Drawing package used for wiring schematics in wiki.diyfaq.org.uk

[Fredxx]

What is the drawing package used for this by way of example:

[John Rumm]

ISTR Davey did those in Autocad (as well as they hydraulic diagrams that go with them).

Ones like:

I did in an old copy of Visio.

[Fredxx]

Thanks for the info. I should have a copy of Visio somewhere. It's ages since I used it.

[John Rumm]

I think mine is Visio 2002 Pro. (I probably have a spare licensed for it if you need one...)

[jkn]

Inkscape is also worth considering for this sort of thing - open source, multi-platform, vector-based drawing package.

J^n

[Dave Plowman (News]

As regards tech drawing progs, it's the devil you know sort of thing. As many are capable.

If having to learn a new one, worth finding one that uses (or can import and export) industry standard files, for CAD machines of various sorts, etc. And things like PDFs, so you can pass on a drawing to anyone to view. Also a decent central library that others can add to, as well as a local one for yourself.

I stick to ProCAD+ on this ancient RISCOS machine. The devil you know. It can share files with the once free 2D version of DraftSight, but I could never quite get on with that - despite it being so much faster on a modern PC.

There are of course lots of specialised progs for individual tasks which are likely faster for those. But learning them for a one off use can be a PITA. So a GP prog is IMHO better for the amateur.

[Fredxx]

I've just found an ISO of Visio 2002 which just happens to include a working Product Key.

Many thanks for the offer, greatly appreciated.

[Tricky Dicky]

A bit after the fact now but for 2D graphics like that the drawing package in MS Word will cope admirably with that type of diagram. I don?t know how clunky it is compared to some of the suggestions but it is there free if you have Word.

Richard

[John Rumm]

Yup fair point... one pro tip to make it work so much better in word is to use the "New Drawing Canvas" option from the bottom of the shapes menu before adding any elements to your drawing.

If you don't place the shapes on a drawing canvas, then you lose the ability to have proper connections between objects that automatically stick to the handles of the object and re-route when you reposition items. (and having all your interconnections just floating there not actually attached to anything, quickly becomes a massive PITA on any non trivial diagram).

Not sure if there is a way to get word to do automatic jumps at connector crossovers though...