the Visio Help task pane includes all of the up-to-date Help topics and templates that are most likely to provide the answers to your questions as well as direct links to training courses, product updates, clip art, and more on Microsoft Office Online.

You can access Microsoft Office Online directly from any Microsoft Office System program by using the Microsoft Office Online command on the Help menu. Microsoft Office Online offers many additional resources to help you get your work done in Office. You can also use the links provided on the Visio Help task pane to access assistance and training on Microsoft.com. The following services are provided on Microsoft Office Online:

• Assistance  Up-to-date information in the form of how-to articles, conceptual topics, columns, and tips to answer your questions about using Office 2003 programs to get your work done.
• Templates  Predesigned templates, including calendars, business cards, invoices, resumes, newsletters, marketing materials, and much more, to download and use with your Office programs.
• Training  Training courses to learn more about using Office 2003 programs to get your work done. Training courses cover feature or activity areas in Office and allow you to discover features and learn best practices for using the products. Courses are short (20-50 minutes), self-paced, and include graphics, animation, audio, and practice sessions for hands-on experience.
• Clip Art and Media  Clip art, sounds, animations, and photos to download and use with Office 2003.
• Downloads  Product updates, add-ins, converters, and viewers to download for the Office 2003 programs.
• Office Marketplace  Third-party products and services that work with Office 2003.

Conduct a search in useful reference books and search sites with the Research task pane.

Visit the Microsoft.com Download Center, where you can find a vast array of technical files for all Microsoft products available to download over the Internet. These downloads include device drivers, service packs, patches, as well as full products.

Microsoft Press offers the training and support materials you need to help you get more from Microsoft Office, Microsoft Windows 2000, and Microsoft Windows XP.

Whether you're a beginning user, an advanced user, a support professional, or a software developer, Microsoft Press has what you're looking for— from quick-and-easy handbooks and self-paced training guides to desktop references, technical resources, and programming titles.

To locate your nearest source for Microsoft Press products worldwide, visit the Microsoft Press Web site or contact your local Microsoft office. In the United States, call (800) MS-PRESS. In Canada, call (800) 667-1115.

Microsoft TechNet  The comprehensive information resource for evaluating, implementing, and supporting Microsoft business products. A TechNet subscription delivers the knowledge of the entire Microsoft product support division directly to you every month on CD-ROM. TechNet provides fast, in-depth answers to questions about programs, network management, system implementation, database administration, drivers and patches, technology directions, and product evaluation. More than 250,000 pages of detailed, technical information help you get more done in less time. To subscribe to Microsoft TechNet in the United States and Canada, call (800) 344-2121.

Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) CD-ROM Library  The comprehensive source of programming information and toolkits for those who write programs for Microsoft Windows 2000 and Microsoft Windows XP operating systems, and for those who use Microsoft products for development purposes. Members with an MSDN annual subscription are kept up-to-date through regular deliveries of information, a newsletter, and other information sources. To subscribe to the Microsoft Developer Network in the United States and Canada, call (800) 759-5474.

Both numbers are toll-free in the United States and Canada. Outside the United States and Canada, contact your local Microsoft subsidiary for information.