I've used Visio, which I like. I've never used Rational Rose or similar "heavy-duty" design tools. I've also started the spec for new projects by building a preliminary data structure using Enterprise Manager and screen-capturing a db diagram. This is only if the client is an IT consulting company or some other technically savvy person(s), since the db diagram isn't very meaningful to end users. For everyone else I either go straight from description to preliminary functionality or to Visio for a sitemap or an application flow diagram.
In my case UI design doesn't enter into it until the preliminary functionality is built, and although I build a style sheet into the preliminary functionality phase, graphic design isn't considered (much) until after the UI design is finalized, to prevent wasted efforts on graphic designs which have to be entirely scrapped or overhauled due to changes in the interface. I've talked to people who started out as graphic artists and moved into programming who start with a visual mockup of the front page of the site or application using Photoshop and finalize the look and feel before any functionality is built. I suspect this is largely because where I'm much more comfortable with code and code revisions, they're much more comfortable with photoshop and visual changes. s. isaac dealey 954-776-0046 new epoch http://www.turnkey.to lead architect, tapestry cms http://products.turnkey.to certified advanced coldfusion 5 developer http://www.macromedia.com/v1/handlers/index.cfm?ID=21816 > I'm doing some research on what kinds of design tools > ColdFusion > developers find useful when initially speccing out a > project. By > design, I don't necessarily mean graphic design so much as > application > architecture, however eventually graphic design has to be > taken into > account, as well. For instance, do you use Visio to mock > up the > interface, or HTML, or just a light-weight version of the > app in CF? > Do you use Photoshop? Freehand? Graph paper (my favorite > technique)? > How about database design, workflow, and process diagrams? > Any > information would be greatly appreciated. > Thanks, > Cantrell ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?forumid=4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?method=subscribe&forumid=4 FAQ: http://www.thenetprofits.co.uk/coldfusion/faq Get the mailserver that powers this list at http://www.coolfusion.com
