convert Markdown (mermaid / mmd) to Visio (vsdx)

AI-assisted programming simplifies the creation of algorithm flowcharts. Many large language models (LLMs) are capable of generating Markdown (Mermaid) flowcharts. However, Markdown editors lack the functionality to edit these flowcharts as intuitively as specialized drawing tools such as Visio, which allow for actions like moving nodes or reorganizing layouts.

The tool md2visio bridges this gap by converting Markdown (Mermaid/MMD) into Visio (.vsdx) format. This enables users to leverage the capabilities of LLMs for initial chart creation while also benefiting from the advanced editing features of Visio for further customization and refinement of the flowcharts.

Mermaid example:

journey
    %% journey test
    title My working day
    section Go to work
      Make tea: 5: Me
      Go upstairs: 3: Me
      Do work: 1: Me, Cat
    section Go home
      Go downstairs: 5: Me
      Sit down: 5: Me
    section Go home
    	Make tea: 3: Me

Generated Visio graph:

md2visio /I MD_FILE /O OUTPUT_PATH [/V] [/Y]

/I      Specify the path of the input file (.md)
/O      Specify the path/folder of the output file (.vsdx)
/V      Show the Visio application while drawing (optional, default is invisible)
/Y      Quietly overwrite the existing output file (optional, by default requires user confirmation)
/?      Print this help

Example:

md2visio /I D:\figure.md /O D:\

It converts all Mermaid figures in figure.md and outputs .vssx files to D:\

• Microsoft Visio 2010 or later. You need install Visio since md2visio opens Visio and automatically draws figures on it.
• md2visio.vssx. This stencil file is provided by this project (./md2visio/md2visio.vssx). It contains basic figure parts used by md2visio. You need to put this file to execution file path (or system path).

Development plan:

• graph / flowchart
  • themes
• journey
  • themes
• sequencefigure
• classfigure
• statefigure
• statefigure-v2
• erfigure
• gantt
• pie
  • themes
• quadrantChart
• requirementfigure
• gitGraph
• C4Context
• mindmap
• timeline
• zenuml
• sankey-beta
• xychart-beta
• block-beta
• packet-beta
  • themes
• kanban
• architecture-beta
• Configuration
  • frontmatter
  • directive

The implementation of the project consists of several parts:

Syntax Parsing. When parsing Mermaid syntax, the project treats the Mermaid text as a state machine composed of different fields. By continuously looking ahead and backtracking, it identifies the components that constitute different types of figures. The initial state for every figure is always SttMermaidStart (three or more Backtick), and the final state is always SttMermaidClose (three or more Backtick).

Building the data structure for figures. The parsed components are structured into a well-defined format, preparing the data for rendering.

Rendering in Visio. To enable rendering, an md2visio.vssx file was created. It contains reusable graphical elements which the rendering program repeatedly uses to construct the figures.

The project is built with Visual Studio 2022. All dependency solution files are uploaded.

• WonderCircuits.Microsoft.Office.Interop.Visio
• WonderCircuits.Microsoft.Office.Core
• WonderCircuits.Microsoft.Vbe.Interop
• YamlDotNet