Effective diagram maker: how to make a diagram

Charts are a great way to convey complex information concisely and clearly. Many people find it easier to understand information when data is presented in graph form or in a way that reduces reading.

One important reason people use charts is that they help others understand a lot of data quickly. A reliable chart making application can help you create chart models that are beneficial to all viewers.

Not all charts are equal and even useful in any case. There are some commonly used types, but there are also some niche charts that may be more useful.

Here we will discuss popular chart types, how to make charts, drawing software for Mac, and the best options for chart tools for you.

Commonly used chart types

There is a reason why the most common chart types are popular: they are useful in more cases. Here are some popular chart types.

• Flowchart - Flowcharts display processes and relationships in a linear top-down visualization. These charts contain a lot of information in a compact framework; you can display processes or information flows and troubleshoot them. Flowcharts usually show binary "yes" and "no" options for simple questions, where the correct answer continues to the path to the final goal. If the wrong answer is provided in the given step, the user is directed to another object in the chart.
• Mind Mapping - Mind Mapping is another excellent chart format. They help you convey complex data in an easy-to-read format, relying on core objects as the focus. Each object has branches that describe additional information or responsibilities for the main object. Object-driven mind maps, but it is best to limit the chart to several core objects. Because as you add more branches of data, these objects can become complicated and thus become cluttered. Mind maps are also very helpful in showing how company teams work together.
• Organization Chart - Organization Chart is used to show hierarchies in a company, including who reports to which leadership team and their direct managers. It is also a useful tool for those who have just joined the company, or when the company is reorganized and those who are directly unaffected have a new leadership structure, it is also a useful tool to convey to them the usually complex structure.

How to make effective charts?

There are some that stand out in the chart creation application.

First, be aware of the type of chart you want to create. Flow charts and organizational charts are structurally similar, but convey different messages. Both can be easily created using Diagrams for Mac.

Mind maps are a different type of chart that requires more attention than most charts. MindNode is an app that focuses entirely on mind maps and has almost everything you need to create amazing mind maps quickly.

The easiest chart making tool

Diagrams is a simple chart creation application that relies on objects to build charts. Once an object is created, you can simply drag and drop one object onto another to create a relationship.

Objects in Diagrams can be one of four shapes and colors. Relationships can be more complex; you can choose either solid lines or one of several types of dotted lines. Arrows, double arrows and directional relationships can also be used in Diagrams.

Getting started is very easy. Open Diagrams on your Mac, select Add Element on the top menu to add your first object, and then select the shape and color of that object. Repeat these steps to add a second object.

Once you have two objects, you can hover over one object to display the line icon in the upper right corner of the object. Select it and drag it onto the second object you want the object to be associated with.

After you create a relationship, a menu appears showing the various relationship types you can add to the chart.

Simply add the object and create the relationship until your chart is finished. Diagrams are great for creating flow charts and organization charts.

Powerful diagrams, visual canvas and chart making tools

MindNode takes the so-called "main" node as the starting point. Each master node is a rectangular icon in your chart. Once you have created an important master node, you can hover over it to display the Plus icon to add a child node.

Children in mind maps are like child themes of master nodes or "parent" nodes. Each child node can have its own unique child node. The concept of child nodes as child themes can be expanded according to your preferences.

MindNode sticks to using the plus icon and right-click on the screen to create new objects and child nodes, which is very familiar and allows for quick creation of objects. You can also add comments to any node or child node, which is a great way to log more data into a chart without using items associated with the object to slow down the chart.

Each node or child node can also have a relationship with other nodes or child nodes. As shown below, the two child nodes have a relationship, although they are associated with different nodes respectively.

Please read also:

• Making flowcharts on Mac
• How to make a timeline on your Mac
• Start the drill
• How designers use Setapp app

You should understand the pros and cons of mind maps. While it is a great way to display and communicate large amounts of data and help people understand the relationships and responsibilities of a team, mind maps can get a little messy if you are not careful. It’s easy to get addicted to creating incredible mind maps without thinking about how it presents to others.

You may find that they are suitable for personal use as well, but there are the same problems. Dumping your ideas into MindNode can be useful, but remember that mind maps are for reference. If the chart is not clear and concise enough, then a chart containing too much data is useless.

Likewise, the flowchart may not convey all the necessary data in the right way. The use cases of mind maps and flowcharts are very different and are not interchangeable. Consider which type is best for your needs and limit the amount of data in each type.

in conclusion

For most people, flowcharts and mind maps will be the only two types of charts that are needed. These two types of charts make it simple to convey complex data, even if they are for personal purposes.

Diagrams and MindNode are the two best applications for both chart types, and it's worth adding both to your app library. We really like the ease of use of both apps, especially Diagrams’ simple in-app menu that starts the creation of a flowchart or organization chart in seconds. Many other applications require you to learn complex buttons and setup systems; Diagrams allows you to start creating immediately.

MindNode does a great job of helping you create effective mind maps. Some applications specifically for this chart type provide confusing interfaces and require you to overcome obstacles to create charts. MindNode relies on very simple icons and familiar right-clicks to show everything you need. Like Diagrams, its simple in-app menu is for dedicated functions only (in the case of MindNode, adding icons, images, and relationships).

Both apps are available for free during the seven-day trial of Setapp, the world's best suite of Mac productivity apps. Apart from Diagrams and MindNode, you can also instantly access the full Setapp directory of nearly 200 excellent Mac applications, all for free!

After the trial period, Setapp continues to have unlimited access to the full suite of apps for only $9.99 per month, so why hesitate? Try Setapp now!

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