Diagrams Mean Nothing
Most technical blog articles have diagrams, charts, flowcharts, etc. And again, in most cases, these all don’t make any sense. I mean sense for readers. Such schemes and graphics notes are very helpful for writers to arrange their thoughts while creating an article.
For example this illustration: if you haven't read the text, you’ll never understand what all this is about. Actually, this mess could be described just by one sentence: “The data of single stripe was damaged on several disks at the same time”.
Good Words Worth Thousand Rects
If you have enough talent and time to write a simple and clear text, you won’t need a single piece of diagram then. If you don’t, try at least to use it better.
No one can neither read nor understand block diagrams. Every time someone uses it, he spends tons of words to make it clear. And at the end, you don’t remember what was in the beginning. One can easily omit block diagrams by describing a few critical points of the flow.
Use complex and abstract schemes when you are 100% sure your readers know the base and conventions. If so, then diagrams and charts become meaningful and you can use their strength at full capacity. Here we dive a bit into some of the key points to improve your diagrams.
First is a Second Dimension
Maybe Feynman Diagrams are most extensive and dense in the sense of represented information and knowledge.
Actually these diagrams describe four dimensions. By the horizontal axis here’s time and all of our 3D world is represented in the vertical axis. And it remains true in reverse directions, so it can be read back in time too (and it does). Hence Feynman Diagrams reveal a huge amount of information in a very elegant and ascetic manner. Each symbol, element, and shape has its particular meaning.
And last but not least is using of text. Text appears as much as it needs to mark key points. No legend, no coordinates, no terms. This is the first sign your diagram is on its way to being perfect.
Flowcharts use both directions as well. But in contrast with Feynman Diagrams, Flowcharts use inconsistent way: in some part time is on the horizontal axis, in some not.
Much easier is to read the outline itself instead of the chart representing it. So, don’t hesitate to just write down a list. The advantage of a list is that it has one dimension hence it would be much clearer (if it’s not too long).
Second is a Third Dimension
A flat image has its own z-depth. It could be emulated by shadows, focus-depth, blur, color palette, or using gradients.
Here we have an impression of a 3D picture, but it does not have any additional value. It’s just decoration. And as it normally happens with decoration, the graph has lost a lot of its readability. Never place text on a gradient. Of course, if you want, it could be read easily.
Third dimension helps us to layer information. Color is the most significant tool for this purpose. We can filter parts of the diagram by their colors in a few moments:
Note how fast you can find the endings of each chain colored in yellow. This schema may be a bit overcolored and colors are too saturated. Anyway, color layering works well.
We’ll discuss coloring in more detail in the next articles. Here are just a few points so far:
- Use the ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software and its powerful Flowcharts solution to design a Flowchart of any type without effort.
- Use colors from the palette.
- Using 3-4 colors maximally is recommended.
- Take into attention that as more colors, as less their saturation.
TEN RELATED HOW TO's:
ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software extended with Cisco Network Diagrams Solution from the Computer and Networks Area is the best for creating Cisco Network Diagrams thanks to numerous predesigned Cisco network icons.
Picture: Cisco Network Icons
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ConceptDraw DIAGRAM extended with School and Training Plans Solution from the Building Plans Area is a powerful Classroom Seating Chart Maker.
Picture: Classroom Seating Chart Maker
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Still concerned about fire safety in your establishment? Be sure that all the necessary elements like registers, drills and diffusers are present on your plan. Otherwise, you have to put them on it immediately.
Here you can see the Registers, Drills and Diffusers library that contains vector graphical objects depicting various, drills, diffusers and registers that are used in HVAC systems and reflected ceilings. ConceptDraw had solutions designed to support both. You can use it to create effortlessly Reflected Ceiling plans, HVAC plans and other interior design and building plans related issues. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM provides a complete set of tools for creating graphical documents in compliance with all requirements of modern design of technical documentation.
Picture: Interior Design. Registers, Drills and Diffusers — Design Elements
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The Involvement Matrix can identify the distribution of responsibilities and identify roles in a group or team. Use the Involvement Matrix to specify roles and responsibilities of actions in problem solving.
ConceptDraw Office suite is a software for corrective actions planning.
Picture: CORRECTIVE ACTIONS PLANNING. Involvement Matrix
All Gantt charts were made using ConceptDraw PROJECT. ConceptDraw PROJECT works both on Windows and Mac OS X. It allows to schedule a voluntary number of projects in a single Workspace document and lets easily share tasks and resources among them. ConceptDraw PROJECT shares files among Windows and Mac OS X.
Picture: Gantt chart examples
The following examples cctv network were created in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software using the Audio, Video, Media Solution. Using this easily customizable cctv network template you can represent any existing cctv network.
Picture: CCTV Network Example
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If you are an advanced diagramming software user, you might use it daily. Traversing the Internet in searching of alternative to MS Visio for MAC and PC, you can fulfill all your requirements with ConceptDraw DIAGRAM. Don’t hesitate to transfer your documents to another operating system.
When looking for a smart and simple tool for business diagrams as alternative to MS Visio for Apple OS X platform, ConceptDraw DIAGRAM certainly is the best choice. Making many kinds of business charts, numerous technical drawings is what ConcepDraw DIAGRAM is the best. One can easy create any diagram and complete it perfectly and quickly. The big collection of vector object libraries, templates and samples, make it the best Microsoft Visio alternative: ConceptDraw DIAGRAM is simpler to use, less expensive, and supports project management and mind mapping methods.
Picture:
In Searching of Alternative to MS Visio for Mac and PC
with ConceptDraw DIAGRAM
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) uses cameras and monitors to carry out video surveillance. Unlike broadcast television this system has only local signal. It is a feature of almost every video camera, yet CCTV is mainly a system for visual control of certain areas such as banks, airports, supermarkets, and other places for security reasons.
Developing and installing CCTV system is a time-consuming process. It also requires certain knowledge and skills. ConceptDraw is a solution of setting video cameras rationally. You can achieve two aims at once: CCTV Design Tool saves your time and your money and helps you make professional video surveillance system.
Picture: How To Create CCTV Network Diagram
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Computer networks nowadays are spread all across the world. The large number of parameters, such as geographic scale or communication protocols, can divide networks. One of the most common types of networks is called local area network (LAN). It convenient to represent network examples by means of diagrams.
This local area network (LAN) diagram provides an easy way to see the way the devices in a local network are interacted. The diagram uses a library containing specific symbols to represent network equipment , media and the end-user devices such as computers (PC, mac, laptop) , network printer, hubs, server and finally a modem. There are two types of network topologies: physical and logical. The current diagram represents precisely a physical type of LAN topology because it refers to the physical layout of a local network equipment.
Picture:
What is a Local Area Network?
Examples of LAN Diagrams
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SIPOC is a tool that summarizes the inputs and outputs of one or more processes in table form.
You need to draw professional looking SIPOC Diagram quick and easy? Pay please your attention on ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software. Extended with Business Process Mapping Solution from the Business Processes Area of ConceptDraw Solution Park, it suits ideal for this.
Picture: SIPOC Diagram
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