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Can You Create P&ID or PFD Diagrams in Visio for the Web?
Question details
The user wants to know if it is possible to create Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) or Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs) using the web version of Microsoft Visio.
- Product
- Visio for the Web
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to create complex engineering diagrams like P&IDs or PFDs through the browser-based version of Visio.
- Observed behavior
- The necessary templates and tools for creating P&IDs and PFDs are entirely missing or unavailable in Visio for the web.
Ensure you have an active Visio Plan 2 subscription, as these specific engineering diagrams require premium features available only in the desktop application.
Use the Visio Desktop Application
Since Visio for the web does not support P&ID and PFD diagrams, you must use the fully featured Windows desktop application to access these specific templates.
Microsoft currently limits complex, industry-specific diagramming tools to the desktop version of Visio. Web users, including Mac users who only have access to the browser version natively, will not find these templates online.
Open the Microsoft Visio desktop application on your Windows PC.
Click on 'File' > 'New', and select the 'Engineering' category, or use the search bar to look for 'P&ID' or 'PFD'.
Select the appropriate template and click 'Create' to begin drafting your Piping and Instrumentation or Process Flow diagram.
Submit a Feature Request to Microsoft
If you are on an unsupported environment like a Mac and rely on the web version, you can submit a formal feature request to Microsoft to add P&ID and PFD support to Visio for the web.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I find P&ID templates in Visio for the web?
Microsoft limits certain complex, industry-specific diagram templates, including P&IDs and PFDs, to the Visio Desktop application due to the extensive shape libraries and advanced features they require.
Can I view existing P&ID diagrams in Visio for the web?
Yes, if a P&ID or PFD was created and saved in the Visio desktop application, you can usually open and view it in Visio for the web, even though you cannot edit or create new ones from scratch.
How can I use Visio desktop on a Mac to create PFDs?
Because there is no native Visio desktop application for Mac, you will need to install a Windows virtualization program like Parallels Desktop or use Apple Boot Camp to run Windows, and then install Visio desktop inside that environment.
