End of Mainstream Support Microsoft Visio 2016 Mainstream Support ended on October 13, 2020.

Extended Support The product is currently in the Extended Support phase, which ends on October 14, 2025.

Visio 2016 is still a capable, powerful diagramming tool – especially for Windows‑centric professionals who need offline, data‑driven diagrams. However, its high price, lack of real‑time collaboration, and Windows‑only limitation make it less appealing in 2026 unless you already own it or your company requires it. For most new projects, a modern web‑based tool like Lucidchart or even the free Draw.io offers better value and teamwork features.

Recommendation:

Would you like a comparison with Visio Plan 2 (subscription) or a specific alternative?

In Microsoft Visio 2016, "generating a piece" typically refers to creating a part or assembly drawing using specific engineering templates. Steps to Generate a Part or Assembly Drawing

Select Template: Go to File > New, click on Categories, and then select Engineering. Choose the Part and Assembly Drawing template and click Create.

Set Up Your Page: This template opens a scaled drawing page in landscape orientation. You can adjust the scale or grid anytime via the Design tab. Draw the Piece:

Drawing Tools: Use the Line, Rectangle, and Ellipse tools found on the Home tab in the Tools group to sketch the outlines of your part.

Special Shapes: Drag specialized shapes like Circular Tangent or Arc Tangent from the stencil to the page to create complex systems like belts or rounded vessels.

Edit and Refine: Use the Pencil tool to add or delete vertices, allowing you to reshape segments into the exact geometry you need. Other Ways to "Generate" in Visio 2016

Generate from Data: Use the Organization Chart Wizard to automatically build a chart from an external Excel file or database.

Create Custom Shapes: Draw your own unique "piece" and save it as a Master Shape in a custom stencil for future use.

Generate a Web Embed: To share your work, select Embed from a OneDrive-hosted file and click Generate to get a code for web pages.

Are you looking to generate a mechanical part specifically, or are you trying to create a diagram from external data? How to design your own shapes in Microsoft Visio.

For IT professionals, Visio 2016 remains a critical tool for documentation. The network stencils include realistic vector images of Cisco, Juniper, Dell, and generic servers, routers, switches, and firewalls. You can layer the diagram—placing the floor plan on a background layer and network equipment on a foreground layer.

Containers group shapes visually and logically. When you move a container, all contained shapes move with it. Lists arrange shapes in neat rows or columns, automatically aligning and spacing them.

Microsoft Visio 2016 is a diagramming and vector graphics application designed for creating professional diagrams such as flowcharts, organizational charts, network diagrams, floor plans, and process maps. It’s part of the Microsoft Office family (sold separately) and targets business users who need to visualize complex information clearly.