representing connections with a dot in VISIO

Is there any EASY way to show a schematic in Visio with a wire connecting with a dot and not connecting by just passing over the wire?

I have used Visio for drawing schematics many times in the past. I have always been frustrated with the Visio way of drawing single wire connections. The convention Visio uses is like the old schematics from the middle of the 20th century. That is, all wires NOT connected are shown with the wire jumping (bridging/hopping) over the wire. A connection is shown when the wire crosses straight over the wire. Is there any EASY way to show a schematic with a wire connecting with a dot and not connecting by just passing over the wire as a real modern schematic is generated? I once "created" a dot to put on a connected intersection, but I felt that it complicated my effort.

Note that I draw schematics about once a year or so, so I don't need a cad package.

In response to what Eric Anderson posted in news: snipped-for-privacy@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com:

Properly drawn circuit diagrams do not need dots on junctions, crosspoints should never be linked. Offset the junctions as recommended by published drawing standards, and the problem goes away.

I always use the circular line end (under the pull-down menu with the arrows) as a dot.

What's the point of drawing a schematic with a graphics program if you can't netlist it?

...Jim Thompson

That looks like it will work. Don't know why it never ocurred to me. If I have a question, I will get back.

Thanks, Eric

Nico Coesel wrote:

Don't use crosses - use tees.

Instead of this: | | | |

-------------------+---------------------- | | | |

do this: | | | |

-------------------+ +--------------------- | | | | |

(or this: | | | |

-------------------++---------------------- | | | | )

Cheers! Rich

I use Visio to draw diagrams for documentation purposes. The output from Visio just looks prettier than the output from most CAD packages especially when imported into a Word document.

I made my own Visio schematic package.

For the connecting dot, I think what you want is a circle centered on two INVISIBLE crossed lines. As I recall, lines can be invisible. Store this as a Visio shape, and you're done.

Better visual appearance for publication.

mc,

Your idea seems > I made my own Visio schematic package.

Is that produced by the folks who produce Visio?

I'm pretty sure Michael isn't into that. (He might be willing to BEAR with you.)

I have never seen a program more poorly suited to making electrical diagrams than Visio.

That can't be true! I always see engineering job descriptions requiring Word/PowerPoint/Visio experience.

:-)

Gee, the head of engineering at Microdyne asked me that question when I was inteviewing for an opening as a component engineer, not long before he was fired for being a total screwup.

Well folks, sorry about the english. I was about to be out of the door and rushed it a bit.

It may be that Visio is not the best solution, but it is a compromise since it is a general tool (sort of like Excel being used for a database). A Cad program takes some time to learn and an engineer may be responsible for the design, sketching, documentation, testing, releasing, production startup, and product support. I have found that the average design cycle (for stuff I have done) is about 18 months (some 3 yrs, some 8 months). It is hard to be an expert in a Cad program that you use intensely for about 3 to 6 weeks out of 18 months. That is why I always thought you should have a designer do the Cad stuff. He is much more of an expert than the engineer because he lives with it every day.

So-o-o-o. I like Visio since it is a nice general tool in my toolbox (like Word, Project, Excel, Photoshop, Micrografix Designer, Outlook, and several others). I don't need a netlist (it might be nice and I understand that earlier versions had one of sorts), but it is really a sketchpad. Thirty years ago I used an engineering pad and a set of small drafting tools. Visio is that for me today.

Michael A. Terrell wrote:

Eric Anderson TOP-POSTED:

Again, PLEASE DON'T TOP-POST. http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:SXIajvWUVHAJ:groups.google.com/support/bin/answer.py=answer=12348+Tempting-though-it-is-*-*-*-*-*-*+remove-*-*-*-irrelevant+STOP+zz-zz+qq+BOTTOM

I still use a pad of paper for sketches.

This thread is a classic example of people getting sucked into the feature-itis of most applications. How do you draw a dot at the intersection of two lines? If that's not trivially easy to figure out from the menus or help system, too much time is being wasted on a non domain specific application. Time probably better spent learning an app. specific to ones profession.