[Inkscape-user] Diagramming with Inkscape

[Kent Tenney]

Howdy,

I am interested in using Inkscape for flowchart-type diagramming.

Are there any libraries of symbols for this sort of thing?

Thanks,
Kent

[John R. Culleton]

Post by Kent Tenney
Howdy,
I am interested in using Inkscape for flowchart-type diagramming.
Are there any libraries of symbols for this sort of thing?
Thanks,
Kent

I prefer to use a dedicated program for this app, such as Kvio (KDE
under Linux) or the Mcharts package that goes with the Context
version of TeX. If you prefer Inkscape then drawing up the standard
symbol shapes should be a nice half-day training exercise. But
connecting the symbols may be a bit tedious, compared to a dedicated
flowchart package.

Here is an excerpt from the instructions for connecting shapes in
Kvio:
--------------------------------
Kivio's connector tool allows lines to be drawn between shapes. The
lines remain connected to the shapes even when the shapes are moved
to new positions on the page.
The Connector tool is available from the Tools toolbar; by default
shown on the left-hand side of the window. Click on this tool to
begin using it; the mouse pointer will change shape.
Notice that all stencils have little blue crosses around their edges.
These crosses mark points where connectors can be attached.
To connect two stencils move to one of the connection points on the
first stencil, hold down the left mouse button and drag a line to one
of the connection points on the second stencil. The green square at
the end of the line will change to red when it is over a connection
point indicating that the line is attached to a stencil.
When you have finished using the connector tool, click on the Arrow
tool to regain normal selection functionality.
Note
A stencil can have multiple connectors attached to it, even at the
same connection point.
Various properties of the connector can be adjusted including line
thickness and color, this is done in the same way as for stencils.
Connectors may also be labeled with text. To add text to a connector
simply double-click on it and enter the text in the dialog that
appears. The text will be shown with a green handle next to it. Use
this to modify the position of the text.
Arrowheads can be added to either end of a connector. Select the
connector and then select Format->Arrowheads.
Limitations: Connectors do not currently reroute around stencils, you
need to adjust them manually. Text is always displayed horizontally;
rotated text is not currently possible.
----------------------------------------------------------

[Jean-Marc Molina]

Post by John R. Culleton
I prefer to use a dedicated program for this app, such as Kvio (KDE
under Linux) or the Mcharts package that goes with the Context
version of TeX. If you prefer Inkscape then drawing up the standard
symbol shapes should be a nice half-day training exercise. But
connecting the symbols may be a bit tedious, compared to a dedicated
flowchart package.

What's wrong the actual connectors ? I'm new to Inkscape so I'm not using it
as business drawing software for the moment, but I drew some diagrams using
OpenOffice.org Draw so... I guess it depends of what sort of diagrams you
have to draw. I wouldn't use Inkscape to draw UML diagrams for example.

[Bryce Harrington]

Post by Kent Tenney
Howdy,
I am interested in using Inkscape for flowchart-type diagramming.
Are there any libraries of symbols for this sort of thing?

Don't know if it has exactly what you need, but openclipart.org is the
project we set up to collect and provide things like diagram symbols.

Bryce

[Jean-Marc Molina]

Post by Kent Tenney
I am interested in using Inkscape for flowchart-type diagramming.

What do you mean by "flowchart" ? It really depends of the graphic elements
you need to draw them.