SmartDraw helps you draw schematic diagrams with the help of intelligent connecting lines and drag-and-drop industry-standard electrical symbols that snap into place automatically.
SmartDraw includes thousands of ready-made schematic symbols like switches, sensors, amplifiers, capacitors, resistors, transformers, and more. SmartDraw has a complete collection of the industry-standard IEEE and NECA symbols.
SmartDraw is easy to work with no matter what other apps you use. You can add schematic diagrams to:
SmartDraw works hand in glove with most file storage systems. You can save your schematic drawing directly to:
There is no need to create a parallel set of common folders and permissions, SmartDraw can just save files directly into your existing set up.
Share your schematic diagram with anyone, even if they don't own a copy of SmartDraw, with a link. You can also easily export any diagram as a PDF or common image formats like PNG or SVG.
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You and your team can work on the same schematic diagram in real time. Your team can leave notes, comments, and feedback and make sure everyone is on the same page.
SmartDraw also works where you already communicate with your team. You can collaborate on schematic drawings in Microsoft Teams®, Slack or Confluence.
SmartDraw has all the schematic drawing templates and symbols you need as well as lots of other engineering diagrams.
Start with a schematic diagram template that you can find in the Engineering category under New Document on your Dashboard.
Power and ground are the foundation of any schematic diagram. You'll start your schematic diagram by adding a symbol for your power source like a battery.
Next, start drawing circuits using the Line tool. Make sure you have the segmented or Shape Connector line type selected.
As you draw circuit lines, you can automatically add symbols at the end of a line from a pop-up menu of common symbols. This menu is intelligent and will populate with your most recently used symbols. Add resistors, logic gates, switches, and more.
You can also drag and drop industry-standard electrical symbols to your circuit line. Your symbol will attach to the line seamlessly and SmartDraw will automatically rotate it to match the orientation of your circuit.
Move a symbol along a circuit line like a bead on a string. You can also detach the symbol by holding down the Alt key.
Invite team members to give you feedback and work on your schematic diagram in real-time. Make notes, design and troubleshoot as a group. SmartDraw is so easy to use, you can make changes in real-time.
Once your schematic drawing is complete you can insert it directly to any Microsoft Office app like Microsoft Word® or PowerPoint®, or add it to Google Docs™ or Google Slides™.
SmartDraw also has apps to integrate with Atlassian's Confluence and Jira. You can share your schematic diagram in Microsoft Teams. You can also easily export your schematic drawing as a PDF or print it.
SmartDraw's schematic diagram software is easy to use. It includes all the schematic drawing templates and industry-standard electrical symbols you need to help you get started quickly.
SmartDraw is an incredibly powerful tool that is also easy to use. Create professional-looking diagrams in less time than you'll spend with other programs.
Whether your needs are in electrical circuit design, mechanical design, or component and industrial design, SmartDraw can help you create all of your engineering schematics.
A schematic diagram uses industry standard electrical symbols to visualize a circuit. Engineers use schematic drawings to design circuits, understand how they work, and troubleshoot the logic in the case of problems.
As the name suggests, a pictorial diagram uses pictures to represent components in a system. The key difference between a pictorial and a schematic diagram lies in standardization and abstraction. A pictorial diagram uses realistic images to represent the components in a system instead of abstract symbols. It's meant for a broader, less technical audience. In contrast, a schematic diagram uses a set of standardized electrical symbols to represent how components function and connect in a circuit. A pictorial diagram is great for beginners because the realistic images help with recognition and understanding. It's a great visual aid when teaching. Schematic diagrams are more useful for professionals who need to focus on function and flow to help with design and troubleshooting.
A schematic diagram shows the logical flow in a circuit, while a wiring diagram visualizes the physical connections.
Engineers create schematic drawings to design and troubleshoot how a circuit should work. In contrast, a wiring diagram is used as a guide for installation or for troubleshooting the physical wiring by tracing it. Another way to say it is a schematic diagram is used to understand a circuit, while a wiring diagram is used to build it.
Discover why SmartDraw is the best schematic drawing software today.