software for creating flowcharts?

[Bob Ross]

In the past whenever I've had to create a graphic flowchart -- e.g., something like this:



I always did it in PowerPoint or SuperPaint or some equally simple but idiot-proof graphics application.

But that was all >20 years ago, and I can't believe there's not now something purpose-built and even more idiot-proof for generating these documents. Amiright?

Is there anything off-the-shelf -- or, preferably Shareware or Postcardware (do people still do that?) -- that eases the task of creating graphic flowcharts? Would be running it on Windows. Thanks.

[monadnocky]

For my dissertation I used OmniGraffle. But that was 10 years ago. Still exists, apparently.

edit: errr, nevermind, doesn't appear to have a free version anymore, and it appears to be Mac only. Sorry...

[cyat.es]

Google Drawings works pretty well for simple stuff, and is free.

Lucidchart has a lot more power-user tools, closer to what you'd get from Visio (on Windows) or Omnigraffle (on macOS), and I think has a free/lite version but the full version is a monthly subscription.

I myself an am Omnigraffle man from way back, but as monadnocky says, it's non-free and macOS only.

[Noteddy]

For Windows, Visio is perhaps the iron-clad, brass-trimmed standard, but it costs. A lot. And, it can be complex. But, it will make flow charts and more from data files, for example.

But, for free Google's tool noted above works. I also really like xMind . It started out as a mindmapping application which it does very well. It now supports a variety of diagrams including what they call 'workflows' which are flow charts. There is a pro version for $99, but the free version is all I've ever used.

xMindScreen.jpg

[Matthew Strongin]

I also use xMind from my days playing with mind mapping for note taking.

[xjoex]

Not that you need another recommendation, but in the event someone else wonders omnigraffle is awesome. I’m fully committed to OmniFocus and OmniOutliner.

Joe

[gt6267a]

visio.

per price, if your company / school / whateveritis happens to have a HUP (home use program) with microsoft, the pricing is usually extremely reasonable. think they had me pay for shipping a DVD ... even though i downloaded it.

[sk_tle]

I typically use libreoffice draw for that.



But if you have a google account already you don't need to install anything. You can create flow charts very easily with google drive's drawing tool. It includes all the necessary shapes and connecting tools.