Microsoft previews Arabic Visio 2003 at GITEX

Microsoft Office Visio 2003 gives business and technical users the power to visualize and communicate ideas, information, and systems using easy to use and flexible tools to build and share business and technical charts and graphics and communicate them with impact. Along with the Arabic language support, Visio 2003 Arabic is fully integrated with other Office System 2003 applications and supports the Islamic calendar, Arabic searches and Internet browsing requirements.

"The Middle East's business users will benefit greatly from the Arabic version of Visio 2003, through the ability to create and exchange charts and graphics in Arabic, and with the full integration it offers with Microsoft Office System 2003," said Assem Hijazi, localization manager, Microsoft Middle East and North Africa.
Visio users in the Middle East will now be able to set their reports dates and times not only in the Arabic language, but also in Hijri.

Features in the Arabic-enabled Visio 2003 also include Arabic AutoCorrect entries, Arabic Proofing Tools including Thesaurus, Arabic Text Search as well as the Arabic Research and Library feature which allows users to conduct research on topics using an encyclopaedia, Web search, or by accessing third-party content.

Users of Windows Share Point Services and Visio 2003 are now also able to co-author documents and share information through Meeting Workspaces and Document Workspace in Arabic.

"Arabic Visio 2003 is a powerful application that addresses the needs of business users for the planning, charting and sharing of information. The Arabic support means that the same value of Visio 2003 will be extended to environments operating and corresponding in Arabic," concluded Hijazi.