TABLE OF CONTENTS This chapter discusses how to quickly create professional-looking FAST Diagrams using Microsoft Visio and by utilizing a number of templates I created using that program to convert FAST Trees into FAST Diagrams. The best approach is to lay out a rough draft of your proposed FAST Diagram on a large sheet of paper, flip chart, flat surface, or dry eraser board by writing functions on rectangular card stock or writing functions within drawn rectangles and placing them so they can be logically connected to show relationships among the various functions. Then connect the rectangles containing functions with horizontal and vertical lines so all logical relationships can be tied together. Those relationships are easy to establish by following the logic of the functions posted within your FAST Tree. Once this has been accomplished, count the maximum number of functions that must be placed from left to right in your rough-draft FAST Diagram. Also, count the maximum number of functions required from top to bottom or vertically.
Once the maximum horizontal and vertical numbers have been determined, decide if the diagram should be drawn portrait or landscape. Available portrait templates are listed in Figure A.1, and landscape templates are listed in Figure A.2. The first number of the template name identifies the number of horizontal rectangles and the second number identifies the number of vertical rectangles. Select a template name that is equal to or larger than what is required.
3x9Template.vst
3x13Template.vst
5x14Template.vst
5x18Template.vst
