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bagman · 1st Feb 2012, 23:08

So I need to do some flow charts for college, and I don't have £500. So I was wondering if there are any cheaper (preferably free) similar programs to MS Visio.

Thanks.

Bumfluff101 · 2nd Feb 2012, 07:36

Have a look on software4students. co.uk it's much much cheaper on there

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Gareth Halfacree · 2nd Feb 2012, 08:23

There are a few open-source Visio-alikes out there, but I'd be the first to admit none of them hold a candle to the real thing. 'Course, they also don't cost £500...

Here's a partial list.

andrewbarke · 2nd Feb 2012, 11:03

microsoft offer a 60 free trial (at least they did when i needed it)

Zener Diode · 2nd Feb 2012, 11:25

Does your university provide access to MSDNAA/Dreamspark. Ask your course administrators or something, I'm studying Engineering and I have access to Visio for free.

cpl · 2nd Feb 2012, 11:38

I lecture aerospace engineering at a uni. Can't beat visio for schematic diagrams. You can do a fine basic flow chart even in powerpoint, although visio is better for sophisticated ones.

I'd be surprised if you can't use visio for free while on campus.

Your college IT dept will have a software license guru. Check with them. They should be able to get you a super-cheap license for your personal machine.

Although my guys just use http://education.pugh.co.uk/ which you could use youself, http://students.pugh.co.uk/. Viso for about £25 there last time I checked!

Edit: From £29 through your institution. £55 for a student directly.

lp rob1 · 2nd Feb 2012, 17:21

+1 for Dreamspark! I got a copy of VS for free that way - and yes, nothing really compares to VS. Microsoft isn't known for making good things, but that IDE is superb. And before bashing me about that last comment and Windows, see the Linux thread

bagman · 3rd Feb 2012, 00:47

Wow thanks for all the help guys, I have settled on Dia for a short term solution, but I am looking into trying to get MS visio a lot cheaper for a more permanent solution. I am only doing simple flow charts for how programs operate at the moment so Dia is all I need.

Unicorn · 3rd Feb 2012, 09:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zener Diode

Does your university provide access to MSDNAA/Dreamspark. Ask your course administrators or something, I'm studying Engineering and I have access to Visio for free.

Same here, it's a very handy arangement

Although I can't make use of it for profitable, business purpoes :/

1st Feb 2012, 23:08	#1
bagman I Mod, Therefore I Own Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Swedish but in Loughborough Posts: 3,392	What is the best replacement for MS visio? So I need to do some flow charts for college, and I don't have £500. So I was wondering if there are any cheaper (preferably free) similar programs to MS Visio. Thanks. __________________ Apple = For the incompetent. My sister owns a iMac, the shame.

2nd Feb 2012, 08:23	#3
Gareth Halfacree WIIGII! bit-tech Staff Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bradford, UK Posts: 1,850	There are a few open-source Visio-alikes out there, but I'd be the first to admit none of them hold a candle to the real thing. 'Course, they also don't cost £500... Here's a partial list. __________________ Co-author, Raspberry Pi User Guide, Meet the Raspberry Pi \| gareth.halfacree.co.uk \| twitter bit-tech news correspondent, Custom PC columnist I'm a filthy freelancer! Hire me!

2nd Feb 2012, 11:03	#4
andrewbarke Can't Stand Linux Command Line Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Wrexham, North Wales Posts: 134	microsoft offer a 60 free trial (at least they did when i needed it) __________________ Desktop: I7-920 - Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R - 6GB Corsair RAM - XFX HD5770 - 650W Extreme 80+ PSU - HP 22" & Acer 19" - Win 7 Home Premium. Laptop: Acer Aspire 5742 - I3-370M - 4GB RAM - 250GB HDD - Win 7 Home Premium.

2nd Feb 2012, 11:38	#6
cpl Multimodder Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bedfordshire, UK Posts: 104	I lecture aerospace engineering at a uni. Can't beat visio for schematic diagrams. You can do a fine basic flow chart even in powerpoint, although visio is better for sophisticated ones. I'd be surprised if you can't use visio for free while on campus. Your college IT dept will have a software license guru. Check with them. They should be able to get you a super-cheap license for your personal machine. Although my guys just use http://education.pugh.co.uk/ which you could use youself, http://students.pugh.co.uk/. Viso for about £25 there last time I checked! Edit: From £29 through your institution. £55 for a student directly. __________________ Living room PC \| Panasonic LCD TV \| Zalman 501 \| Asus M4A87TD/USB3 \| Athlon X2 250e 3GHz \| Scythe Mini Ninja (fanless) \| Gigabyte Silent Cell HD5770 1GB \| 4GB Kingston DDR3 1600 \| Crucial C300 64GB \| Nexus Value 430 \| Blu-Ray \| Audio: Arcam rDAC, Marantz PM7200, Tannoy MX3 Main Rig \| NEC EA231WMi \| Fractal Define R3 \| Asus P5KC \| Q6600@3.0GHz \| Gelid Tranquillo \| HD 7870 LE \| 4GB Corsair DDR3 1600 \| Crucial M4 128GB \| Corsair TX650W Last edited by cpl; 2nd Feb 2012 at 11:47. Reason: More info on prices

2nd Feb 2012, 17:21	#7
lp rob1 PAM says no... Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: ::1 Posts: 1,296	+1 for Dreamspark! I got a copy of VS for free that way - and yes, nothing really compares to VS. Microsoft isn't known for making good things, but that IDE is superb. And before bashing me about that last comment and Windows, see the Linux thread __________________ The Linux Schools Project

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2nd Feb 2012, 07:36	#2
Bumfluff101 Supermodder Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 275	Have a look on software4students. co.uk it's much much cheaper on there Sent from Bittech Android app

2nd Feb 2012, 11:25	#5
Zener Diode User Title Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 543	Does your university provide access to MSDNAA/Dreamspark. Ask your course administrators or something, I'm studying Engineering and I have access to Visio for free.

3rd Feb 2012, 00:47	#8
bagman I Mod, Therefore I Own Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Swedish but in Loughborough Posts: 3,392	Wow thanks for all the help guys, I have settled on Dia for a short term solution, but I am looking into trying to get MS visio a lot cheaper for a more permanent solution. I am only doing simple flow charts for how programs operate at the moment so Dia is all I need. __________________ Apple = For the incompetent. My sister owns a iMac, the shame.