29
13
I need an alternative to Visio for making diagrams (particularly signal processing block diagrams) that includes some kind of custom stencils + connection points. I just spent 2 hours learning bits and pieces of Dia only to find that it has no rotational capabilities, not even 90 degree rotations. Otherwise it's great.
Any suggestions?
Jason S
Posted 2009-08-24T22:19:29.433
Reputation: 5 983
3
I just found out about yEd and am very happy with it.
Jason S
Posted 2009-08-24T22:19:29.433
Reputation: 5 983
yEd design is flawed! You can't even create more than 1 line connector originating from a joint on a node. Trying to create a free standing line is painful. I absolutely do not recommend yEd. – Peon – 2012-08-12T00:34:02.740
14
Here is an annotated list of alternatives to MS Visio. SmartDraw is considered a close match to Visio.
Otherwise it includes:
Peter Mortensen
Posted 2009-08-24T22:19:29.433
Reputation: 10 992
Any able to export the diagrams to Latex?. I don't mean able to export it to a picture and then embed it on your document but generate Latex (or Tikz or forest or smartdiagram) code to recreate the diagram? – skan – 2016-12-04T12:06:29.247
But SmartDraw is not free or is it? – Robert Koritnik – 2012-06-12T08:25:08.893
1SmartDraw 2012 is nearly $200 USD. Not only a close match to Visio but close match in price. – Peon – 2012-08-12T00:36:29.853
7
On the Mac, I'm a big fan of OmniGraffle from The Omni Group. It has all the features you're looking for, and the pro version can even import and export visio files.
There's also a website called Graffletopia (which, as a new user, I'm apparently not allowed to link to) that's full of user-contributed stencils and extras you can use.
Ben Stanfield
Posted 2009-08-24T22:19:29.433
Reputation: 71
http://graffletopia.com/ ;-) – las3rjock – 2009-08-25T00:07:29.590
4
I am a fan of OpenOffice Draw.
Anyway, This page discusses a few - http://www.osalt.com/visio
When I did my course at uni, we were encouraged to use Violet for UML modelling as a alternative to Visio, can't remember if it does what you need though!
(I am unable to find it, but sure this has been asked before.)
William Hilsum
Posted 2009-08-24T22:19:29.433
Reputation: 111 572
3
And then there's VUE, very powerful tool, best of all its free! you just have to sign up with your email an password to download the installation
The Visual Understanding Environment (VUE) is an Open Source project based at Tufts University. The VUE project is focused on creating flexible tools for managing and integrating digital resources in support of teaching, learning and research. VUE provides a flexible visual environment for structuring, presenting, and sharing digital information.
You need Java installed for it though
rzlines
Posted 2009-08-24T22:19:29.433
Reputation: 7 006
1
SmartDraw
MicTech
Posted 2009-08-24T22:19:29.433
Reputation: 9 888
1
I was looking for open-source or just freeware Visio alternatives for my home Windows box for years, unfortunately without avail. Every tool I tried (Dia, OpenOffice, Gliffy) was problematic in many ways, not to mention missing lots of advanced features from Visio.
At last this year I bit the bullet and bought Visio 2007 catching a sale that made it very reasonably priced. Now I'm not looking back - it's an amazing tool, well worth paying for.
Eli Bendersky
Posted 2009-08-24T22:19:29.433
Reputation: 594
1
A very brief google search would turn up a number of similar products and projects in open source and freeware. Probably the closest to what you are looking for would be dia
OldWolf
Posted 2009-08-24T22:19:29.433
Reputation: 2 293
-1: That was the first thing I looked at. And I already said in my question that I tried dia and it didn't meet my needs. – Jason S – 2011-09-28T13:15:59.463
0
I don't know if it has your specific feature requests or not, but Gliffy is a nice online diagram web application that does lots of stuff.
davr
Posted 2009-08-24T22:19:29.433
Reputation: 4 809
0
I have used Balsamiq - It is very easy to use web app and pretty fast. If you don't want to buy the version - there is an online version which can do the job if you want quick mock ups.
Phantom Yoda
Posted 2009-08-24T22:19:29.433
Reputation: 131
0
We used to use Omnigraffle at work, until we discovered Concept Draw.
It isn't free nor open-source, but for me it is a must have. And it runs Windows and Mac for the same price..
Benoit
Posted 2009-08-24T22:19:29.433
Reputation: 590
For Windows only? – Peter Mortensen – 2009-08-24T23:37:48.793
no... although I have different needs for work (Win32 box) and home (Mac). – Jason S – 2009-08-28T12:33:04.457
Dia is so close to being useful, but that lack of rotation is a real deal-breaker. It can be worked around for the 90 degree cases with more stencils, but that gets old quickly. – RBerteig – 2009-08-31T07:17:20.993
Microsoft Visio alternatives. – Svish – 2009-08-31T06:54:51.413