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Sports Libraries

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I’m working on adding “.swf” files to libraries. What does this mean? Basically, by leveraging the powerful drawing capabilities of Flash and the .swf file format, you can now have nice colorful smooth vector shapes in your simple diagrams. This feature has moved along nicely since my last post and I’m excited to get some examples into your hands so you can try it out. So keep reading to learn how to do your own sports diagrams.

In my last post I showed some screenshots of a football play I made. The ultimate play, mind you. Against this play, no defense.

It’s time for you to have the power to diagram ultimate plays. I’m posting both a sports background library and a football shape library for you to experiment with (please make sure you’ve updated to the latest version of SimpleDiagrams before creating your opponent crushing plays).

Just click the links below to download each library. After downloading to your computer, just double-click each files to load it into SimpleDiagrams.

SportsBackgrounds.sdlp :  this background library includes playing fields for soccer, baseball, basketball and football.

Football.sdlp  : some simple symbols for football play diagramming

However, when you first add the background it might look kind of funky and stretched the wrong way, depending on the current size of your document. For example, here’s what my document looked like when I added a soccer field…

This is not right. How is Barcelona going to dominate without a sufficiently spacious midfield! To quickly set your document to the correct dimensions for the background you picked, use the Diagram > Fit to background size menu command and your field regains a sense of proportion and dignity.

And that’s it! Sports fans try them out and let me know what you think. This feature is pretty new so please let me know if you have any problems or would like to see some different or additional features to make it more effective.

By the way, an important note about setting your backgrounds…in the SimpleDiagrams Diagram Properties window you can set the “Format” for backgrounds to the following fill modes:

  • repeat (to tile the background across your document)
  • scale (stretch to fit your document)
  • clip (remain the default size regardless of the size of your document)

Here you see I’ve set my background to repeat…

 

But with these flashy new .swf backgrounds, you can only use the “scale” format…in fact, SimpleDiagrams will automatically set the fill type to “scale” and won’t let you change it in the diagram properties.

 

By Daniel
November 25, 2011

No comments

Coming soon: new kinds of libraries

Many users have requested new libraries for different industries and pursuits. As I thought about how to develop these kinds of symbols, it became clear that forcing everything to be simple chalk-like drawings was kind of limiting.

So, in order to expand the ways SimpleDiagrams can be used, I’ve decided to expand the kinds of symbols libraries can show. I’m finishing up this functionality now and will release it soon. Essentially, the libraries are now able to contain Flash SWF files in addition to the usual bitmap images or the simple “path”-based drawings.

I’ll explain more later, but here’s an example to keep you interested. I’m creating a set of libraries for sports, including backgrounds to represent playing fields. Here’s football:

And just like when working with regular SimpleDiagrams shapes, you can draw connectors, change the tint of the background, etc. as you describe something visually…

By Daniel
November 17, 2011

1 comment

Resources for micropreneurs

A big part of my work on SimpleDiagrams involves learning how to be a micropreneur. In fact, this week a group of us in Fort Collins are getting together to talk about what it means to create and launch your own product.

This is a short list of resources that provide background to that discussion:

( This list is mirrored here : http://urli.st/ehGj )

By Daniel
October 19, 2011

No comments

Playing the game

One of the best parts about creating and selling your own software as a one-person startup is that you get to play *the game*. The game is better than coding. Or coming up with good UI. Or doing your own site design. The game is the full-on interweaving of your creation in the complexity of the world in such as way that it “lives.” Behind what appears to be a very simple scenario (make something, friggin’ sell it) is a world of things I never expected, much bigger than the lists of basic tasks to bring your bits to market.

I call this a game because your efforts extend to so many areas there’s no way to box it into a boring academic discipline. Nobody has condensed your tasks and situation into a nice paperback with an animal drawing on the front. You just jump in and learn as you go, picking up the flow of the game from those who have done well, while scrambling along the bifurcating trails of stuff-you-really-should-do.

  • Learn how to hack marketing
  • Psychology of internet purchasing
  • Security concerns for the individual developer
  • Upgrading programming skills
  • Becoming a contributing member of the community
  • Keeping with the graphic design zeitgeist
  • Time management and productivity
  • The art and politics of outsourcing
  • ..and the list goes on.

Every day it becomes more clear to me that if you’re a one-person deal — and if you are you know it and you can’t help it — you’re probably not going to going to achieve that blissful mountaintop of mastery after 10,000 hours of dedicated practice at whatever, painting, soccer, you name it. On some days this bothers me. On other days, I’m perfectly happy playing the game.

 

 

By Daniel
September 23, 2011

1 comment

User to me: SimpleDiagrams needs some SimpleFixes

Romain Knieper wrote to me from France recently, asking for some improvements to SimpleDiagrams. Here’s what he sent…

Romain seemed surprised when I responded to his email with “friggin’ awesome, can I post this on my blog?” But that really is the way I feel: if you want improvements that means you’re using the software and it’s helping you, and now you want it to help more. Fifteen minutes is a lot of time these days, and if a user is spending that much time telling you what you can improve, it’s a vote of confidence in the software and its potential.

It’s been tough going recently and there haven’t been nearly enough updates to SimpleDiagrams. But that’s about to change, starting with the soon-to-be-released version 1.5, which sports some new features coded by superhuman ActionScripter Aleksey Shmatov. (More soon…)

 

 

 

By Daniel
August 30, 2011

2 comments

Recent updates

Apologies for the recent group of updates. A couple users reported problems with the new library plugins, so I fixed them as quick as I could and pushed up new versions immediately to limit any problems you might have. (SimpleDiagrams is now on version 1.3.5 and at this point I’ll go back to a more regular update schedule.)

If you have an issue with your upgrade, please contact me and I’ll get you sorted ASAP.

In the meantime, you now can create your own xml-based library plugins! See this post for details.

By Daniel
April 10, 2011

1 comment

Knowing when to stop

Sometimes you should stop what you’re doing. Today I didn’t and the result was the following mini-set of symbols. Only for Full version users who’ve installed version 1.3.2.

Right-click link to download: http://www.simplediagrams.com/library_plugins/EliteSaturday.sdlp

By Daniel
April 2, 2011

1 comment

Creating your own .sdlp library plugin

SimpleDiagram library plugins used to be compiled, closed, uneditable and unfriendly chunks of code. Those days are gone.

Plugins are now much simpler in the new beta version of SimpleDiagrams (v1.3.1, available for download on the free page … just look for the “download beta” link). This blog post describes these changes and provides some steps to making your own library plugin. It’s a bit technical since you have to do some editing of xml files and such, but if you’re not afraid of that, read on…

Essentially I’ve changed plugins from compiled, signed bytecode to plain xml. (Cue fireworks.) Each library plugin and the shapes it contains are described in one file. When SimpleDiagrams starts, it looks in a specific folder for these plugins and loads them one by one into your library.

The xml format is pretty basic and looks something like this:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> 
<sdxml version="1.0"> 
  <sdLibrary name="com.simplediagrams.shapelibrary.MyShapes" displayName="My Shapes">
    <sdSymbol name="Boring Shape"> 
      <Path data="M29.95 2.8 28.45 .." />
    </sdSymbol>
    <sdSymbol name="Crazy Shape"> 
      <Path data="M29.95 2.8 28.45 .." />
    </sdSymbol>
  </sdLibrary>
</sdxml>
view raw BasicSDLPFormatV1.0.xml This Gist brought to you by GitHub.

So not too complicated. First you create an <sdLibrary/> element and give the library a unique name as well as a “displayName” to show in the library panel.

Then, you add a bunch of <sdSymbol/> elements with a name attribute and one (and for now only one) <Path/> child element.

Each <Path/> element describes the path to draw the shape. This follows the Adobe FXG format and the shape path data is just one long string of instructions per Adobe’s path data format.

So the main effort for you really is just to get your drawings into this path data format. Perhaps some of you can imagine a vector shape and figure out the path data in your head. To you I say, “the world is such a big place and there are parks and flowers and waffle cones other things you’ve never experienced but might enjoy.”

For everybody else, you’re going to need a tool to create the path data for your shape. This example will show you how I create shapes in Adobe Flash Professional CS5, but my assumption is that you could use any tool that exports FXG (like Illustrator or Catalyst).

So here’s a basic shape I’ve created in Flash Professional CS5. The drawing is all on one layer:

Note that the shape is in the 0,0 position. You can make sure of this by hitting ctrl-A to select the whole drawing and then set the x and y properties to 0:

Now you’re ready to export your shape to FXG so you can get the path data. With the drawing selected, select the File > Export > Export Image menu command. Change the format to .fxg and save your image.

Open the .fxg file you just saved in a text editor. The Adobe FXG format is pretty easy to read, and since you only have one layer it shouldn’t be to long. Your job is to look for the <Path/> tag and grab the actual string of path instructions.

Here’s the FXG for my shape:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<Graphic version="2.0" viewHeight="400" viewWidth="550" ATE:version="1.0.0" flm:version="1.0.0" d:using="" pd:backgroundColor="3355443" xmlns="http://ns.adobe.com/fxg/2008" xmlns:ATE="http://ns.adobe.com/ate/2009" xmlns:d="http://ns.adobe.com/fxg/2008/dt" xmlns:flm="http://ns.adobe.com/flame/2008" xmlns:pd="http://ns.adobe.com/xfl/2008/pd">
  <Library/>
  <Group d:type="layer" d:userLabel="Layer 1">
    <Path data="M14.5 13.4Q14.55 13.4 14.55 13.45 14.55 13.5 14.5 13.55 14.45 13.6 14.4 13.6 14.35 13.6 14.3 13.55 14.25 13.5 14.25 13.45 14.25 13.4 14.3 13.4 14.35 13.35 14.4 13.35 14.45 13.35 14.5 13.4M14.95 13.9Q14.9 13.85 14.9 13.8 14.9 13.75 14.95 13.7
 15 13.65 15.05 13.65 15.1 13.65 15.15 13.7 15.2 13.75 15.2 13.8 15.2 13.85 15.15 13.9 15.1 13.9 15.05 13.9 15 13.9 14.95 13.9M11.7 21Q11.7 21.05 11.65 21.1 11.6 21.15 11.55 21.15 11.5 21.15 11.45 21.1 11.4 21.05 11.4 21 11.4 20.95 11.45 20.9
 11.5 20.9 11.55 20.9 11.6 20.9 11.65 20.9 11.7 20.95 11.7 21">
      <fill>
        <SolidColor color="#FFFFFF"/>
      </fill>
    </Path>
    <Path data="M23.2 3.85Q23.3 3.95 23.35 4 23.85 4.5 24.3 5.05 25.3 6.25 26 7.6L27.25 7.95Q26.95 7.5 26.65 7.15 26.05 6.35 25.3 5.6 24.8 5.1 24.3 4.7 23.75 4.25 23.2 3.85 20.65 2.1 17.55 1.75 16.65 1.6 15.65 1.6 14 1.6 12.5 1.95 10.4 2.4 8.6 3.5 7.2 4.35
 5.95 5.6 5.5 6.05 5.1 6.55 4.35 7.45 3.75 8.45 3.3 9.2 3 10 2.15 11.95 2 14.15 1.95 14.7 1.95 15.3 1.95 17.55 2.6 19.55 3 20.9 3.75 22.15 4.65 23.65 5.95 24.95 6.05 25.05 6.15 25.15 8.7 26.9 11.8 27.3L12.025 27.325Q12.336719 27.354102 12.675
 27.375 12.812695 26.867578 13.2 26.8L13.3 26.8 13.8 26.9 13.85 26.15 13.6 25.95Q13.75 25.8 13.85 25.8L13.9 25.25Q13.2 25.25 12.65 25.1 12.05 25 11.6 24.8 11.5 24.75 11.35 24.6 11.2 24.55 11.05 24.35L11 24.3Q10.8 24.15 10.7 24.05 10.15 23.35
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 17.1 12 18.05 11.8 18.8 12.4 18.85 12.45 18.9 12.55 19.1 13.1 18.7 13.6L18.4 13.8 18.25 13.85 18.5 15Q18.45 15.15 18.4 15.8 18.35 16.1 18.3 16.3 19.1 16.65 19.7 17.4 20.85 18.8 20.85 20.75 20.85 20.9 20.85 21.05L20.85 21.1Q20.85 21.45 20.75
 21.85 20.5 23.1 19.7 24.05 18.65 25.3 17.25 25.5 17.25 25.54707 17.25 25.6 17.255859 25.994336 17.3 26.7L17.3 26.75Q17.3 26.848437 17.3 26.95 17.570117 26.854883 17.9 26.75 18.4 26.55 19.1 26.35L19.825 26Q20.170898 25.81582 20.525 25.6 21.039453
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M27.1 10.7Q27.4 12.05 27.4 13.5 27.4 13.55 27.4 13.65L29.35 14.65Q29.25 12.85 28.8 11.25M27.4 13.65 27.4 13.7Q27.4 15.35 27.05 16.9L29.15 17.9Q29.35 16.65 29.35 15.3 29.35 14.95 29.35 14.65M27.05 16.9Q26.9 17.6 26.65 18.25 26.25 19.35 25.65
 20.4L27.8 21.7Q27.85 21.6 27.9 21.55 28.75 19.85 29.15 17.9M21.75 24.75 24.15 26Q24.75 25.5 25.3 24.95 26.05 24.2 26.65 23.45 27.3 22.6 27.8 21.7M17.55 1.75 15.1 0.1Q14.4 0 13.7 0 11.95 0 10.4 0.4L12.5 1.95M13.8 12.3Q14.2 12.2 14.65 12.2 14.75
 12.2 14.85 12.2L14.95 12.25M23.2 3.85Q20.65 1.4 17.5 0.5 16.35 0.2 15.1 0.1M10.4 0.4Q10.15 0.45 9.9 0.5 8.2 0.95 6.7 1.9L8.6 3.5M6.7 1.9Q5.25 2.75 4 4 3.85 4.15 3.75 4.25 3.5 4.5 3.3 4.8L5.1 6.55M3 10 1.2 8.1Q0.3 10 0.1 12.25L2 14.15M3.3 4.8
Q1.95 6.3 1.2 8.1M2.6 19.55 0.5 17.35Q1.3 20.55 3.75 23.1 3.85 23.2 4 23.35 5 24.35 6.15 25.15 9.6 28.5 14.25 28.95M0.1 12.25Q0 12.95 0 13.7 0 15.65 0.5 17.35M16.65 12.5Q16.6 12.8 16.55 13.1M17.6 13.9 18.25 13.85M12.8 13.275Q12.766016 13.330469
 12.75 13.4 12.5 13.55 12.25 13.7 11.95 13.85 11.65 13.8L11.75 14.1Q11.75 14.8 10.65 14.85M11.9 16.6 11.85 15.75Q11.5 15.65 11.15 15.75M11.85 15.75Q11.95 15.75 12.1 15.8 12.65 15.95 13.15 15.85M10.45 15.65Q10.85 15.5 11.1 15.75M11.35 24.6 12.6
 24.15 12.65 24.15Q12.95 24 13.25 23.8 15.15 22.35 15.6 20.45 16.05 18.45 14.9 16.7L14.85 16.7Q13.65 16.75 13.15 16.7 12.85 16.65 12.6 16.65M17.15 19.05Q17.5 19.4 17.5 20.15L17.3 21.1 17.1 21 16.75 21 16.75 21.35Q17 21.55 17.35 21.55L17.4 21.85
Q17.4 22 17.35 22.2 17.3 22.35 17.25 22.5 17.25 22.8 17.5 22.85 17.65 22.9 17.8 22.9 17.95 22.9 18.05 22.85 18.4 22.75 18.5 22.2 18.5 22.1 18.5 21.9 18.5 21.75 18.3 21.5L18.1 21.3Q18.45 21.1 18.4 21L18.1 20.95Q18.2 19.55 17.95 19.15L17.95 19.05
 18.1 19.1 18.3 18.85M19.65 22.95 20 22.95M19.1 23.55 19.45 23.55M14.9 16.7Q15.15 16.65 15.4 16.65M13.8 12.3Q13.173047 12.613477 12.925 13.025M16.2 25.6Q16.173633 25.520703 16.15 25.45 15.25 25.4 14.6 25.35L14.5 26.8Q14.5 27 14.7 27.1 14.85
 27.2 14.9 27.25 14.9 27.286523 14.75 27.35 15.355859 27.307813 16.3 27.25 16.324219 27.242773 16.35 27.225 16.35 27.114648 16.35 27L16.3 26.95 16.35 26.95Q16.35 26.75 16.35 26.6L16.05 26.5Q16.05 26.4 16.35 26.2 16.273633 25.85625 16.2 25.6
M16.35 27 16.35 26.95M16.3 27.25 16.35 27.25 16.35 27.225M17.3 26.95Q17.275391 27.223828 17.2 27.45L17.35 27.55Q17.3 27.65 17.25 27.7 17.1 27.95 16.8 28.1 16.45 28.2 16 28.3L14.8 28.3 14.75 28.05Q14.75 27.7 15.95 27.7L16.3 27.75Q16.332617 27.489258
 16.35 27.25M17.3 26.95Q16.7 27.15 16.35 27.25M17.3 26.95Q16.694727 27.127734 16.35 27.225M20.225 28.3 20.2 28.275Q20.136914 28.291992 20.075 28.3 20.133008 28.3 20.2 28.3L20.225 28.3M17.9 26.75 19.95 28.35Q20.011719 28.329492 20.075 28.3M11.8
 27.3 14.25 28.95Q14.9 29 15.65 29 17.95 29 19.95 28.35M13.9 25.25Q14.1 25.3 14.35 25.3 14.45 25.3 14.6 25.35M12.025 27.325Q12.316016 27.362109 12.675 27.4L12.675 27.375M12.675 27.4 12.7 27.4 12.7 27.375 12.675 27.375M12.675 27.4 12.65 27.425
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 7 29.6 7.2 29.8 7.2 30.05 7.2 30.3 7 30.5 6.8 30.7 6.55 30.7 6.3 30.7 6.1 30.5 5.9 30.3 5.9 30.05 5.9 29.8 6.1 29.6 6.3 29.4 6.55 29.4 6.75 29.4 6.9 29.55L6.1 30.5M8.7 32.1 9.1 31.65Q9.05 31.55 9 31.5 8.8 31.3 8.55 31.3 8.3 31.3 8.1 31.5 7.9
 31.7 7.9 31.95 7.9 32.2 8.1 32.4 8.3 32.6 8.55 32.6 8.8 32.6 9 32.4 9.2 32.2 9.2 31.95 9.2 31.8 9.1 31.65M11.5 28.8 9.1 31.65M25.75 30.4Q25.5 30.4 25.3 30.6L25.3 30.65 26.25 31.45Q26.4 31.25 26.4 31.05 26.4 30.8 26.2 30.6 26 30.4 25.75 30.4
M22.65 27.075Q22.175 27.372461 21.675 27.625L21.7 27.65Q22.183594 27.379102 22.65 27.075 23.423633 26.596094 24.15 26M21.55 24.9Q21.05 25.3 20.55 25.6 20.177734 25.823242 19.825 26M26.25 31.45 26.2 31.5Q26 31.7 25.75 31.7 25.5 31.7 25.3 31.5
 25.1 31.3 25.1 31.05 25.1 30.8 25.3 30.65L21.7 27.65Q20.958984 27.995703 20.225 28.3L20.825 28.9 21.45 29.5Q21.55 29.4 21.7 29.4 21.9 29.4 22.05 29.55 22.2 29.7 22.2 29.9 22.2 30.05 22.15 30.15 22.1 30.2 22.05 30.25 21.9 30.4 21.7 30.4 21.5
 30.4 21.35 30.25 21.2 30.1 21.2 29.9 21.2 29.7 21.35 29.55 21.4 29.5 21.45 29.5L22.15 30.15M20.2 28.3 20.825 28.9M20.05 22.35 20.35 22.35M20.2 21.9Q20.45 21.95 20.75 21.85M20.2 28.275Q20.950391 28.003906 21.675 27.625">
      <stroke>
        <SolidColorStroke weight="0.1" color="#F7F7F7"/>
      </stroke>
    </Path>
  </Group>
  <Private/>
</Graphic>
view raw HamsterPower.fxg This Gist brought to you by GitHub.

Woah! There’s more than one <Path/> element. No problem, just grab the data from each and append them into one long string. Then, take that string and add it to the data attribute of the <Path/> element in your own library plugin xml file. You can ignore all the other stuff since my format doesn’t yet understand things like groups or fills.

When you’re finished editing your xml file, save it with an .sdlp extension (for SimpleDiagrams library plugin). Then, load this .sdlp via the Libraries > Load Library Plugin menu command in SimpleDiagrams.

Alternatively, you can just place it manually in the SimpleDiagrams library plugin folder for your operating system:

  • Mac: /Users/[your user name]/SimpleDiagrams/lib
  • Windows7: /Users/[your user name]/AppData/SimpleDiagrams/lib
  • Windows C:\Documents and Settings\[your user name]\Application Data\SimpleDiagrams\lib

Ok wife just told me to stop monkeying around on the computer, so I’ll be back with more details later. Until then, good luck with your plugin!

By Daniel
March 31, 2011

1 comment

Now in beta: 1.3 with XML library plugins

The phrase “release early release often” kind of sneaks up on you sometimes, and you’ll be just sitting there coding, bothering nobody, and suddenly a great big wave of “oh my gad I gotta release this darn program!” comes over you and you just start posting stuff like the world’s ending.

That happened today. I’ve been working on version 1.3 steadily, and today I felt like…ok, that’s enough. Time to get this out there.

So, I’ve posted a beta version of SimpleDiagrams 1.3 for the adventurous among you. Version 1.3 is mainly a bunch of bug fixes plus one big change to how the library plugins work.

Libraries: Open and Flexible

SimpleDiagrams Library Plugins are small files that contain a bunch of shapes for a certain topic, like “farms” or “energy.” Currently you install the plugins by downloading them from the Libraries page and then load them via a SimpleDiagrams menu command. The plugins are compiled code signed by my certificate, so this unfortunately prevents users from creating their own.

A lot of users want more than the measly group of plugins currently available, so rather than force everybody to wait for new libraries to be released, I made an executive decree to my vast programming forces: “The library format must be open. Make it so or you’re all fired.” Since I’m a one-man operation, this decree quickly worked its way back to my desk.

So, version 1.3 contains a new way of working with library plugins. You still need to be a “Full” version user to access library plugins, but you can now create your own plugins thanks to the new format:

  • library plugin files (.sdlp) are now just simple XML files. So you can open one up, see how it works, even change the smiley face shape to resemble your grandma. The library symbols are no longer the inaccessible and unfriendly signed .swf files.
  • version 1.3 comes with all the existing libraries packaged inside. So, when you upgrade to the “Full” version you’ll have all the libraries automatically: farm, medical, education, networks & computers, and energy. No need to download any from the Libraries page. In fact, you shouldn’t use the plugins posted on that page, since they’re still the old format for the pre 1.3 version users to use.

(Ahem…note that even though the shapes that come with SimpleDiagrams are accessible via the XML, they’re still covered under the End User License Agreement. So please don’t go selling them to cousin Daryl.)

When I release version 1.3 formally, I’ll remove the current library plugin files from the “Libraries” page since they’ll no longer be needed. However, any new libraries I create will appear on the library download page (lots of users asking for “transportation” symbols…where’s everybody going?).

Make your own plugins

With XML as the format there’s nothing stopping you from creating your own plugins. In fact, I’ll post a tutorial pretty soon on how to do this. You’ll have to do a little XML tinkering and a some drawing in a tool like Adobe Flash, but it won’t be too hard.

Note that plugins are different from the “custom library” feature, since plugins are vector shapes while the custom library is for raster images.

Get the beta

Ok, if you’re still interested, you can grab the 1.3 beta from the “Free” page … just look for the link on the bottom right of the page.

If you don’t like the beta, just uninstall it and then reinstall the official 1.2.2 version available via the install badge on the “Free” page.

…and please contact me and let me know what you think!

 

By Daniel
March 24, 2011

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Most Excellent: Tom Kuhlmann of The Rapid E-Learning Blog Explains SimpleDiagrams

I think there are myths about how, in ancient times, faeries and elves would come around when you weren’t watching and sneak into your house and do silly stuff, like bake bread or break your TV. But of course, we live in modern times and those things don’t happen anymore. Probably because the wee ones’ wee little fingers have a hard time with the preponderance of poorly designed mobile UIs and can’t get the google maps directions on where they need to be baking bread and messing up new 3D televisions.

At any rate, I’ve been waiting patiently but nobody’s picking up the baby’s toys while we sleep. HOWEVER, earlier this week something even better happened. I woke up to a tremendous number of visitors to the website, grabbing free versions of SimpleDiagrams like a rare earth element.

It only took a moment to figure out why. The spike in traffic was due to a fantastic blog post on SimpleDiagrams by e-Learning rockstar Tom Kuhlmann of The Rapid E-Learning Blog. Tom wrote a thoughtful, concise guide to SD, included some images of diagrams by other SD users, and even offered his readers access to some his own png artwork for use with SD’s custom library feature.

So I instantly forgave all the small slackers who never showed up to pick up baby blocks and Sophie the chewy giraffe.

BUT THAT’S NOT ALL. Tom also did four video tutorials that explain some of SimpleDiagrams’ features. These tutorials were so simple and clear, I found myself saying “oh yeah, that’s how it works.”

So thanks Tom and the Articulate crew. With Tom’s permission, I’m embedding his tutorials here for you.

A quick overview of SimpleDiagrams

How to change screen properties

How to save the diagram as an image

Working with objects

Creating custom libraries

By Daniel
January 20, 2011

1 comment