> ...but Visio does link to MS office...
SmartDraw does also.
> I tend to keep things simple. But i must boast I have gotten better, and on a
> rare occassion have linked photos and instruction video (AVI) to the visio
> charts and other procedure/form references.
My only comment here is to say make sure you do not end up 'assuming' that your client will have the same talent in-house to maintain the system links, etc. after you're gone. This often becomes an knowledge issue.
As an example -- I have kept this web site simple. Oh, I have played with videos and sounds but found that the simple, no-frames, no-frills html allows just about everyone access. I can put in shockwave baubles and such but as complexity increases so does maintenance time/knowledge requirements -- not to mention you start screening certain people out who simply don't want to have to install shockwave to view the site. This said, the main issue as it regards this topic is that simplicity can save a bundle in maintenance and knowledge costs. Powerpoint is in all the office packages, I think, except maybe the personal edition or whatever they call it while Visio is an extra cost. Powerpoint is simple to use.
> I got the VISIO demo for $1.55 S/H.
The hook. What does the full version cost?
> ...do you know if a flow chart from smartdraw get saved into...
Smartdraw imports visio files (individually or BATCH) but doesn't export them. It does export about everything else - you can export directly as pdf, as bitmap, as Micrografix, as a windows meta file --- there are about 10 or more (never really counted, but there's a bunch) export formats.
As I say, I typically only use powerpoint as it does what I need. In my opinion, too many people set up overly complex systems of links and such. I've ended up helping several companies recover after a complex system was devised by another consultant that were maintenance nightmares.
And it's not always consultants. One client was told by their registrar (in the interview prior to the company hiring the registrar) that they had to have a document control software package as a minimum to comply with ISO 9001. Of course, Visio was 'sanctioned' by the registrar for process/systems maps.
I go on here about this issue because I think too many companies make their systems (especially document related systems) overly complex and many, early on, are talked into complex systems with great talk about 'software solutions' which are sold as a 'golden bullet' solution to things like document control.
It all goes back to KISS.
