SmartDraw is a software product developed by SmartDraw Software, LLC for capturing and presenting information as diagrams or charts (click here for the detailed functionalities). It provides more than 70 different types of diagrams and thousands of templates. Users can import/export diagrams/templates in Microsoft Visio format. It integrates easily with those commonly used tools such as exporting the diagram directly to Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.
SmartDraw has two versions: 1) Cloud edition; 2) a downloadable edition for Windows desktop (Windows 10/8). The Cloud and desktop versions are completely integrated and users can store, share, and edit files online and move seamlessly between the two versions.
Eligibility
A campus license on SmartDraw is available for use by staff and students holding an active HKU Portal account. University staff can use this software for work-related purpose while students are eligible to use it for their work related to University studies. They are required to uninstall the software from their personal machines when they leave or graduate from HKU.
Desktop and Cloud Versions
Comparison between SmartDraw Cloud and Desktop Versions
| Desktop edition | Cloud edition | |
Template | ||
| Extensions | ✓ | ✕ |
| Popular | ✓ | ✓ |
| CAD & Drafting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cause & Effect | ✓ | ✓ |
| Charts & Graphs | ✕ | ✓ |
| Decision Trees | ✓ | ✓ |
| Emergency & Evacuation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Engineering | ✓ | ✓ |
| Floor Plans – Commercial | ✓ | ✓ |
| Floor Plans – Residential | ✓ | ✓ |
| Flowcharts | ✓ Create Sub-Process in “one-click” | ✓ Create Sub-Process manually |
| Other Flowchart Template: Value Stream Mapping | ✓ View Options and Quick Action Buttons for Adding Electronic Flow Lines | ✕ |
| Flyers & Certificates | ✓ | ✓ |
| Forms | ✓ | ✓ |
| Gantt Charts & Project Mgt | ✓ Access to Timeline and Assignment Views | ✓ |
| Healthcare | ✓ | ✓ |
| Infographics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Landscape Design | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lean | ✓ | ✓ |
| Legal & Government | ✓ | ✓ |
| Maps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mind Maps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Network Design | ✓ | ✓ |
| Org Charts | Import Excel to generate Org Chart with additional options during import | Import Excel to generate Org Chart |
| Presentations | ✓ | ✕ |
| Retail & Planograms | ✓ | ✓ |
| Schedules & Calendars | ✓ | ✕ |
| Science & Education | ✓ | ✓ |
| Software Design | ✓ | ✓ |
| Strategic Planning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Timelines | ✓ Access to Automated Timelines and Simple Timelines | ✓ Simple Timelines Only |
| Wireframes | ✓ | ✓ |
Integration | ||
| Export to MS Office | ✓ Paste Special enables use to double-click the image in MS Office resulting in the original SmartDraw .sdr file opening | ✓ |
| Export to PowerPoint | ✓ Automatic sequencing and Presentation Builder | ✓ |
| Visio Import & Export | ✓ | ✓ |
| SmartDraw .sdr File Import | ✕ | ✓ |
| AutoCAD Import | ✓ Import DXF (Drawing eXchange Format) | ✕ |
| SharePoint Integration | ✓ | ✕ |
| Trello Integration | ✕ | ✓ Gantt Charts |
| 3rd Party Integration: Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive, Box | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hyperlinking | ✓ Export diagram to PDF with Active Hyperlinks | ✓ Active Hyperlinks in the diagram |
| Google Translate Integration | ✕ | ✓ |
Visualization of Data | ||
| Shape Data | ✕ | ✓ |
Symbols | ||
| Create Custom Symbols & Custom Libraries | ✓ Advanced Customization Capabilities | ✓ Customize Name and Theme Color Only |
| Import Visio Stencil | ✓ | ✓ |