Grid Layout software? Does it exist?

[superboyac]

Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone knows about grid layout software?  Not specifically for the purposes of website design or anything web related, just a general layout tool.  Meaning, I'm looking for a windows standalone program.  It's something that Excel can do, but I wanted to know if there's something designed specifically for this.

Grid layout, as I imagine it, would allow me to create a layout governed by merging and splitting cells.  It's a really cool way to lay things out, and it's sort of how my mind naturally works.  I know Excel can do this, but it's not truly meant for it.  Thoughts?

[mahesh2k]

Treesheets allow grid format, merging of cells for notes. I hope i got your question right.

[superboyac]

Treesheets allow grid format, merging of cells for notes. I hope i got your question right.

Yeah, I thought Treesheets would be the answer initially also.  But while it's great for outlining, it can't do grid layouts at the moment.  Grid layouts would mean being able to merge and split cells in a pure, direct manner.  Treesheets is still all about hierarchies and nesting, more so that merging and splitting.  I still think it can do the job, but not as easily as I'd like.  But yeah, I think it comes closest.

[justice]

any software that does tables? html editors, word etc?

[superboyac]

I think mahesh2k is right.  Treesheets does this pretty much.  I have a couple of extremely minor issues with it, but nothing significant.  It's going to be really interesting to see how this software develops.  It's definitely being developed at a "hobby" pace, which makes sense, I'm sure not too many people are terribly interested in it.

[oblivion]

I'm sure not too many people are terribly interested in it.

That one's new to me -- and I'm definitely interested. I've never found a good planning tool that worked the way my mind does. Not sure this is it but it looks like it's well worth a try -- so thanks, Mahesh2k!

[superboyac]

I'm sure not too many people are terribly interested in it.

That one's new to me -- and I'm definitely interested. I've never found a good planning tool that worked the way my mind does. Not sure this is it but it looks like it's well worth a try -- so thanks, Mahesh2k!

I felt the same way when I saw it.  It really has something great going on.  Another awesome thing about it is how small, fast, responsive it is.

[superboyac]

Guys!  Check this out!
http://balsamiq.com/products/mockups

It's pretty amazing.  You can essentially create a mock application quite easily.  This might be very important for me.  I always have software ideas, but not being a programmer, it's difficult for me to accurately explain my vision.  This would be awesome for that.  I'm probably going to use it for coding snack ideas...

[rgdot]

That looks nice, might try it myself as well. Nice find.

[tsaint]

Guys!  Check this out!
http://balsamiq.com/products/mockups

For more discussion on this, check this thread from way back: http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=15868.0

[Ath]

Guys!  Check this out!
http://balsamiq.com/products/mockups

It's pretty amazing.  You can essentially create a mock application quite easily.  This might be very important for me.  I always have software ideas, but not being a programmer, it's difficult for me to accurately explain my vision.  This would be awesome for that.  I'm probably going to use it for coding snack ideas...

This was one of the USP's of Delphi, back in the days. Throw together a UI working with the 'customer', add some (semi)working code, and give a nice demo.

And now MS is doing it 'all over again' with Visual Studio Lightswitch, it seems

[wraith808]

This was one of the USP's of Delphi, back in the days. Throw together a UI working with the 'customer', add some (semi)working code, and give a nice demo.

As a former delphi coder and advocate even, I'd have to disagree.  Though you could throw things together with little code, you did need it.

This is more like FoxPro or PowerBuilder's territory it seems to me.  And Lightswitch seems an extension of the capabilities of Expression Blend.

[Target]

Guys!  Check this out!
http://balsamiq.com/products/mockups

It's pretty amazing.  You can essentially create a mock application quite easily.  This might be very important for me.  I always have software ideas, but not being a programmer, it's difficult for me to accurately explain my vision.  This would be awesome for that.  I'm probably going to use it for coding snack ideas...

saw this today and thought it may be of interest - Wireframe Sketcher

probably not that different to Balsamiq's offering, but they offer a standalone version which may be preferable

and if you're wanting to do mockups you could also try Smart Gui Creator (comes with AHK) or even the form build in VBA (if you're an MS Office user).  Both of these are WYSIWYG

[dspelley]

Here's a list at Specky Boy from about a year and a half ago.  Looks like most of them are online apps, but Denim is a desktop app and looks interesting.