Wireframes Stencil: should I use Visio or Visual Studio?

Question

We need a simple method to put together wireframes. What is the simplest way to achieve this? Visio? Looks like we need to buy a stencil.

I also read somewhere online (on msdn) without no links provided that you can do it in Visual Studio.

I need the ability to portray the following controls:

links
text fields
buttons
datagrids
tree

This is a request for library/off-site recommendations, and can thus be put on hold. — halfer, Nov 10 '19 at 12:41

score 4 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 02 '09 at 00:37

4

Balsamiq Mockups, look no further. http://www.balsamiq.com/

answered Oct 02 '09 at 00:37

SteveT

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I second this recommendation, Balsamiq Mockups is great and improving everytime. – Alessandra Pereyra Oct 02 '09 at 12:59

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 02 '09 at 12:50

2

You can take a look at ForeUI, it is quite interesting: http://www.foreui.com/

answered Oct 02 '09 at 12:50

user140664

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ForeUI is definitely worth trying. – Rose Oct 02 '09 at 13:06

score 1 · Answer 3 · edited Nov 10 '19 at 12:41

It depends on what you need:

High-fidelity vs low-fidelity
Do you need to create mockups in realtime (with your users)
Do you need "sketchy" look
Who will use it (only programmers or civilians too)
Mockups of what: web, desktop, mobile
Only handful of "main" screens/pages vs dozens of scenarios with hundreds of screens
etc etc

Here is the pretty comprehensive list of many mockup tools, both free and commercial: http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?GuiPrototypingTools

Back in 2005 I've created my own tool (MockupScreens, it's on the above list and it's pretty popular) specifically for non-programmers to be able to prototype realtime in a meeting, and to quickly get something close to a spec.

Bottom-line is that for different uses, some tools are more appropriate than others...

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Nov 04 '09 at 05:58

Both those applications are great! Their drawback is that you cannot create a whole specification document. Axure will solve that problem for you although it lacks alot of the widgets Balsamiq and Foreui have.

I am not aware of Visual Studio having any wireframing facilities. It can generate class diagrams though.

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Feb 15 '11 at 11:18

Checkout softandGUI - UXToolbox, it supports all different types of apps and devices and is it's great for creating high quality, pixel-perfect wireframes that can be linked together to form simple working prototypes that look and work just like the finished app. Also allows you to annotate and document your screens and export the finished thing to PNGs or Word.

Wireframes Stencil: should I use Visio or Visual Studio?

5 Answers5