Diagram Designer

Diagram Designer Review

Diagram Designer is a dedicated vector graphics editor with a primary focus on creating various types of diagrams. Unlike broader graphic design software, it tailors its feature set towards efficient diagram creation, including flowcharts, UML diagrams, BPMN diagrams, and simple illustrations.

Interface and Usability

The interface is functional and straightforward, adhering to a classic Windows application design. The main window is divided into standard elements: a menu bar, toolbars for common actions, a symbol palette on the left, the drawing canvas in the center, and a property pane at the bottom for adjusting selected objects. Navigating the interface is intuitive, especially for users familiar with older Windows software. Adding shapes and connectors is a simple drag-and-drop process from the symbol palette to the canvas.

The availability of various predefined symbol palettes is a notable advantage, providing quick access to elements commonly used in different diagram types like flowcharts, electrical symbols, and UML entities. Users can also create custom palettes for frequently used shapes.

Core Features

The core drawing tools are robust enough for creating clean and structured diagrams. Users can draw lines, curves, rectangles, ellipses, and polygons. Connecting objects is facilitated by connector lines that can automatically attach to predefined connection points on shapes. Text can be added and formatted within shapes or as standalone text boxes.

Symbol palettes are central to Diagram Designer's workflow. The software ships with a decent collection, and the ability to load external palettes enhances its versatility. This extensibility is a key factor, allowing users to import symbols relevant to their specific domain.

Embedding bitmap images within diagrams is possible, which can be useful for incorporating logos or other visual elements. Basic bitmap editing tools are included, although for complex image manipulation, external software would be required.

Diagram Types and Support

Diagram Designer provides specific support for several diagram types:

• Flowcharts: Includes a standard set of flowchart symbols and connectors.
• UML Diagrams: Offers symbols for creating UML class diagrams. Support for other UML diagram types is less explicit but possible with general drawing tools.
• BPMN Diagrams: Includes a palette for Business Process Model and Notation elements.
• Network Maps: Basic symbols suitable for creating network diagrams are available.

While it provides the symbols, advanced diagram-specific features like automatic syntax checking or complex relationship management are not present. The focus is on the visual creation of the diagram.

Export and Sharing

Diagram Designer offers a good range of export formats for a free application. Users can save their diagrams as various image formats (GIF, PNG, JPG, BMP, etc.), as well as vector formats like WMF, EMF, and partial SVG support. Exporting to PDF is also a valuable feature for sharing and printing.

The inclusion of a slideshow feature is a simple but useful addition, allowing users to present multi-page diagrams directly from the application.

Performance and Portability

One of Diagram Designer's strengths is its lightweight nature. It has a small installation footprint and requires minimal system resources, making it suitable for older computers or environments where resource efficiency is important. The portability option, allowing it to run directly from a USB drive, is also very convenient.

Extensibility

The plugin architecture is a significant aspect of Diagram Designer. While the availability of third-party plugins may vary, the framework exists for developers to extend the software's capabilities or create specialized palettes. This open structure adds long-term potential.

Limitations

Compared to more modern or commercial diagramming tools, Diagram Designer lacks some advanced features such as:

• Real-time collaboration.
• Deep integration with cloud storage services (beyond basic file saving).
• Advanced auto-layout algorithms.
• Complex data linking or import from external data sources like Excel for automated diagram generation.
• Advanced styling options and themes.
• Comprehensive support for the full range of UML or BPMN diagram types.

The user interface, while functional, feels dated compared to contemporary software.

Conclusion

Diagram Designer is an excellent choice for users who need a free, simple, and lightweight tool for creating various diagrams. Its strong points are its ease of use for basic diagramming, the availability of standard symbol palettes, a decent range of export options, and its portability. While it may lack the advanced features of commercial alternatives, it capably fulfills the core need for visual diagram creation without cost or significant resource overhead. It is particularly well-suited for students, users with basic diagramming needs, or those who prefer a portable application.