Instant diagrams - six business graphics software packages with diagramming capabilities - includes summary and related article on flowchart software packages - Software Review - Evaluation

Home Office Computing, May, 1995 by William Harrel

THE RIGHT DIAGRAM WILL MAKE A POINT QUICKLY AND clearly. The wrong one, however, will leave your audience confused.

Typically, businesspeople need to create flowcharts, floor plans, schematics, computer network diagrams, organization charts, and project timelines. If you've ever tried to create any of these in a typical drawing program, such as CorelDraw, you know it can be an arduous task.

Here's where a specialized business graphics program comes in. This is a broad category, with products designed only for organization charts or flowcharts (see "Flowcharting Software") and others that allow you to create a wide range of diagrams--everything from a simple organization chart to a complex floor plan. Since most businesspeople often need to generate more than one type of diagram, we cover multipurpose packages here.

Drag-and-Drop Drawing Though the six packages in this roundup take varying approaches, they all have one feature in common: drag-and-drop symbols. The basic procedure for creating a diagram is to pick a symbol from a palette or library, drag it into your drawing, draw connecting lines, add some text, and--just like that--you've got a diagram. Where these products differ, of course, is in their depth of features, ease of use, and little extras.

In addition to being capable diagramming applications, some of these packages (ClarisImpact, IntelliDraw, and Visio) are also practically full-featured drawing programs, complete with the drawing tools and special effects you'd expect from CorelDraw or Freehand. The other three products (ABC SnapGraphics, Chartist-2, and CorelFlow) concentrate primarily on diagramming tools.

Thrills and Frills Since the purpose of these products is to help you to create the most effective diagrams with the least amount of fuss and frustration, the extras each company puts in the box, such as symbol libraries and clip art, are also important. It's helpful, for example, when creating a computer network to use symbols that look like network servers, printers, and modems rather than boxes and octagons. Similarly, floor plans work better when the desks and file cabinets are easily recognizable.

Most often, you'll find yourself creating diagrams to illustrate a point in a presentation or document, so the ability to work with other programs, including presentation graphics or word processors, is another important factor to consider.

All of these products are reasonably easy to learn and use. And when a package practically does the drawing for you, you should be able to get your point across--and look good while doing it.

ABC SnapGraphics 2.0

Rating: ***1/2

WIN

Like presentation packages, most people don't use diagramming software every day. ABC SnapGraphics approaches diagramming by providing features designed to make the program easy to learn and relearn. ABC SnapGraphics supports several different types of charts and diagrams and provides a number of extensive drawing and presentation features.

ABC SnapGraphics supports network diagrams and automatic flowchart shape numbering, and its collection of more than 400 smart shapes (called SnapShapes) is more than many of the other packages reviewed here. Micrografx's Snap technology is the key to this product. SnapShapes automatically resize to text; SnapLines provide automatic line routing and rerouting; and SnapText automatically joins text to lines, so if you move a line, the text moves with it. All of these are well-implemented, intelligent features.

ABC SnapGraphics includes a first-rate online tutorial and quick tour, both of which make the program easy to learn. Another helpful ease-of-use feature is SnapSteps. Similar to Advisors in Harvard Graphics or CueCards in PowerPoint, SnapSteps provide context-sensitive suggestions on diagram design. SnapSteps also advise you on your next step. If you fire up your diagramming software only occasionally, you'll find these tools to be a great help for getting reoriented.

ABC SnapGraphics's template gallery explains how to use the templates themselves, as well as the most appropriate and effective use of various diagrams. Since the package supports 21 chart types, these descriptions are very helpful.

You can link objects to chart shapes--join notes or photographs to your organization chart on personnel, for example. Another nifty feature is the ability to launch applications by double-clicking on a shape, useful for linking charts to data from a spreadsheet or database.

In addition, ABC SnapGraphics is Microsoft Office compatible. During installation, you have the option of placing ABC SnapGraphics onto the Word and Excel button bars. You can launch the program while working in either application, allowing you to link data or include diagrams in your word processor and spreadsheet documents.

Unlike other packages reviewed here, ABC SnapGraphics does not ship with a wealth of clip art and fonts. It is, however, an excellent diagramming package, one that's especially helpful for the occasional user who needs to create graphics in a hurry. And at a street price of about $40, it's a great value as well.