Visio question

[billyz]

I see that a few members are using Visio to create drawings , layouts etc.
I have tried using Paint but it is a real pain( for me at least) .
I could find a copy on ebay, perhaps an older version ( cheaper) how old can I use? Do I need a certain one? as you can tell I am not that up on these programs. I would rather not get the new version at $350-$500. The cheaper the better.
BTW, I am using windows XP pro and do not plan to upgrade anytime soon.
Sorry not a MAC user either.

Also, open to other ideas about what program to use. I just need the basics.
Perhaps be able to take others drawing and mod them into what I need.

thanks

[iknowjohnny]

Funny, but i'm the exact opposite. I tried a few of those but i find photoshop the easiest. Plus you can draw things exactly as you wish. For example, you see various ways that people draw resistors....well, you're not stuck with however the particular program renders na resistor. you can simply draw it as you like. Once you draw each component once you never have to again, as you just copy and paste them. I really love photoshop for schematics or layouts, but thats just me maybe, i dunno. And i would imagine any free PS clone would do just as well. Anyways, heres an example of one of my schematics using PS...

EDIT: by the way, this is a very low res compressed version i used to upload. The original is much larger and far cleaner.

[img618]http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c39/dazco/el34.jpg[/img]

[billyz]

That looks great. I did not consider Photoshop. Is it expensive? My friend uses PhotoShop to actually work his Photos and it was like $600 and he went to college to learn to use it.
Also, I was thinking more about the Layouts that I Have seen done here, but schematic are necessary too. one to do both would be great.

[FunkyE9th]

For layouts, I use Solid Edge ( http://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/e ... ndex.shtml ). It's a free 2D CAD SW by Siemens. It does everything I need. It's actually a pretty nice software, but learning curve is steep, IMO.

For schematic I used Diptrace ( http://www.diptrace.com ). The freeware version. There is also http://www.expresspcb.com/ExpressPCBHtm ... ftware.htm Also free.

The schematic software is actually nice. They already have basic libaries for resistors, caps, Xformers, diodes etc. and you can actually generate a PCB from the schematic.

[iknowjohnny]

Well, it is, but i have it at work so for me it's not an issue. But there are a ton of free paint programs, so which are said to be better or as good. Can't tell you which, but go to google and find some then try em till you find one you like.

[bnwitt]

I have every graphic program out there including Photoshop, Illustrator, Corel Draw X3, Pagemaker and Visio. If you have used them all you will quickly realize that Visio is the easiest program to use for layouts and schematics once you have the templates built. You can draw anything the way you want it in Visio and save it as a shape for use over and over. Visio is a vector based program while photoshop and the others mentioned are not. This adds a cad level of accuracy to all layouts. Meaning you can draw everthing to perfect scale, print it to scale and use it to drill chassis, circuit boards etc.

Paint programs are raster based not vector based and are not accurate for making drilling masks or layouts. The Asteroid layout I did was done in Visio and is completely accurate for layout and drilling. You can take the chassis sheet pdf to Kinkos and tape the printout to your chassis for nats butt accurate drilling. Not so in raster based programs. Corel Draw is also vector based by the way.

[billyz]

Does it matter the version of Visio ? I would like to get an older version to save money. Like Visio 2003.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0279798337

[skyboltone]

Does it matter the version of Visio ? I would like to get an older version to save money. Like Visio 2003.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0279798337

That's the one I'm using. My computer came with a bunch of crud on it. I added Office 03 (in 06) and got the Visio 03 to go along with it. You can just get a copy of a visio layout or schematic from somebody here, unlock it and copy elements to your shapes files and you're ready to go.

I got mine through student software. It's about the only useful thing I've done with my teaching credential.

It's got a steeper learning curve than some dedicated schematic software but I haven't seen anything that will allow board layout, print, lay it on the garolite and drill as easy as Visio. There are a ton of libraries available on line if you want to draw up house floor plans, convert to embroidery files whatever.

[bnwitt]

As skyboltone says, Visio 2003 is a good version. That is what I use. Frankly the subsequent versions stink in my opinion. Even in the 03 version Microsoft did some things to the program I hate like sticking the array function under several pull down menu layers. Of course you can add just about any command to your command bar and get around problems like that.

01 was my favorite but it seems most folks in the amp community are using 03 so if you want to be current I'd choose it. I got mine in Office 03 as well.

[Bob-I]

I agree that the vector graphics is far superior to any raster graphics. You can use the connect feature to that when you move components they stay connected.

I have a bunch of schematic symbols and layout stuff if you need it.

[Structo]

I have Office XP Pro, it didn't come with Visio.

[bnwitt]

I have Office XP Pro, it didn't come with Visio.

Did it come with two cd's or just one?

[skyboltone]

I have Office XP Pro, it didn't come with Visio.

It's an add on. Watch Ebay. They do come up in the box with codes once in awhile.

If you know a college student you can get it from a variety of software suppliers for about $70. Maybe less for an '03 if they are still around.

I may have gotten part of my Library from BobI. Also Normster has gobs of stuff.

[billyz]

Thanks to everyone. I will hunt around on ebay to find a 2003 Visio. CHEAP!

[Structo]

Yeah a friend gave me a copy of Office xp pro years ago so I don't really have ownership of it. So I don't think I can update it as far as that goes.