Gliffy Web-based diagramming program

By Chris Harris -- School Library Journal, 9/1/2006

Gliffy.com

Just as video killed the radio star, an upstart Web site just might have what it takes to knock down a long established software package.

An established element of the Microsoft Office suite, Visio is a diagramming program whose flowcharting, room layout, and network illustration capabilities have been hard to match. Or at least that was the case until Gliffy burst onto the scene, offering free access to an online application that rivals Visio.

For denizens of the business sphere, Visio remains the tool of choice. But for the rest of us, those who need to create a layout for their library once a year, let’s say, or the occasional flowchart, Gliffy is a godsend, providing diagramming capabilities that would otherwise be inaccessible, due to price and a steep learning curve.

Gliffy helps users create, share, save, and print design documents using a variety of tool sets. There are elements for flowcharting, network design, computer/user interface modeling and floor- plan creation. Ok, they’re not your everyday tasks. But just try creating a diagram without a design program and you’ll understand why having free, online access to Gliffy is such a beautiful thing.

Now you can forget the hassle of trying to move graphic elements around in Word or pushing presentation or desktop publishing software beyond their functional limits. Gliffy provides an interface and a tool set that takes you from start to finish, making critical design tasks relatively pain free for the novice. For example, Gliffy sports a “drag-and-drop” feature so you easily transport graphics from the left-hand galleries into the work area. Familiar Office suite-type menus and toolbars across the top of the application enable you to perform tasks such as opening, saving, printing, copying and pasting, and changing colors with ease.

So what could you do with Gliffy? Many library orientation lessons include a mapping segment—Gliffy does that! Would you like to help students and staff tackle research? How about creating a Gliffy flowchart to visualize the research process?

However you end up using it, Gliffy gets a thumbs up and a big “Try this!” sticker for providing an easy and free application that’s a welcome alternative to software packages that most of us wouldn’t otherwise be able to access.