Can anyone recommend softeware to create flowcharts for receptionists to follow to solve computer technical problems?

Or is MS Word and good layout skills as good as any?

You can do it with Word and some layout skills but it'll be a pain ever changing anything. I've only ever used MS Visio and that was okay.

I've used Smartdraw for some time. I have an old version and it does all I've ever wanted it to do. They've got a freebie trial version, but I don't know what the caveats may be for the free version, but the software is $69 for Standard Version. There's a $129 Pro, and a $198 Pro-Plus version as well.

-Zeke

OmniGraffle is pretty good for that sort of thing if happen to have a Mac around and they have a full featured trial version.

-Mike

I dont like to pay for software so I'll give you some opensource.. :-)

OpenOffice's Draw can draw simple flowcharts.
http://www.openoffice.org

Dia is another alternative that I've used to create quite a few flowchars/computermaps...
http://www.lysator.liu.se/~alla/dia/

Both program works in at least Linux and Windows (I only use linux...).

Fredrik

I'd second Visio, the smart lines can a cool/annoying feature depending what you're trying to achieve, but most of the time it does the trick. Plenty of templates as well.

You know, after re-reading your post, I think you have larger problems than finding the proper flowcharting software. Receptionists ... solve(ing) computer technical problems???

"It says here to re-seat the RAM, I don't see any sheep."


-Zeke

Really just for basic first line tech support - like modem isn't working, PC won't turn on etc. Saves me from dealing with people who haven't plugged in their printers!

I know. I just find that the problem with most people who can't find the obvious problems is that they don't even really care to try, and having the spreadsheet there in front of them wouldn't change that. Maybe you've got higher caliber receptionists than we have.

-Zeke

edit: You let people have their own printers? Owch!

Your probably right, but I have to try! You wouldn't believe some of the calls we get. Well... maybe you would! "What? The paper has to be in the printer?"

Thanks guys for all the software suggestions - I'll be checking them out. Thanks!

I believe you. I 'fixed' a printer today by closing the paper drawer the last 3/16". Voila! I can't complain though, most of my users are decent and don't bug me too often (esp. since IT isn't my main job here). I've got one guy who was complaining that his MSN wasn't working, which I couldn't give a rat's ass about as it's got nothing to do with work, except that he was using its browser to access Yellow Freight (which he does need to do his job). I opened IE to the Yellow website and left. He tells me a few days later that MSN is still 'broken', as if I'd drop everything to try and fix it. Ass. It doesn't hurt that he's the one most likely to complain if you increase his 'work' load if you try to involve him and then bitches about how nobody asks his opinion on things when you don't.

[/rant]

Sorry for the rant.

-Zeke

I'd go for Visio. I've been using it since like '95 ? - Even with Microsoft ownership it works like a charm.

\\Kaare

Isn't Visio like $500? That is a lot of cash to do a couple flowcharts. Particularly when there is a variety of free or cheap alternatives.

-Mike

Yeah its pretty dear - if work bought it I'd have to justify it.

Visio is good for so much more. We use it for designing rack layouts, system designs, office layouts, technical diagrams, all sorts of stuff. Mind you, the bbc has got some blanket deal with microsoft so that me getting a licence is something like another 50 quid, or something like that.

"What? The paper has to be in the printer?"

Or perhaps just right-side up?

tanstaafl.

Yeah. The Pro version of Visio is about that. The Standard version is a bit cheaper though.

Visio does everything that I need and it's pretty easy to use if you can handle Word.

As far as I can figure, Visio is f'ing awful for network diagrams, though.

Yeah. That was one of things I found a bit lacking. It's okay for a smallish number of nodes but when it becomes complicated it's annoying to change things.