Appendix

Glossary

  • MCP (Model Context Protocol): the open standard that lets an AI assistant use external tools. Vizspect is an MCP server; your assistant is an MCP client.
  • Bridge: a small helper that lets assistants expecting a local (stdio) MCP server talk to Vizspect’s HTTP server. Vizspect points Claude Desktop and the ChatGPT (Codex and Work) apps at it automatically.
  • Sign-in token: the secret an AI assistant must present (as an Authorization: Bearer header) to reach Vizspect when Require sign-in token is on. Copy it from the tray’s Copy sign-in token. It guards the drawing itself (reads and edits) and is turned on automatically when you allow LAN access, so a network-reachable server is never left open.
  • Control token: a separate secret that authorizes remote start / stop / restart of the server over the network (for example the Mac-side restart script in a Parallels setup). Copy it from the tray’s Copy control token. It manages the server process only; it can’t read or change a drawing.
  • Reference numeral: the number labelling a part in a figure (e.g. 210), tied to the specification.
  • Lead line (leader): the thin line from a reference numeral to the part it labels.
  • Master shape: a ready-made Visio shape from a stencil (e.g. the flowchart Decision diamond) that Vizspect can drop in and bring into the house style.
  • Swimlane: a process diagram divided into lanes, each an actor or subsystem, showing which one performs each step.
  • Compliance check (lint): a read-only check of a page’s geometry (margins, overlaps, crossings, stranded numerals) before you call a figure done.
  • Stadium: the rounded “racetrack” shape used for START / END in a flowchart.