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Nearly every business or profession involves the need for graphic documents. Computer Systems Odessa’s ConceptDraw is a powerful, relatively inexpensive, cross-platform application for creating professional-looking business and technical drawings and illustrations quickly and easily.

ConceptDraw is comprehensive diagramming and drawing software, that works under the Classic Mac OS, OS X and Windows. It enables users at all levels to quickly produce professional-looking flowcharts, business diagrams, research layouts, organization schemes, plans and more. XML support extends your reach for exchanging data in text form and visualizing it in ConceptDraw. The Professional version of ConceptDraw adds specialized libraries for IT and technical specialists, CAD compatibility and support for more formats for easier data exchange.

ConceptDraw 1.8.5 is now available as a free update to registered users of the program. This version allows working with documents on a remote FTP server, adds a more powerful Find/Replace function, and now correctly supports documents in Japanese, Chinese and Korean languages. The Macintosh version fixes compatibility issues under Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar. Versions in English, German, French and Spanish are available.

You don’t need to be an artist or have any drawing experience to use ConceptDraw. The floorplan of an office in the image above was produced by me in just a few minutes of experimentation with the program, which comes with more than 100 libraries with nearly 3,000 library objects and more than 50 document templates which enable users to easily and quickly draw all kinds of charts and diagrams - flowcharts, UML diagrams, web site plans, network diagrams, floorplans, timelines, organization charts and more. There is a vast selection of image material to choose from, obviating the need to draw from scratch unless you prefer to.

But if you do, ConceptDraw also features powerful drawing tools, a text editor, functions to program behavior of objects, supports OLE, HTML export, and is Internet-enabled. You can link to most anything on your hard drive, LAN, or on the Internet, as well as different pages within a ConceptDraw document.

ConceptDraw offers you several handy tools for more precise drawing. The Grid provides accuracy in drawing, positioning and measuring objects. For better precision in drawing and positioning objects, you can make the objects snap to the grid lines and nodes, as well as to connection points of objects, etc. “Gluing” lets you keep the objects connected when you manipulate them. You can “glue” the objects to the guide lines dragged out of the rulers, to make the objects move together with the guide line. When you glue the endpoints of connectors to the connection points of the objects, the connection will be maintained even when the objects are repositioned or resized.

All files (including libraries) created in ConceptDraw can be seamlessly opened across the Macintosh and Windows platforms. Any object can be turned into an “intelligent” connector to help to visualize thoughts and illustrate across complex ideas, automatically adjusting their paths when you reposition objects to avoid crossing other objects. With the adjustable grid and the Snap tool you can work with precision. Alignment and Distribution tools help you accurately align objects, create equal spacings and move several objects at once.

The template library gives you a large selection of images to insert in your graphics. There is even a wide selection of maps of North American and European nations, states, and provinces.

Here’s the map object representing Nova Scotia, where I live. :-)

There are also flags of various nations.

And a variety of Mac images in the libraries, both old:

and not so old:

although perhaps not quite up to date either:

You can apply line colors, fill colors, fill and shadow patterns, and gradients to any object in your drawing. Objects also may contain text, which you can edit and format using ConceptDraw’s built-in text editor. With the Snap tool, you can draw accurately and effortlessly while grid lines, guide lines or other objects (at your command) jump into place. You can use formulae to define various object parameters and behavior, giving you extensive control over objects.

ConceptDraw will import and export a variety of file formats, including GIF, JPEG, Enhanced metafile, EPS, and PICT on the Mac, as well as HTML, and you can insert hyperlinks into your drawings and assign them to objects to create Internet-ready documents. Each page of a ConceptDraw document can be saved as a separate Web page. The Professional version also supports import/export to TIFF, PNG and TGA formats. ConceptDraw is also OLE compatible, and ConceptDraw documents can be inserted into files of any program that supports OLE and vice versa.

Computer Systems Odessa claims that ConceptDraw is the only real alternative to Windows-only MS Visio for Macintosh users. A two-way ConceptDraw-Visio Converter is available as a free Online Service at:
http://www.conceptdraw.com/visio/

The Professional version of ConceptDraw lets you import data from PowerPoint
files, and supports working with the files created in Microsoft PowerPoint v.97 (Windows) and v.98 (Macintosh).

ConceptDraw Professional lets you use pictures from the following graphic files:

Raster Formats:
BMP - Widows bitmap;
JPEG - JPEG file;
GIF - GIF file;
TIF - TIFF file (PRO);
PNG - PNG file (PRO);
TGA - TARGA file (PRO);

Vector Formats:
WMF - Windows Metafile (in Windows system);
EMF - Enhanced Metafile;
PCT - Macintosh PICT file;
DXF - AutoCAD DXF document (PRO).

To import graphics from AutoCAD DXF files in ConceptDraw Professional, use the File / Import menu.

ConceptDraw lets you save objects as pictures by means of the Export operation. You can create an image using all the variety of drawing and formatting features in ConceptDraw (see “Drawing Figures”, “Formatting Object Properties”, “Grouping Objects”), and then export the file to one of the following graphic formats:
BMP - Windows bitmap;
JPG - JPEG file;
GIF - GIF file;
EMF - Enhanced Metafile;
PCT - Macintosh PICT file (in Mac system),
EPS - Encapsulated Post Script.
DXF - AutoCAD DXF documents (PRO);
TIF - TIFF files (PRO);
PNG - PNG files (PRO);
TGA - TARGA files (PRO).

The Professional Edition of ConceptDraw, the subject of this review, is specially designed for IT and technical specialists, includes all the features of ConceptDraw Standard, plus more specialized libraries, CAD compatibility, and as noted above, support for additional formats for easier data exchange. ConceptDraw Professional is designed to satisfy the demanding drawing and diagramming needs of software and database developers, Web designers, IT and technical specialists, managers, engineers, architects, scientists and other professionals.

In addition to the Standard version’s feature set, ConceptDraw Professional 1.8.5 adds:

Over 25 additional libraries (930 new objects) for such areas as:
• Network and Internet
• Process Engineering
• Chemical
• Electrical Engineering
• Electronics
• Industrial Equipment

Export to PDF format. Allows for advanced data exchange between users. The hyperlinks in the resulting document remain clickable.

Support for AutoCAD’s DXF format. Makes it possible to edit drawings created in CAD applications, or use ConceptDraw drawings and diagrams in dedicated CAD applications.

Graphic formats. Several more graphic formats added: TIFF, PNG, TGA (import and export)

Generate a chart. Outline support allows to generate a chart based on its textual description and save the drawing in a textual format.

Full PowerPoint support, which lets import PowerPoint presentations and export ConceptDraw drawings to PowerPoint for slide shows and presentations.

Smart objects. The substitute operation lets replace an object with another one, preserving the initial object’s formatting, text and connections to other objects.

ConceptDraw-Visio file conversion. You can use two-way ConceptDraw-Visio file conversion via our online service or locally.

As I said, I am no expert in using object-oriented graphics software, or indeed any graphics software. I know my way around the bitmap graphics program, Color It!, quite well, and I have played around with draw programs off an on since FreeHand was called Aldus FreeHand, as well as the draw module in AppleWorks, but that’s the extent of my experience. Consequently, trying out ConceptDraw Professional was both a bit of a revelation, abad a lot of fun..

With the right user skill applied (that would be user skills far in excess of mine) the samples provided indicate that this program can be made to do some pretty fantastic things. However, it is testimony to the solid design of ConceptDraw Professional that I found it quite intuitive, and even fun to use, in fact more so than any other vector-based graphics program I’ve tried. It actually makes me want to find a practical reason to create some drawings.

Key Features of ConceptDraw in detail:

Extensive Libraries.
Over 100 task-related libraries featuring nearly 3000 objects, plus the ability to create new libraries. There are libraries for web design and networking, business and marketing diagrams, floorplans, electric circuits, UML, database structuring, special libraries of connectors and measuring tools and many others.

When you select and open a Library it appears in a palette beside the document window. Icons depicting the various library objects can be either dragged and dropped into the document, or just double-clicked to insert them.

You can open multiple Libraries simultaneously, which stacks the Library palettes with their title bars showing. When you click on a on a title, that library is summoned to the front of the stack so that its objects may be accessed. Library palette selection contents can be viewed either as icons or text.

Vector Drawing Tools.
The program provides users with the full set of drawing tools: lines, arcs, circles, rectangles, spline. Segments can be easily transformed and joined together, creating complex objects. The “Stamp” tool allows to use any library object as a drawing tool.

• Smart Connectors reshape automatically when the objects are moved. Each object can be transformed into a connector. Automatically connect multiple objects. There is a large library of ready-made connectors. Any ConceptDraw object can be turned into connector.

• Precise Drawing
Guide lines, Snap and Glue tools, support for scaling, customizable grid help to draw with high precision. You can control each object’s parameter directly using the properties table. ConceptDraw can have to 9 layers, which you can lock, hide or print individually.

• Internet integration
In ConceptDraw, it’s possible to add hyperlinks to launch other applications and Internet/intranet addresses from within a document, providing access to Web resources right from the drawing page. By exporting to HTML format you can make a complete Web page in a few seconds and publish your ideas through your corporate intranet and the Internet. You can send your documents by e-mail, or search the Web from within the application.

• Tools
Apart from a set of common drawing tools, such as Line, Ellipse, Rectangle, etc., ConceptDraw features 17 tools for dimensioning and alignment, automating most tedious tasks. The Stamp tool makes it easy to create or connect multiple objects.

• Intelligent Objects
ConceptDraw allows the user to create objects controlled by formulae and mathematical functions. A wide selection of such smart objects already come with the program, and you can also create your own.

• Cross-platform compatibility
ConceptDraw works under Mac OS X, Mac OS and Windows. All ConceptDraw files (documents, libraries, template files) created with the Windows version of the software can be opened and edited with in the MacOS version, and vice versa. File formats are 100% compatible, no conversion is needed.

• Conversion of Visio Documents
As note above, the special mail service, which is available within ConceptDraw, allows to convert ConceptDraw documents to MS Visio format and vise versa. You can also download a free utility (Windows-only), and use it for converting files.

• Data Exchange with Other Applications
You can easily use your ConceptDraw drawings in other applications. ConceptDraw supports most popular graphic formats, such as JPEG, GIF, BMP, PICT, EMF, PNG, EPS, TIFF, TARGA. In the Professional version you can also save and open DXF files for data exchange with CAD applications, and PowerPoint files - for creating presentations easily.

• XML and Open Formats
ConceptDraw Professional supports open textual formats - Outline, FlowData, XML. It allows independent developers to use ConceptDraw for visualizing information, generated in other applications, and create customized solutions.

ConceptDraw Pro includes an excellent manual in PDF format, as well as a comprehensive Library Guide document with 136 pages of data and illustrations of the various Libraries in PDF format.

Other ConceptDraw features:
• Substitute, lets you replace an object with another one (from a library or from the same document), unifying their form, but preserving the initial object’s formatting, text and connections to other objects.
• Fit to Page, a printing option which lets you fit the document page to the given number of the paper sheets (1, 2, 4, ...) in printing. The setting is available in the File / Document Properties dialog, on the Printing tab.
• The Preferences dialog has a setting for the Internet Searching system to be called. The http://www.google.com/ searcher is set by default.
• All Objects, a zoom option which adjusts the zoom level so that all the objects on the page fit into the document window. This option is set by default for all documents you open.
• Selecting Text objects: a Text object can be selected by clicking on the text itself, not on the box which is invisible.
• Adding Connection Points: when you put a connection point over an object (no matter whether selected or not), the new connection point is now assigned to this object, rather then to the primary selected one (as it was the case in previous versions).

System requirements:
For the Mac OS/ OS X version (Carbonized):
• Mac OS version 8.6 or higher, with CarbonLib 1.1 +; or Mac OS X
• PowerPC 603e or higher (G3 recommended)
• 32 MB of RAM
• 40 MB of free hard drive space
• CD-ROM drive (for installation)

ConceptDraw Pro 1.8.5 sells for $249.00,

ConceptDraw Standard sells for $149.00

A ConceptDraw Pro Demo is available from:
http://www.conceptdraw.com

All downloadable demos are the same as the full versions - except that you can’t save your documents.

For more information, visit:
http://www.conceptdraw.com/en/products/cd/main.php

Charles W. Moore

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