Electronics Block Diagram Software - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: AntiProtonBoy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2014, 04:51:27 pm
content: I'm looking for a block diagram editing software, with electronics in mind. Preferably something open source. I don't need simulation or schematic editing capability. I just want a tool to visualise some ideas and draw them into detailed blocks and connect them up. I looked at a number flow chart editors, but they are not designed with engineering in mind. Most of the apps were designed for boardroom presentations. For example, common issue i had was difficulty in hooking up multiple connections between blocks, as the "pins" for each block could not be controlled, and the lines were they connected to a block not spaced equally, and so on. Messy affair.Examples what i'm looking for:Any ideas?

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2014, 05:16:11 pm
content: I use Microsoft Visio for these kind of diagrams and simple CAD work. Whatever package you use: you have to invest time into learning how to use it. Nice drawings don't grow on trees.

author: balu
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2014, 05:33:14 pm
content: Hello AntiProtonBoy,Maybe yEd is the tool for you. It is free for private use, it is fast and easyhttp://www.yworks.com/en/index.html

author: Harvs
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2014, 12:40:41 am
content: I've used Visio for years and still find it annoying and clunky, requiring a lot of massaging to get connectors to look right.Recently I've been using LucidChart. No it's not open source and it's an online tool, but I've just been using the free version for small charts. It's just so much quicker to get looking right than Visio. Once the charts finished I just download it as a visio file and use it from there.

author: codeboy2k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2014, 04:33:14 am
content: I've used Dia in the past. It's open source, performs not too bad but not too great either.Dia is here :http://dia-installer.de/I'm going to try out Yed posted above, too.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2014, 12:04:21 pm
content: Quote from: Harvs on May 30, 2014, 12:40:41 amTrue; which is why I never use the 'connectors'. When drawing lines Visio can make them stick to the shape so there is very little added value using the connectors in Visio.

author: Harvs
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 31, 2014, 02:53:53 am
content: Yeah neither do I, they're horrendous. Just use lines.But what LucidChart does is basically the same as Visio, only the connectors actually work the way they should.Would be a huge improvement on Visio if they could get that sorted.

author: Dimitar Milushev
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 17, 2021, 03:03:49 pm
content: Draw.io amazing site for anything related to block diagrams.Better than anything I have ever found.

author: Scrts
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2021, 06:42:58 pm
content: Quote from: Dimitar Milushev on September 17, 2021, 03:03:49 pmI agree. And it integrates with Google account (Google Drive) if you don't put any commercial secret there...

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2021, 06:52:27 pm
content: I also recommend yEd these days. I was a Dia user in the past, partly because it was open source, but mainly because it could export to EPS. But its UI was pretty awful.yEd does the same much better, and can also export to EPS and SVG, among other formats.Online tools? No thanks.

author: voltsandjolts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 18, 2021, 03:36:54 pm
content: https://app.diagrams.net/orhttps://inkscape.org/Inkscape is quite good at block diagrams if you setup a grid and stick to it, to keep alignment tidy.I also use it for front panel layouts, block diagrams, assembly instructions, small schematics (like this example).It's well worth the effort to learn the basics of inkscape.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2021, 03:49:32 pm
content: Second DrawIO (Google still?) athttps://app.diagrams.net/Unfortunately it is cloud based, but you can save locally if you want (I do).

author: snarkysparky
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2021, 03:55:02 pm
content: Try TinyCad.

author: Berni
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2021, 05:29:32 pm
content: Any vector drawing tool works.I personally use CorelDraw because i have it and know how to use it. But would not recommend buying it, its way overpriced for what it is.Inkscape can be a nice free alternativeDrawIo above is a good choice too.Heck even powerpoint can get the job done

author: mikerj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2021, 09:19:46 pm
content: I third draw.io, used it pretty much exclusively for block diagrams the last couple of years.

author: apurvdate
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2021, 05:33:38 am
content: If its simple block diagram or a generic placement/layout guideline for PCB, I use inkscape. Aligning & resizing objects is very easy in inkscape.If you want to display flow control i.e. arrows, I will suggest dia or draw_io. Only thing that bugs me is the occasional odd snapping of arrow pointers in these 2 tools.Dia has an extension 'diashapes', which consists ready drawings/logos categorized under multiple topics e.g. switches or relays if you want to draw an electrical wiring diagram. Even logic gates & more.

author: Jeroen3
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2021, 07:19:15 am
content: LibreDrawworks for me.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LibreOffice_DrawIt's like Visio. But 299.99 dollars cheaper.

author: Evan.Cornell
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2021, 04:02:17 pm
content: DrawIO does come in a desktop version, although it's a bit harder to find:https://github.com/jgraph/drawio-desktop/releases/tag/v15.2.7

author: gerber
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 07, 2021, 10:45:51 am
content: Hard to find? Cant say I relate.It's literally one of two buttons (Start and *Download*) mid-scene ontheir webpage, and it takes you directly to the github repo.The version-agnostic link to get there isget.diagrams.netas pr today.

author: DNMaina
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 20, 2022, 12:51:00 pm
content: You mention you're looking for a block diagram editor specifically suited with electronics.I know someone already mentioneddraw.io. Which is great for general low level block diagrams.If you want to turn things up a notch, I know you mentioned not needing a simulation tool however, tryCollimator. It's essentially a Python written, cloud based Simulink alternative.

author: rooppoorali
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2022, 10:54:26 am
content: I used microsoft visio for this purpose.