Editing Dia (software)

{{short description|Diagramming software}}
{{Primary sources|date=December 2009}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Dia
| logo = Dia.svg
| screenshot = Dia 0.97 - Flowchart example.png
| caption = Dia 0.97 in [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] on [[Windows Vista]]
| author =  Alexander Larsson
| released = {{Start date and age|1998|08|31|df=yes}}<ref name=initial_rev>{{cite web |last1=Larsson |first1=Alexander |url=https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/dia/-/commit/fd25f1de0960429ed2ce19d3df6e2b9854bfa0df |website=GitLab Dia Repository |access-date=2 August 2020 |title=Initial revision|date=31 August 1998 }}</ref>
| developer = Dia developers
| latest release version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q958908|P348|P548=Q2804309}}
| latest release date = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q958908|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}
| latest preview version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q958908|P348|P548=Q51930650}}
| latest preview date = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q958908|P348|P548=Q51930650|P577}}
| programming language = [[C (programming language)|C]] <!--[[Ruby (programming language)|Ruby]]-->
| operating_system = [[Windows]], [[macOS|OS X]], [[Linux]], [[Unix]]
| genre = Diagramming software
| license = [[GNU General Public License|GPL-2.0-or-later]]
| website = {{official website|url=wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Dia/|name=GNOME Apps}}
| repo = {{URL|https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/dia/}} (''upstream''), {{URL|https://github.com/GNOME/dia}} (''mirror'')
}}
'''Dia''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|iː|ə}})<ref name="FAQ">{{cite web|url=http://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Dia/Faq|title=Dia Frequently Asked Questions|access-date=2008-08-12}}</ref>
is [[free and open source software|free and open source]] general-purpose diagramming software, developed originally by Alexander Larsson.<ref name=initial_rev /> It uses a controlled [[single document interface]] (SDI) similar to [[GIMP]] and [[Inkscape]].

== Features ==
Dia has a modular design with several shape packages available for different needs: [[flowchart]], [[Computer network diagram|network diagram]]s, [[circuit diagram]]s, and more. It does not restrict symbols and connectors from various categories from being placed together.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-18 |title=Network Diagram Open source SW |url=https://discussion.fedoraproject.org/t/network-diagram-open-source-sw/77480 |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=Fedora Discussion |language=en}}</ref>

Dia has special objects to help draw [[entity-relationship model]]s, [[Unified Modeling Language]] (UML) diagrams, [[flowchart]]s, network diagrams, and simple electrical circuits. It is also possible to add support for new shapes by writing simple [[XML]] files, using a subset of [[Scalable Vector Graphics]] (SVG) to draw the shape.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dia (software) |url=https://www.seomastering.com/wiki/Dia_(software) |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=www.seomastering.com |language=en}}</ref>

Dia loads and saves diagrams in a custom XML format which is, by default, [[gzip]]ped to save space. It can print large diagrams spanning multiple pages<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.openhub.net/p/dia/links |title=Dia |work=ohloh |publisher=Geeknet, Inc. |access-date=2010-05-30}}</ref> and can also be scripted using the [[Python (programming language)|Python programming language]].

== Exports ==
Dia can export diagrams to various formats, including:
* [[Encapsulated PostScript|EPS]] (Encapsulated PostScript)
* [[Scalable Vector Graphics|SVG]] (Scalable Vector Graphics)
* [[AutoCAD DXF|DXF]] (Autocad's Drawing Interchange format)
* [[Computer Graphics Metafile|CGM]] (Computer Graphics Metafile, defined by [[ISO standard]] 8632)
* [[Windows Metafile|WMF]] (Windows Meta File)
* [[Portable Network Graphics|PNG]] (Portable Network Graphics)
* [[JPEG]] (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
* [[VDX (file format)|VDX]] (Microsoft's XML for [[Microsoft Visio|Visio]] Drawing)

== Development ==
{{one source|section|date=January 2024}}
Dia was originally created by Alexander Larsson<ref name="FAQ"/> but he moved on to work on [[GNOME]] and other projects. James Henstridge took over as lead developer, but he also moved on to other projects. He was followed by Cyrille Chepelov, then Lars Ræder Clausen.

Dia is currently maintained by Hans Breuer, Steffen Macke<!-- windows --> and Sameer Sahasrabuddhe.

It is written in C, and has an extension system which also supports writing extensions in [[Python (programming language)|Python]].

== See also ==
{{Portal|Free and open-source software}}
* [[ATLAS Transformation Language]] – Dia diagrams may be generated by ATL model transformations
* [[Diagrams.net]]
* [[List of UML tools]]
* [[List of vector graphics editors]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Dia (software)|Dia}}
* [http://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Dia Dia Project Homepage]
* [http://dia-installer.de/index.html.en Dia for Windows]

{{GNOME}}
{{Mindmaps}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dia (Software)}}
[[Category:Concept- and mind-mapping software for Linux]]
[[Category:Cross-platform free software]]
[[Category:Cross-platform software]]
[[Category:Diagramming software]]
[[Category:Free diagramming software]]
[[Category:Free software programmed in C]]
[[Category:Free UML tools]]
[[Category:Free vector graphics editors]]
[[Category:GNOME Applications]]
[[Category:Office software that uses GTK]]
[[Category:Portable software]]
[[Category:Unix software]]
[[Category:Vector graphics editors for Linux]]
[[Category:Windows graphics-related software]]