Drawing flow Charts
Discussion
It's something I do a lot of as part of my job. And no other tool is as good as OmniGraffle on Mac OS X, IMO. Blows the doors off Visio. OmniGraffle is 
ing superb and well worth the reasonable cost ($150 for the professional version, which you'll need if you're working with Windows and Visio files).
Only downside (for many) is that it is a Mac OS X app, and will not run on Windows. Not a problem for me, but I'm happy with the Mac OS.
Probably not a great answer to your question, but if you're going to be spending much time diagramming anything from business processes to network architecture, it's worth investing in a tool designed for the job. It will save you lots of time.
ing superb and well worth the reasonable cost ($150 for the professional version, which you'll need if you're working with Windows and Visio files).Only downside (for many) is that it is a Mac OS X app, and will not run on Windows. Not a problem for me, but I'm happy with the Mac OS.
Probably not a great answer to your question, but if you're going to be spending much time diagramming anything from business processes to network architecture, it's worth investing in a tool designed for the job. It will save you lots of time.
sparkythecat said:
Burgmeister said:
You can draw nice bubbles and arrows with the drawing bar in word. otherwise i haven't really needed any specialist software
It's been there staring me in the face all the time.Doh!
Top tip if you are going to use word for flowcharts:
Get your page breaks in first befor you start charting.
Another vote for Word - with the caveat that for anything more than the basics it's boocks.
Visio is ok though, although I don't know which (if any) versions of office it comes in nowadays, and it's a bit of a git that you can't view visio files with a standard office install.
Smartdraw is supposed to be good too, and has a free trial - and doesn't require purchasing a mac, along with replacing all the current software you need...
ocks.Visio is ok though, although I don't know which (if any) versions of office it comes in nowadays, and it's a bit of a git that you can't view visio files with a standard office install.
Smartdraw is supposed to be good too, and has a free trial - and doesn't require purchasing a mac, along with replacing all the current software you need...
Simpo Two said:
Isn't it great when you have a PC and someone gives you a 'What you need is a Mac' answer? 
Once long ago Macs had the best user interface known to man (Even if they did steal it).But by now? Everyone else has stolen it too! Windows, the Linux desktops etc. So what's the point. Even the processor is the same one as in a PC.
If you want a beautiful PC - buy a beautiful PC!
There's nothing special left about a Mac other than how the fans feel about them. Which is fine! Mac fans enjoy! Whilst the rest of us get on with using our computers...
Burgmeister said:
i really want a mac. mainly because they look nice but im not sure how long it would take to learn how to use it
No time at all. They are very user friendly and are virtually identical to a PC in all the ways that count to an "end-user"...or, at least, they were the last time I had a go on one.You could simply buy a nice looking PC if you're worried. Thousands of different firms make them.
Simpo Two said:
Isn't it great when you have a PC and someone gives you a 'What you need is a Mac' answer?
Come on... the OP wanted to know a good app for flow charts. Point out where he stated he required Windows software or even said he had a PC?Besides, I pointed out in my recommendation that if you needed a Windows app then OmniGraffle wouldn't be any use.
I didn't say 'get a Mac' or even recommend getting one (OmniGraffle is a brilliant diagramming app but probably not worth changing OS platform for!
)I did spot the wink in the header of your post, but that didn't stop Don making sarcastic comments about 'the rest get on with using their computers'.
All I was trying to say was that if you use Mac OS X, then OmniGraffle blows the doors off any competing app. If you don't use OS X then you can't use OmniGraffle. The reason I didn't make any reference to Linux apps is that the OP mentioned MS Office, which is only available on Windows or Mac OS X.
Don said:
Visio is the tool for doing this. Ahem. Even a very old, pre-requiring-activation, copy of Visio 2000 or summat would be just fine...
Second that.... In fact I'd almost say, use the earliest version of visio you can. I have a copy of "Pre Microsoft" Visio, and I'm still using it on Vista!!!
Edited by dilbert on Thursday 6th December 22:01
cyberface said:
Probably not a great answer to your question, but if you're going to be spending much time diagramming anything from business processes to network architecture, it's worth investing in a tool designed for the job . It will save you lots of time.
Cool, does this mean I can replace my clunky process modelling tools with something that looks so nice and friendly.I trust BPEL, BPML and XPDL support is built in
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