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Post by reTrEaD on Jan 26, 2018 9:45:40 GMT -5
I downloaded shapes and templates from The Guitar Stencils Project. The first thing I need is a program to use them. I really don't want to pay microsoft for visio. So what's a good free program? |
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Post by JFrankParnell on Jan 26, 2018 16:03:01 GMT -5
I use Adobe Illustrator, for my sweet drawerings.  |
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Post by gitpiddler on Jan 28, 2018 9:30:15 GMT -5
That sure is complexated.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2018 9:52:52 GMT -5
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Post by Yogi B on Jan 30, 2018 2:47:59 GMT -5
I downloaded shapes and templates from The Guitar Stencils Project. The first thing I need is a program to use them. I really don't want to pay microsoft for visio. So what's a good free program? I did have half a post written about drawing software, the trouble is I'm not sure I would recommend any of it, or call it good. Even Visio, which I would describe as alright, or tolerable -- not particularly good. The nice thing about Visio is that creating and editing templates is done within Visio itself, visually. A lot of similar diagramming-orientated tools require the creation of new shapes to be created separately as individual SVG files (or similar XML-based format, either by modifying the SVGs, or from scratch). A consequence of this approach is that typically means the shapes are static building blocks which cannot be edited on the fly as circumstances may require. It also supposedly has limited support for importing VSS stencils but I've never got that to work. Plus that (supposedly) creates a document with a shape per page, as far as I'm aware to create a 'proper' shape library requires packaging the shapes into an extension. Additionally although VSD import may work, it's not perfect and can often make things that are less than "sweet looking". Unfortunately that seems to be a trend amongst various tools that try to import Visio files for example draw.io supports importing stencil files (although it appears only the newer VSSX format), however this is the result for the Tele bridge pickup shape: 
If limited to only free programs a better starting point is probably exporting the shapes from Visio to some form of vector image format -- this has already been done to some extent (the EPS / Illustrator versions), however those are just a single page containing all the shapes even those are not 100% error free. Plus as the result is a plain vector image the connection snap points are missing, meaning importing them into some other diagramming tool would require manually re-adding them. I don't believe I've linked the TDPRI thread from the stencil's creator yet, but it's worth a read if you haven't found it already. As for a cheaper (not free) alternative, the best option seems to be MyDraw (previously Nevron Draw), except for the fact it won't actually import the latest GSP stencils -- earlier versions and Phostenix's additional shapes seem to work okay, though still not perfectly -- but the main file fails to load with an error: "Width cannot be negative or zero". Thus I suspect it's having an issue with a particular shape(s), which if removed would fix the issue, unfortunately the error message doesn't specify which shape. Another puzzling thing about MyDraw is that although it has a "Shape Properties" dialogue which is a limited analogue of Visio's ShapeSheet, as far as I can see MyDraw lacks an equivalent of Visio's ShapeData. Ultimately since I wouldn't mind redrawing probably the majority the shapes anyway, I wouldn't mind starting from scratch with some other program; the trouble is I've yet to find any such program that I believe warrants the required investment of time and/or money. |
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Post by reTrEaD on Jan 30, 2018 18:25:39 GMT -5
So even if I let microsoft pry open my wallet, I won't be all that pleased? Disappointing. Not that I'd be likely to pay anyway, but that does come at somewhat of a surprise.
Yeah, I'll read that carefully and try to get somewhat of a idea where to start with the free stuff. At least I'll be more able to ask the right questions.
EDIT: The moment I clicked that thread I was met with a PhotoPhuggit image. Time to open the Chrome.
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Post by wolf on Jan 31, 2018 15:49:59 GMT -5
It's been a LONG time since I posted here. - HELLO EVERYONE!!!
Anyway, I use MicroSoft Paint.
It's not great but it's free if you have any version of Windows.
(Then again, it's Microsoft, so don't expect you are going to be another Rembrandt with it.)
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Post by reTrEaD on Jan 31, 2018 16:44:19 GMT -5
Holy Moly!
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Post by sumgai on Jan 31, 2018 17:06:46 GMT -5
That's correct, wolf signed up just two hours after RH started this whole shebang! That's even quicker than JohnH or ChrisK!!
wolf,
 Home!
You'll be pleased to learn that RandomHero has reappeared on the scene! With his help, the Staff has been updated, and that will let us get started on revamping the place. Stay tuned! 
sumgai
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Post by Yogi B on Feb 3, 2018 13:16:22 GMT -5
So even if I let microsoft pry open my wallet, I won't be all that pleased? Disappointing. Not that I'd be likely to pay anyway, but that does come at somewhat of a surprise. A thing to bear in mind is that I will probably always be overly harsh on any vector drawing type software, because in the past I was somewhat spoiled by the CAD program we used in DT classes at school ( TechSoft 2D Design). I'm not sure I'd want to draw wiring diagrams or schematics with it, but it was still damn good. I'd attach some images of drawings I did (of guitars, what else?), but I'm pretty sure they're long gone in an unfortunate hard drive hitting the floor kind of a way. Though in many aspects it was simplistic and/or archaic, the thing I really liked about 2D Design was the fact it employed geometry to make your life easier. Rather having maybe a single way to draw lines and a few ways of drawing circles/arcs/regular polygons (if your lucky), it gave you many. Things like drawing tangents and normals to curves, drawing a circle from three circumferential points or tangential to three lines. If I remember correctly, in total it had over a dozen ways to draw circles, the other tools weren't far behind either. I know it's not unique for a CAD tool to do things like this, but I'd stick my neck out and say 2D Design did it best. (As for Visio, I've recently solved one of my bugbears: having to manually add/edit borders around wires. A thing that (thankfully) I've only started doing fairly recently, and probably unnecessarily -- I just like the extra definition it gives. Anyway I've now solved that problem since I've learned that you can create custom line patterns) It's been a LONG time since I posted here. - HELLO EVERYONE!!!
Anyway, I use MicroSoft Paint. Continuing on a bit of a nostalgia trip, it was likely in one of those DT classes I happened to stumble across a certain webpage -- well maybe stumble is a bit poetic since I would've been looking for inspiration for guitar wiring -- in any event it's probably due to your MS Paint diagrams that set me on a path that ultimately led here. Although I've rarely used Paint for finished drawings, most of my diagrams are sitting in folders next to a rough sketch of the key logic done in, guess what... Paint. So it still has an important role in the diagrams I draw. |
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christo
Rookie Solder Flinger
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Post by christo on Apr 2, 2018 6:55:21 GMT -5
As for a cheaper (not free) alternative, the best option seems to be MyDraw (previously Nevron Draw), except for the fact it won't actually import the latest GSP stencils -- earlier versions and Phostenix's additional shapes seem to work okay, though still not perfectly -- but the main file fails to load with an error: "Width cannot be negative or zero". Thus I suspect it's having an issue with a particular shape(s), which if removed would fix the issue, unfortunately the error message doesn't specify which shape. Another puzzling thing about MyDraw is that although it has a "Shape Properties" dialogue which is a limited analogue of Visio's ShapeSheet, as far as I can see MyDraw lacks an equivalent of Visio's ShapeData. Ultimately since I wouldn't mind redrawing probably the majority the shapes anyway, I wouldn't mind starting from scratch with some other program; the trouble is I've yet to find any such program that I believe warrants the required investment of time and/or money. Hi Yogi, You can try the latest version of MyDraw - it has improved Visio stencils import. The error you mentioned has been fixed. However, if you meet any problems with other shapes in MyDraw, feel free to send these shapes to: support@mydraw.com. We will do our best to provide you with fix. Following is a screenshot of the imported GuitarStencilsVersion3.1_2007.vss:  All the best, Christo |
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Post by reTrEaD on Apr 2, 2018 9:56:08 GMT -5
Hi Yogi, You can try the latest version of MyDraw - it has improved Visio stencils import. The error you mentioned has been fixed. However, if you meet any problems with other shapes in MyDraw, feel free to send these shapes to: support@mydraw.com. We will do our best to provide you with fix. You're part of the support team for mydraw and you membered-up here just to make contact with one of our staff? I'm impressed. |
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Post by sumgai on Apr 2, 2018 23:18:48 GMT -5
^^^ I'm more than impressed - I'm happier than two nutz in a sack!
christo,
Hi, and to The NutzHouse. We hope that you've presented your updated version of MyDraw because you like messing with guitars, but even if that's not your first priority (after earning a paycheck, that is), that's OK, we're still happy to see people chime in and contribute something useful.
Perhaps you'd like to pen a post that explains, in MyDraw 101 terms, how to download, set up and use the package, yes? You can be assured that many folks here would like to make a drawing that doesn't look like their crayons are getting dull with age! I suspect that anything along these lines will become popular here in The NutzHouse, and that can't be a bad thing for you and your company, right? 
If you do make such a posting, don't rewrite material that's already available on your site - just link to it, and save yourself the effort. Use that time instead to fire up the beast and unleash some tasty licks!  Also, feel free to put it anywhere you like. If needed, one of the Staff will move it to where it might fit better.
Again, thanks, and welcome aboard!
sumgai
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christo
Rookie Solder Flinger
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Post by christo on Apr 4, 2018 5:58:48 GMT -5
^^^ I'm more than impressed - I'm happier than two nutz in a sack!
christo,
Hi, and to The NutzHouse. We hope that you've presented your updated version of MyDraw because you like messing with guitars, but even if that's not your first priority (after earning a paycheck, that is), that's OK, we're still happy to see people chime in and contribute something useful.
Perhaps you'd like to pen a post that explains, in MyDraw 101 terms, how to download, set up and use the package, yes? You can be assured that many folks here would like to make a drawing that doesn't look like their crayons are getting dull with age! I suspect that anything along these lines will become popular here in The NutzHouse, and that can't be a bad thing for you and your company, right?
If you do make such a posting, don't rewrite material that's already available on your site - just link to it, and save yourself the effort. Use that time instead to fire up the beast and unleash some tasty licks! Also, feel free to put it anywhere you like. If needed, one of the Staff will move it to where it might fit better.
Again, thanks, and welcome aboard!
sumgai
Hi sumgai, Thank you for the warm welcome MyDraw is a diagramming software which can be used as an alternative to MS Visio. As part of the industry requirements (and because there are already great many shapes developed for Visio) we have implemented the Visio stencil import. MyDraw users can import VSS, VSX and VSSX files (Visio stencils) and use them in their drawings. You can download a 30-day trial of the application (for Windows or Mac) from the Downloads pageOnce you start MyDraw, you can import a Visio stencil from the shape library browser -> Open Library button:  You can also take a look at the following How-to topics: How to create your own diagram shapesHow to create custom diagram shape librariesCheers, Christo |
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Post by sumgai on Apr 4, 2018 10:39:54 GMT -5
christo,
OK, I'm duly impressed. I'll leave your post right here, it shouldn't be difficult for those wondering about drawing software to find this gem, I'm sure.
I'll be interested in learning who else is using this program - any Nutz wanna take me up on this?
sumgai
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Home!
Also, feel free to put it anywhere you like. If needed, one of the Staff will move it to where it might fit better.