Comparative Analysis: Diagram Tools - MS Visio vs SmartDraw

This report provides a comparative analysis of two diagramming software tools: Microsoft Visio and SmartDraw. The report begins by introducing the purpose of the comparison and the two software applications. A detailed comparison table is then presented, outlining key features such as usability, file export options, available stencils and templates, diagram viewer functionality, embedding capabilities, trial periods, software costs, API availability, professional use cases, update mechanisms, customer base, and mobile platform support. The analysis concludes that SmartDraw is the superior option due to its user-friendliness, lower cost, free updates, mobile support, and broader applicability. While MS Visio is deemed suitable for simpler diagrams, SmartDraw is recommended for its versatility, export options, and ease of understanding. The report highlights the software's key features and then recommends SmartDraw for creating diagrams, as it is more user-friendly and has a lower purchasing cost.

er DIAGRAM TOOLS COMPARISON report
STUDENT
21 SEPTEMBER, 2016

Contents
INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................2
COMPARISON AND REVIEW..........................................................................................................2
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INTRODUCTION
In this report we will discuss about the software that I have used for diagram
creation. The report contains a comparison and contrast between the two. The tools
that been tried are:
1. Microsoft Visio
2. SmartDraw
These both tools are used for creating visual designs but yet differ in some
features like templates, sharing, shapes, usability, and much more. All the
diagrams taught during the course were tried and other features were also
compared during use. Some of the features are given below in the table.
COMPARISON AND REVIEW
TOOLS
FEATURES MS Visio SmartDraw
Platform used for drawing Desktop Desktop
Usability Easy to use Easier than MS Visio
Management Document can only be
saved.
No folder creation.
Document can be saved
Folder can be created
Data export Data or file can only be
exported as images
Data can be exported in
different forms like DOC,
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PPT, IMAGES, HTML and
with all other image
extensions
Stencils Has only few stencils Has large variety of stencils
for drawing
Templates Has limited templates for
each category of diagrams
Has large number of
templates for all category
of diagrams.
Diagram viewer Has a web-based viewer Has a downloadable viewer
Embedding Images or drawing can be
embedded on web pages
using the viewer.
Images or drawing can be
exported, embedded on
web pages, power point
slides or word documents,
excel sheets etc. and they
will be updated
automatically if the diagram
(original) is updated.
Trial period Has an initial 60 days free
trial
Has an initial trial of just 7
days.
Cost of software for one
time buying
$ 249.99 $ 197
Application program
interface
It has an API. It dose nit have an API.
Professional use Used by Cnet and Microsoft
Marketplace
Used by Cnet, Microsoft
Marketplace, Amazon, Dell
and many others
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Feature updating The updates are not freely
available, rather have to be
purchased.
The updates are freely
available to download and
use.
Update type Requires a manual update Has an automatic update
feature.
Customer base Small and medium business
company or users
Freelancers, enterprises,
medium and small all
business users use it for
the needs.
Mobile platform support None IPhone App is available
Operating system
supported
It runs on windows operating
system
It runs on windows
operating system
URL http://office.microsoft.com/en-
us/visio/
http://www.smartdraw.com/
As we can see the comparison done above, we can say that both the software
server the basic purpose creating diagrams. Although one has some more features
than other. So after analysing and reviewing, we can say that, SmartDraw is a better
available option to create the diagrams. This is so because, it is more user friendly,
has a lower purchasing costs, updates are free, has support for the mobile devices,
and is even used by the daily or common users like freelancers and companies as
well. If we need to draw limited or concise diagrams, then MS Visio is a suitable
option. But to add variety to the diagram and make it more readable and
understandable in layman terms and pictures, SmartDraw is a better option.
Moreover it can be exported to the word file or power point presentations which
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