Showing messages 1 through 12 of 12.

• Visio
  2005-01-22 20:58:00  cscoble [View]
  
  
  So, does OmniGraffle (or any other mac application) convert Visio 2002 files (import and export)? I need to have a visio viewer application for a database class I'm using and I don't want to have to add Virtual PC just for the one viewer (I can create my documents in Word if I have to).
  
  

• Visio
  2005-01-14 04:23:17  Michael Brewer | [View]
  
  
  I'll second the OmniGraffle recommendation. It blows Visio away. Just yesterday I was giving a design review and one of my team members asked me what I used for my diagrams and I told them I used OmniGraffle on my Mac so I could de-uglify Visio's output. They were disappointed that it didn't run on Windows but were impressed with its quality.
  
  It also easily exports to PDF and EPS vector images for inclusion in printed publications.
• Visio
  2005-01-14 05:02:58  Michael Brewer | [View]
  
  
  By the way, I would recommend the Mac Mini to you for a couple of reasons. It's your first dip into the Mac OS X pool – do it cheaply. And you sound like you already have some spare (or soon to be) displays, keyboards, and mouses lying around the house.
  
  When I was looking for something to flee to from Windows back in 2001, Apple had just switched to OS X. This was the only reason I considered a Mac. So, when I bought one, I bought their iBook because at the time it was the cheapest Macintosh they had. It's best to try it out with the cheapest one they have, just in case you don't like it. If so, you can always turn around and sell the Mac Mini for $400.
  
  I bought my mother an iMac G5 to replace her beleaguered Windows computer that had various software and hardware issues (she had to turn an oscillating fan onto it to keep it from overheating) after letting her test out the Mac with an old PowerMac G3 that I bought used shortly after getting the iBook. I do not regret that I could have waited a few weeks and bought her a Mac Mini for less than half the price. The iMac is everything she needs in an almost zero footprint machine. She was delighted with her new computer and its crisp display, out-of-sight (literally and figuratively) speakers, and the fact that she was able to reclaim her desk from a multitude of PC components. Now she wants an iPod to go with it.
  
  I think the iMac with its componentry will still be a useful computer 10 years down the road. But, she had already been exposed to the Macintosh experience and liked it. For others without that advantage, I'd recommend the Mini.

• Visio
  2005-01-12 12:45:16  Jonathan Gennick | [View]
  
  
  Thanks for the tip. I depend on Visio for the figures I draw in my books. I have no real need though, to convert files that I've already drawn, so it's reasonably fine that OmniGraffle doesn't convert older files. Would be nice if it did, but it's not a critical issue. It is nice to know that there's a drag-and-drop drawing tool for the Mac. I've tried some other drawing tools, Freehand for example, and I'm astounded at how difficult they make the task of drawing a simple, box diagram. Partly, I chalk that up to my ignorance of, in this case, Freehand, but still...
• Visio
  2005-01-12 21:36:37  Jerky [View]
  
  
  It's pretty funny that you say that using Freehand is hard compared to Visio. I'm comfortable with using Illustrator, which is somewhat similar to Freehand, and I struggle with using Visio to create even the simplest drawing. I get annoyed that hardly anything has shortcuts(or at least they are not documented in the menus) and I find the line drawing tools really difficult. I've tried really hard to give Visio a chance but I still despise using it. Part of it could be my ignorance of visio but I know my way around quite a few drawing programs like Autocad and Illustrator. Both of those have fairly steep learning curves so I'm not convinced it's entirely me but I still don't rule it out. So I find it funny that someone has same problem just the application use difficulty is reversed.
• Visio
  2005-01-13 09:30:14  Jonathan Gennick | [View]
  
  
  I chalk my drawing difficulties w/Freehand up to ignorance. I'm sure Freehand is a good tool. I should not have singled it out in a negative way. The whole approach to using it though, differs from Visio, and so I'm used to one way and not the other. A couple of sit-down sessions with a Freehand user would probably clear a lot of things up for me.
• Visio alternative
  2005-01-12 14:39:50  GJJ [View]
  
  
  One of my favorite drawing tools is Smart Draw. Much easier to use that Visio in my book. Check it out. I have used it for org charts and program logic diagrams. You have to try it to believe it. The free trial should give you an idea of its capabilities. I think it can import older versions of Visio files as well.
  
  It only runs on a PC, though.
• Visio alternative
  2005-01-13 08:36:48  vainst1k [View]
  
  
  SmartDraw is very good, yes. Blows you away with the thought that went into smoothing the user experience. Great for E-R diagrams. Free viewer, or you can export to .JPG
• Visio alternative
  2005-01-17 16:43:19  andrew_ordo [View]
  
  
  "It only runs on a PC, though."
  
  Not only that, it only runs on Microsoft Windows. :(
• Visio alternative
  2005-01-17 16:43:05  andrew_ordo [View]
  
  
  "It only runs on a PC, though."
  
  Not only that, it only runs on Microsoft Windows. :(
• Visio alternative
  2005-01-17 16:42:02  andrew_ordo [View]
  
  
  > It only runs on a PC, though.
  
  Not only that, it only runs on Microsoft Windows. :(
• Visio alternative
  2005-01-17 16:41:34  andrew_ordo [View]
  
  
  > It only runs on a PC, though.
  
  Not only that, it only runs on Microsoft Windows. :(