Vendor offers diagramming tool for the masses

Graphic artists beware: You might be out of a job if your agency uses ConceptDraw V from Computer Systems Odessa, a business and technical diagramming tool designed for the nonartist.

Users of ConceptDraw V can create flow charts, network diagrams, organization charts, site maps, building plans and more. They can precisely position shapes using a customizable grid and a snap tool. The software has other tools for alignment, distribution and more automated routine operations that use multiple shapes.

In addition, ConceptDraw V is the only professional diagramming software on the market that is compatible with both Microsoft Windows and Apple Computer Macintosh operating systems, Odessa officials said.

The latest version includes new features, such as smart connectors that keep lines linked to their shapes when you rearrange diagram elements.

Other new features include styles -- which are visual elements that define the look of shapes -- libraries to house collections of shapes, and wizards that guide users through the basic stages of creating documents.

In addition, the latest version supports Extensible Markup Language for Microsoft Visio so users can exchange documents with Visio users. It can also connect to Open Database Connectivity-compliant databases and plot that data in a ConceptDraw diagram.