Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Powerdraw is replaced by DIA
Powerdraw
I've been searching for a replacement for Visio. When I was a technical software salesperson I used it to map out the customer's overall architecture. Powerdraw is more sophisticated than Inkscape. It is more of a CAD type drawing package but it is easy enough for everyone to use. I am still not able to create my organizational charts and architecture maps. Powerdraw uses something called "blocks" which is evidently a CAD term. These blocks are a lot like clipart but I think they might support more dimensions, so they are great for some things, but they don't have the org. chart symbols or computer symbols like Visio does. It would seem like such a simple thing to add but I can't find it in the freeware download. Therefore, Inkscape and Powerdraw are both great freeware drawing applications that have slightly different verticals but I am still left searching for my Visio replacement. If you are interested in designing a "true" 3d or architectural/CAD like drawing then you should definitely check out Powerdraw. It looks like a sophisticated program with a lot of value for no cost and on top of everything else, it is pretty easy to use!
http://www.tekhnelogos.com/powerdrawindexEn.html
Labels: drawing
Inkscape - Replaced by DIA
Inkscape
Inkscape is a very impressive drawing program. It has all the bells and whistles of the fee based programs and this one is freeware. I really like it because of the robust environment for creating layers and defining your objects. The only thing that I did not get in my initial install were objects (ie computers, disks, signs...) that have been already built. I did find clipart and lots of it on their web site. I am still looking for the more formal objects like you would find in Visio. This is a great program so check it out if you need a good drawing package. A picture is worth a thousand words and it should not be harder to draw the picture than write the thousand words. I think Inkscape will surprise most people with its capabilities.
http://www.inkscape.org/download.php
Inkscape is a very impressive drawing program. It has all the bells and whistles of the fee based programs and this one is freeware. I really like it because of the robust environment for creating layers and defining your objects. The only thing that I did not get in my initial install were objects (ie computers, disks, signs...) that have been already built. I did find clipart and lots of it on their web site. I am still looking for the more formal objects like you would find in Visio. This is a great program so check it out if you need a good drawing package. A picture is worth a thousand words and it should not be harder to draw the picture than write the thousand words. I think Inkscape will surprise most people with its capabilities.http://www.inkscape.org/download.php
Labels: drawing
