xDiagram is intended for the design of UML diagrams. As you may be wondering what UML is about, allow me to explain that it stands for Unified Modeling Language and it is very commonly used for designing visual models. The application has an easy-to-use interface and, since it looks similar to other tools, you will probably figure out how to use it from the start. Yet, taking a look at the accompanying documentation can probably help you discover useful but less visible features.
xDiagram can import multiple formats, including UMD3, VSDX, VSDM, VSD, and VSS. Similarly, it allows many image formats, like SVG, PNG, JPEG, TIFF, and PDF. Another possibility is to import C++ header or Java files; however, the generation of the diagrams is not always accurate.
From scratch, you can start a new document and set such initial properties as dimensions and background color. Next, it is possible to start adding shapes to the canvas. Luckily, there is an extensive library of shapes and symbols, which lets you represent most of the concepts you can think of. The shapes are highly customizable so you can change their color, size and text font.
Moreover, you can easily import personalized images by simply dragging them from Finder onto the canvas. In this respect, a long list of formats including TIFF, PICT, GIF, PNG, JPEG and BMP, is allowed.
Then, there is one of the best features of the application: its smart lines and connectors, which let you connect shapes to express relationships. Luckily, these lines are automatically redrawn when one of the connected shapes is moved. Other advantageous features are its support of layers and the possibility to align shapes in many ways.
Once you have finished your diagram, you can save it as UMD3. Yet, this format is only supported by xDiagram, so you may want to export it to any of the image formats allowed, including VSDX, SVG, PDF, TIFF, PNG and JPEG. In a similar way, the diagram can be sent directly to printer or copied to the clipboard.
In general, xDiagram is very convenient if you need to create diagrams showing relationships. It is probably the best tool of its type for macOS. Besides, its compatibility with Visio files makes it ideal for sharing between operating systems. The product is shareware and can be tried at no cost, an opportunity you should not miss.
v5.7 [Mar 6, 2021]
- Improve UI
- Fix bugs
Previous updates:
- Support Apple Silicon
- Support macOS 11 Big Sur
- Support Find/Replace text
- Support multi-canvas (multi-tabs) for each document
- Improve Grid setting, Snap setting (add minor step setting...)
- Improve polyline object (support curve segment...)
- "CMD-9" to change zoom to fit to canvas size
- Allow to change arrow size of each line
- Allow to change theme color of all items inside current document
- Support fill setting: Pattern
- Add modify functions: Copy/Paste properties
- Add modify functions: Apply Gradient fill to multi objects
- Unit setting for each document: each document support different unit setting
- Allow to resize, move sub-object (which is inside a group) individually
- Allow to resize canvas from all directions
- User can move, resize object to outside of canvas's printable area
- Improve app's performance
- Support rich text format
- Allow to add hyperlink/description to shapes
- Hold SPACE-BAR to maneuver/scroll around document
- Hold ALT key then drag items to clone/duplicate
- Hold 'A' key then drag mouse to create a new smart connection line
- Add "keep proportion ratio" property
- Improve ColorWell UI
- Support rotated table
- Press shortcut key 'F' to edit shape's path, points
- Add more text-align setting
- Add 'Merge layers' function
- Improve UI of "More Shapes" dialog
- Support multi-languages: English, Deutsch, Français, 日本語, 한국어, Español, Português, Čeština, Dansk, Suomi, Italiano, Nederlands, Norsk, Polski, Русский, Svenska, ไทย, Türkçe, Tiếng Việt, 中文（中国）, 中文（台灣）
- Improve print dialog (add Detail controls to print dialog)
- Allow users to copy/paste selected layer
- Add Decimal Precision setting
- Add more arrow types (architectural ticks....)
- Support sync to iCloud
- Import from Visio's VSD, VSS format
- Import multi-pages tiff format
