
Folks, What do people use mainly? I was going to use Dia from Gnome but this project doesn't seem to be moving ahead so going to use kivio. I will update the Wiki with what I find. Requirements: - vector based as doing diagrams rather than pictures - ability to export to a format suitable for LaTeX (EPS or similar should be fine). Ian -- Ian McDonald http://wand.net.nz/~iam4 WAND Network Research Group University of Waikato New Zealand

On Thu, 2005-11-03 at 12:11 +1300, Ian McDonald wrote:
Folks,
What do people use mainly?
I was going to use Dia from Gnome but this project doesn't seem to be moving ahead so going to use kivio.
Requirements: - vector based as doing diagrams rather than pictures - ability to export to a format suitable for LaTeX (EPS or similar should be fine).
Ian -- Ian McDonald
Inkscape appears to be able to do this. It can save in svg or eps plus others.
http://wand.net.nz/~iam4 WAND Network Research Group University of Waikato New Zealand
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On Thu, 2005-11-03 at 12:11 +1300, Ian McDonald wrote:
Folks,
What do people use mainly?
dia xfig inkscape In a semi-order-of-preference. I figure you are asking this because you want to draw diagrams in technical papers/presentations. I think the answer is "there is nothing good". I am, and have been, doing the same and have made do with the tools above, but I really feel like this is an area that is lacking in Linux. Dia is very good if what you want actually fits within its bounds; what it does it does well, but what it does is quite limited. xfig is old, ugly, hard to use, but powerful enough and includes lots of necessary features. It is quite capable as a vector editor program. inkscape is newer and pretty, and I've just been using it myself now with a reasonable amount of success. It aims to be something like Corel Draw or similar. It is far behind its commercial counterparts in the Windows world, but is at a stage now where it is quite usable. All of these programs export to EPS. Never used kivio (not a KDE person), so I can't comment on that. There are a few other programs you might look at: There is also Sodipodi, which I believe is a fork of Inkscape. I always idly hope that there is some great diagramming and vector drawing program in Linux that I have somehow missed all this time, but so far I have been disappointed.
I was going to use Dia from Gnome but this project doesn't seem to be moving ahead so going to use kivio.
I will update the Wiki with what I find.
I'd be interested in your findings!
Requirements: - vector based as doing diagrams rather than pictures - ability to export to a format suitable for LaTeX (EPS or similar should be fine).
Ian -- Ian McDonald http://wand.net.nz/~iam4 WAND Network Research Group University of Waikato New Zealand
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dia xfig inkscape
In a semi-order-of-preference.
I figure you are asking this because you want to draw diagrams in technical papers/presentations.
Yep. I'd hoped that people would have found something new since I last asked you. Unfortunately not.
I think the answer is "there is nothing good". I am, and have been, doing the same and have made do with the tools above, but I really feel like this is an area that is lacking in Linux.
Agree.
Dia is very good if what you want actually fits within its bounds; what it does it does well, but what it does is quite limited.
I used this in the end as I had a very simple diagram.
inkscape is newer and pretty, and I've just been using it myself now with a reasonable amount of success. It aims to be something like Corel Draw or similar. It is far behind its commercial counterparts in the Windows world, but is at a stage now where it is quite usable.
Didn't like this so much as I couldn't immediately see stencil support and moving objects around with keeping links.
All of these programs export to EPS.
Worked great in dia.
Never used kivio (not a KDE person), so I can't comment on that. There are a few other programs you might look at:
KDE programs work fine in Gnome... tried this as well in my hunt and it looked OK but I found the picture I liked in dia so just used that..
I always idly hope that there is some great diagramming and vector drawing program in Linux that I have somehow missed all this time, but so far I have been disappointed.
Me too.
I will update the Wiki with what I find.
I'd be interested in your findings!
Not much I am afraid! Ian -- Ian McDonald http://wand.net.nz/~iam4 WAND Network Research Group University of Waikato New Zealand

Oh, there is one program that is probably worth pointing out, even if you can't use it yet: http://www.xaraxtreme.org/ Xara X commercial graphics program going open source, they have a basic Linux build working at the moment. Might be worth following this to see how it progresses. Doesn't help any of us wanting to create graphics on Linux right now of course. Cheers, Sam
Folks,
What do people use mainly?
I was going to use Dia from Gnome but this project doesn't seem to be moving ahead so going to use kivio.
I will update the Wiki with what I find.
Requirements: - vector based as doing diagrams rather than pictures - ability to export to a format suitable for LaTeX (EPS or similar should be fine).
Ian -- Ian McDonald http://wand.net.nz/~iam4 WAND Network Research Group University of Waikato New Zealand
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On 11/21/05, sam(a)meta.net.nz <sam(a)meta.net.nz> wrote:
Oh, there is one program that is probably worth pointing out, even if you can't use it yet:
Xara X commercial graphics program going open source, they have a basic Linux build working at the moment.
Might be worth following this to see how it progresses. Doesn't help any of us wanting to create graphics on Linux right now of course.
Cheers, Sam
And see notes on Inkscape 0.43 released today. Things are looking better.... The focus of this release is on the exciting new features sponsored by Google through their Summer of Code (SoC) program which provided funding for four individuals to contribute to Inkscape. The primary additions this release are: * Connectors: A new indispensable connector tool implements creation, editing, and auto-routing (object-avoiding) of connector lines between objects. It is indispensable for drawing diagrams. (Google SoC project) * Inkboard Collaborative Editing: One may now connect to other Inkscape users over a network and edit a shared document, watch changes, and contribute one's own changes. (Google SoC project) * Pressure and Tilt Sensitivity: The calligraphy tool may now use a tablet pen with pressure and tilt support to vary the width and angle of a calligraphic stroke. * Better Node Editing: One may freely drag, bend, and stretch a Bezier curve by any point and not only by a node. Also, one may easily add a new node at any point on the curve. * New Extensions: There are now extensions for envelope distortion, whirling, and adding nodes. * Refinements: Inkscape now supports improved precision, expanded limits, usability improvements and several bugfixes. * SVG Compliance: There is now additional support for the viewBox element improving SVG compatibility. -- Ian McDonald http://wand.net.nz/~iam4 WAND Network Research Group University of Waikato New Zealand
participants (3)
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Ian McDonald
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Ron Dean
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sam@meta.net.nz