The Microsoft Azure, Cloud and Enterprise Symbol / Icon Set package (currently version 2019.9.11) is available as a free download from Microsoft and includes icons for almost all Azure services and Microsoft cloud related technologies currently available.
These icons, mostly .svg or .png , come in handy when making visual representations in Azure related architectural designs or when making project documentation for a customer. I, myself also use them when making training or speaker content to give it all a more professional look.
To automate the download and installation process of this useful package, I wrote the below PowerShell script which does all of the following:
- Download the Microsoft_Cloud_AI_Azure_Service_Icon_Set_2019_09_11.zip file.
- Extract the ZIP file to the My Shapes folder (depending on the Visio version the My Shapes folder is the default-working folder for Visio and it is created during the installation of Visio. If not, you can always create it manually).
- Delete the ZIP file after extraction.
- Close the Windows Terminal (or Windows PowerShell) window.
Things to keep in mind:
- The script will exit if the My Shapes folder does not exist, the advice I would give is to install Microsoft Visio first before using the Symbol /Icon package.
- The script will exit if the Symbols package v2019.9.11 (2019_09_11) already exists in the My Shapes folder.
- The symbol package itself is supported on the following Operating Systems (OS): Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10
- The symbol set supports a variety of applications, including Microsoft Visio, Word and PowerPoint.
- You should remove any previous versions of the symbol set so you can avoid duplicate and deprecated symbols.
- The latest download comes with mostly .svg files, along with some .png and Visio stencils (.vss).
PowerShell script
<#
.SYNOPSIS
A script used to download the Microsoft Azure Cloud and AI Symbol / Icon Set - SVG (version 2019.9.11)
.DESCRIPTION
A script used to download the Microsoft Azure Cloud and AI Symbol / Icon Set - SVG (version 2019.9.11). The downloaded ZIP file (Microsoft_Cloud_AI_Azure_Service_Icon_Set_2019_09_11.zip)
will be extraced to the Microsoft_Cloud_AI_Azure_Service_Icon_Set folder in the My Shapes folder. After extraction the ZIP file will be
deleted.
.NOTES
Filename: Download_Microsoft_Azure_and_Cloud_Symbol_Icon_Set.ps1
Created: 27/08/2019
Last modified: 09/01/2020
OS: Windows 7 or later
PowerShell: 5.1
Version: 3.0
Action: Change variables were needed to fit your needs
Author: Wim Matthyssen
Twitter: @wmatthyssen
Disclaimer: This script is provided "As IS" with no warranties.
.EXAMPLE
.\Download_Microsoft_Azure_and_Cloud_Symbol_Icon_Set.ps1
.LINK
https://tinyurl.com/y3wmsh7o
#>
## 09/01/2020 Changed script name to Download_Microsoft_Azure_and_Cloud_Symbol_Icon_Set.ps1
## 09/01/2020 Changed Microsoft Azure Cloud and AI Symbol / Icon Set version to 2019.9.11
## Variables
$scriptName = "Download_Microsoft_Azure_and_Cloud_Symbol_Icon_Set"
$myDocuments = [environment]::getfolderpath("mydocuments")
$myShapes = "My Shapes"
$myShapesFolder = $myDocuments + "\" + $myShapes
$myShapesValidPath = Test-Path $myShapesFolder
$symbolVersion = "_2019_09_11"
$zipName = "Microsoft_Cloud_AI_Azure_Service_Icon_Set" + $symbolVersion + ".zip"
$azureIconUrl = "https://download.microsoft.com/download/1/7/1/171DA19A-5477-4F50-B354-4ABAF28502A6/{0}" -f $zipName
$azureIconZip = "{0}\{1}" -f $myShapesfolder,$zipName
$azureIconFolder = $myShapesFolder + "\Microsoft_Cloud_AI_Azure_Service_Icon_Set" + $iconVersion
$azureIconValidPath = Test-Path $azureIconFolder
$writeEmptyLine = "`n"
$writeSeperator = " - "
$writeSpace = " "
$time = Get-Date -UFormat "%A %m/%d/%Y %R"
$foregroundColor1 = "Red"
$foregroundColor2 = "Yellow"
##----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
## Start script execution
Write-Host ($writeEmptyLine + "#" + $writeSpace + $scriptName + $writeSpace + "script started" + $writeSeperator + $time)`
-foregroundcolor $foregroundColor1 $writeEmptyLine
##----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
## Test if the My Shapes folder exists, if not exit the script
If ($myShapesValidPath -eq $True){Write-Host ($writeEmptyLine + "#" + $writeSpace + "The" + $writeSpace + $myShapes + $writeSpace`
+ "folder exists, script wil go on" + $writeSeperator + $time) -foregroundcolor $foregroundColor2 $writeEmptyLine
}Else{
Write-Host ($writeEmptyLine + "#" + $writeSpace + "Please install Microsoft Visio, this script will exit in 3 seconds" + $writeSeperator + $time)`
-foregroundcolor $foregroundColor1 $writeEmptyLine
Start-Sleep -s 3
stop-process -Id $PID}
##----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
## Test if the Microsoft_Cloud_AI_Azure_Service_Icon folder already exists in the My Shapes folder exists, if so exit the script
If ($azureIconValidPath -eq $True){Write-Host `
($writeEmptyLine + "#" + $writeSpace + "The Microsoft_Cloud_AI_Azure_Service_Icon folder exists, script will exit in 3 seconds"`
+ $writeSeperator + $time) -foregroundcolor $foregroundColor1 $writeEmptyLine
Start-Sleep -s 3
stop-process -Id $PID
}Else{
Write-Host ($writeEmptyLine + "#" + $writeSpace +"Checks completed, script will go on" + $writeSeperator + $time)`
-foregroundcolor $foregroundColor2 $writeEmptyLine}
##----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
## Download ZIP file and save to My Shapes folder
Import-Module BitsTransfer
Write-Host ($writeEmptyLine + "#" + $writeSpace + "Starting download" + $writeSeperator + $time)`
-foregroundcolor $foregroundColor2 $writeEmptyLine
Start-BitsTransfer -Source $azureIconUrl -Destination $myShapesFolder
Write-Host ($writeEmptyLine + "#" + $writeSpace + "Download complete" + $writeSeperator + $time)`
-foregroundcolor $foregroundColor2 $writeEmptyLine
##----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
## Extract ZIP file
Write-Host ($writeEmptyLine + "#" + $writeSpace + "Starting extraction" + $writeSeperator + $time)`
-foregroundcolor $foregroundColor2 $writeEmptyLine
Expand-Archive $azureIconZip -DestinationPath $azureIconFolder
Write-Host ($writeEmptyLine + "#" + $writeSpace + "Extraction completed" + $writeSeperator + $time)`
-foregroundcolor $foregroundColor2 $writeEmptyLine
##----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
## Clean up ZIP file
Remove-Item $azureIconZip
Write-Host ($writeEmptyLine + "#" + $writeSpace + "Cleaned up extracted file" + $writeSeperator + $time)`
-foregroundcolor $foregroundColor2 $writeEmptyLine
##----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
## Exit PowerShell window 3 seconds after completion
Write-Host ($writeEmptyLine + "#" + $writeSpace + "Script completed, the PowerShell window will close in 2 seconds" + $writeSeperator + $time)`
-foregroundcolor $foregroundColor1 $writeEmptyLine
Start-Sleep 3
stop-process -Id $PID
##----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To use the script, copy and save the above as Download_Microsoft_Azure_and_Cloud_Symbol_Icon_Set.ps1 or download it from GitHub. Afterwards run the script from within Windows Terminal or Windows PowerShell (or any other tool you prefer).
If you already downloaded any previous versions, like e.g. v2019_05_08_2, you can delete it if you do not need those previous symbols or icons anymore. Keep in mind, that if you sync your Documents folder (My Shapes is a subfolder) with your OneDrive, a pop up will appear in your taskbar to Remove those files.
Use with Visio
To use these icons with Visio, open Visio and created a new Blank Drawing. Then just drag and drop the preferred .svg or .png file into the drawing area (most of the time you should adjust the size to your preference).
Another way to use a subset of these icons is by selecting More Shapes, choose Open Stencil and browse to your My Shapes folder.
Select the Microsoft_Cloud_AI_Azure_Service_Icon_Set _2019_09_11 folder, open the azure-icons folder, open the _Flat Symbols folder and then open any of the shown folders. Then select the preferred .vss file.
You can also do a simple search for all .vss files in the Microsoft_Cloud_AI_Azure_Service_Icon_Set _2019_09_11 folder.
Then double click on the .vss file to open all available icons in the Visio sidebar.
If you want to take a look at a specific .svg icon before importing it, you can always use the below SVG Viewer app which you can download for free from the Microsoft Store.
Use with Word
To use the .svg or .png files with Word, you need to open Word and create a new Blank document. Select Insert, choose Pictures and browse to your My Shapes folder. Open the Microsoft_Cloud_AI_Azure_Service_Icon_Set_2019_09_11 folder, then open the azure-icons folder, and look for the preferred .svg or .png file under any of the shown folders. If you prefer, you can also do a simply drag and drop.
Other resources
If you ever want to use any icon you see on the Internet or in the Azure Portal itself, you can always use the Goolge Chrome extension Amazing Icon Downnloader from Matt LaGrandeur.
If you only want to use Azure icons in Visio stencil format (.vssx), I also recommend you to visit David Summers GitHub repo with his design resources for Azure https://github.com/David-Summers/Azure-Design
When you are looking for examples of Azure architecture diagrams, reference architectures, etc., I would advise you to check out this Azure Architectures page. Here you will find around 200 examples and solution ideas you can use as an architectural starting point for your Azure designs or implementations.
Conclusion
This concludes this blog post, have fun using all these Azure and Cloud icons to visual enhance the look of your architectural cloud designs or other documentation.
Wim Matthyssen 
Pingback: Dowst.Dev | PowerShell Weekly – September 6, 2019