ConceptDraw PRO: FAQs
General
What is ConceptDraw PRO?
ConceptDraw PRO is a professional vector drawing program, designed for business and technical drawing - all kinds of schemes, charts and diagrams. It's the only software of its kind that works on the Windows and Macintosh platforms.
What can I use it for?
It's good for almost any kind of schemes and diagrams: organization charts, network diagrams, flowcharts, workflow diagrams, pie and bar charts, UML diagrams, Gannt charts, database diagrams, floor plans and more. This is made possible thanks to hundreds of pre-drawn objects, supplied with the program, which you can use in your drawings.
What's the difference between the Standard and Professional versions?
Professional version features extended collection of shapes for electrical and mechanical engineering, building plans, software and network diagrams, and more. Full supports for ConceptDraw Basic scripting language, connectivity to ODBC databases, support for AutoCAD DXF and custom properties of shapes make it a perfect choice for technical and IT professionals, and allow to use ConceptDraw PRO as a visualization components in corporate solutions.
What's the difference between ConceptDraw PRO and ConceptDraw 1.x?
ConceptDraw PRO is a completely redesigned version of ConceptDraw. It features a new drawing engine, improved text editor, built-in scripting language, new templates and libraries, support for more graphic and text formats, including MS Visio XML. New customizable interface makes working with ConceptDraw PRO more convenient than ever.
What restrictions does a Trial version have compared to a full version?
The Trial version has all the features of the full version, but it works only 30 days from the first run. To cut down the download size, the Trial version also contains a reduced set of shapes.
Can I save my files to an FTP server?
Yes. You can save either your ConceptDraw documents, or HTML pages resulting after export to HTML, to an FTP server right from the program. To save a document, use Save to FTP from the File menu. To export to HTML and upload to FTP, in the File menu choose Export -> HTML, and after the export is complete, the program will offer to upload the resulting files to an FTP server.
How do I change default settings for new documents?
Normally, every new document is based on the template named "Blank Drawing.cdt". It's located in the Libraries folder inside the ConceptDraw PRO folder. Open this template, make all the changes you wish, and replace it using the Save as Template command from the File menu.
Can I create my own libraries?
Yes. Just choose New from the File -> Library menu, and add objects in the new library by dragging them into the library window from the drawing page.
Does ConceptDraw PRO support XML?
Yes. ConceptDraw has an alternative file format - XML for ConceptDraw. This is an open textual format, and files in XML for ConceptDraw can be processed and created by third-party applications. The description of XML for ConceptDraw is included with the documentation supplied with the software.
Does ConceptDraw PRO include a scripting language?
Yes. ConceptDraw PRO features ConceptDraw Basic - a built-in scripting language, that allows to assign scripts to shapes, pages or documents of ConceptDraw PRO. It can be used to visualize data from external sources - such as databases, spreadsheets and other, create shapes with intelligent behavior.
Can ConceptDraw PRO use data from databases?
Yes. The built-in scripting language, ConceptDraw Basic, contains methods for working with ODBC-compatible databases. So, you can write a script that connects to a database and uses ConceptDraw PRO drawing tools to visualize the database information.
What are Smart connectors in ConceptDraw PRO?
Smart connectors are called so because they have intelligent behavior. Connectors in ConceptDraw PRO can avoid shapes on their way, display bridges and gaps on crossings. You can allow or lock connectors from re-routing when you move connected shapes.
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Compatibility
Can I share my files between Windows and Mac versions?
Yes. ConceptDraw PRO documents and libraries and be freely exchanged between the Mac and Windows versions of the program.
Is ConceptDraw PRO compatible with ConceptDraw 1.x?
ConceptDraw PRO is backward compatible with ConceptDraw 1.x - that is, you can open documents from other ConceptDraw products in ConceptDraw PRO. To use the documents you create in ConceptDraw PRO in other ConceptDraw products, you'll need to save them in ConceptDraw 1.x format.
My colleagues use MS Visio on PC. Can ConceptDraw PRO handle Visio files?
Yes. ConceptDraw PRO can read and write files in MS Visio XML format, allowing you to work together with people who use MS Visio.
Is a converter for / from ClarisDraw avalaible?
No. This program is no longer supported and it's format is not available. However, you can try saving your ClarisDraw files into PICT files. ConceptDraw can ungroup PICT files into individual objects, and this should be enough for most cases.
Does ConceptDraw support DXF and DWG file formats?
ConceptDraw PRO Professional can import/export to DXF up to version 13. It works fine for small and medium-sized documents, but since ConceptDraw is not a dedicated CAD application, very complex DXF documents may be hard to work with in ConceptDraw. DWG format is not yet supported.
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