Hi, I’m looking for free easy to use software that might help me enter the following sorts of stuff and turn it into a sort of ‘timeline tree’.
The data I want to enter is:
- Some descriptive text for each event.
- Time associated with event.
- ‘Downsteam node(s)’ (for arrow).
- Code to indicate “reaction to LOG12”, “Action by Fury Researcher” and “Response to action by Fury researcher”, “Data in Fury”. (In figure above, red is ‘action by researcher’. ‘blue is ‘response to action by Fury reseacher’ and so on.
- Ideally, any links can be made clickable.
- Optional: tag for misinterpretation. (I would like to indicate the mis-interpretation of Simon’s comment in some color. Purple?)
The goal is to make something of this nature:
The above is incomplete. It’s purpose is to illustrate the level of interaction by researchers during the ‘observation’ period in Fury (i.e. Aug. 2012-Oct 2012) and how that interaction resulted in quotes used in the paper.
Ideally: the software is free and easy to use. Online would be fine too.
http://www.gliffy.com/
lucia,
I’m supposed to be navigating – but software such as you describe is sold as project planning software. FWIW.
j ferguson,
I’ve seen project planning software, but…. does it have the arrows? Or colors? There are many types– can you suggest a particular one so I can have a look?
Here’s project planning software charts I’m familiar with:
It’s not quite right.
“Dia” might be sufficient for your needs.
https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Dia
Lucia,
I think you are looking for flowchart software. There are many available. This one: http://flyinglogic.com/ gives you a free 30 day trial.
Software we used did both. The idea was you needed the flow chart to establish the inter-dependencies, Once all of the boxes were inter-related, the software did the Gantt chart such as the one pictured in Lucia’s post above.
When we’re anchored for the night, i’ll see what I can find. Clearly you don’t need the Gantt charts.
SteveF– That looks just right!!
j ferguson– if your find the ‘flowchart’ bit, that would be perfect. Now that I know the word I also may be able to google it. I was familiar with the “gant” chart aspect– and so didn’t think the project planning stuff was going to be ‘it’. But I knew something must exist!!
Excel also does flowcharts.
This is a link to downloads.com, search for free project management software: Free Software
That Flying Logic product looks nice, at least based on the animated GIF image on their web page. I would bet good money that is exactly what you need Lucia. Well I would do more than bet, I would donate funds in support of buying the software.
Something a little less sophisticated (it seems) is yEd. It’s a java app, so it runs on any system with a Java Runtime Environment installed. I think I’m going to try this on my Linux system when I get home tonight.
Should you want to buy the Flying Logic product you could raise blogging funds through a Lucia/Josh sales event (hint hint). 🙂
The yEd 90-second video is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmSTwKw7dX4. It looks pretty slick.
Earl– Cool!!
If you have a gmail account you can try the “Drawing” app under “Drive”.
I was going to recommend yEd but I see it’s already been recommended so this is just a second or thrid of that recommendation
FrancisT,
I’ve started with yEd. It looks pretty good.
Give CMAP Tools a shot. It is free and awesome. I have used it several times over the years. Fully recommended for mind-/idea-mapping.
http://cmap.ihmc.us//
Try VUE from Tufts University. (http://vue.tufts.edu). Free and open source. I use it all the time – don’t need to read any instructions.