Looking for a Visio Alternative that is easier to use

[NewByUser]

Any alternatives to Visio that are easier to use. I like SmartDraw as it was very intuitive but don't want to license it every year I use it. 

I just have some simple database diagrams and dataflow diagrams but am having a hard time with the learning curve of Visio.  Thanks, Leon

[Paul Herber]

Is there anything much easier? Just select the diagram type and start dropping shapes on the page?

Does SmartDraw require an annual fee? There does seem to be what they call a freedom license that is targetted at large organisations, otherwise it appears to be a one-off cost.

I'm surprised you find database simple but Visio hard.

[vojo]

Most if not all free tools similar to visio are not much more than toys for a 5th grader to explain how he spent his summer vacation.

openoffice draw is pathetic since it does not even have aliasing (despite claiming so)
   (at rate and pace...all open office tools will be useful around version 5.0...they are at 3.1)
Dia is a joke compared to even ppt...UI is something a java programmer did over a weekend
Gliffy is low function toolset
etc

Most of these are pretty amateur attempts at this kind of thing.

Frankly, if you are intimidated by visio...you should probably just stick with PPT.
(why use a "mech pencil / quadrille paper" when a "crayon / napkin" suffices)

[wapperdude]

Visio has a database Wizard that you might want to try.  You can find it here:  menu bar > Tools > Add-Ons > Visio Extras. 

Also, if you explore the Visio home site, http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/visio/default.aspx, and search for database, there are a lot of useful entries.

HTH
WApperdude

[Visio Guy]

Vojo,

You're killin' me! Nice post!

I know that in some ways Visio is showing its age, but most of the "Visio Killers" that I have seen seem to lack any aim, other than copying Visio in a crappy way, but having two or three features that are better than Visio (Hey, let's throw in rotatable gradient fills!)

For a real kick, check out ConceptDraw. They've even included a ShapeSheet (looks exactly like Visio 2.0s ShapeSheet!!), and flat-out copied shapes that I built for Visio in 1993! I don't understand why they put so much work into just copying Visio. Why not make something that is better, more modern, or fills a niche that needs filling?

[Stefan]

In our organisation when the software was upgraded from Visio 2000 to 2003, one of the guys switched to Conceptdraw on his own PC which he says is very similar to Visio 2000, as he was unable or did not wish to put the small effort into making the change, he says he can convert Visio drawings using Conceptdraw, will Visio open Conceptdraw drawings?

When I upgraded to Visio 2007, I bought the Microsoft book to assist in the transition, which I found very useful.
Stefan       

[Barbara80]

ConceptDraw can save in Visio format. Though I'm a Visio user, we use ConceptDraw at work and i'm very pleased with it. Thinking of crossgrading to conceptdraw in the near future.