Have you seen the few Fritzing schematics posted? They have been just miserable.
what version of winQcad ? 53.5 ?
44.4
A lot (everything ?) depends on what you want the diagram or schematic for.
I presume (I have never done it) if you want to design your own PCB layout, especially for Surface Mount components, it is pretty much essential to use competent schematic software and take the trouble to learn it.
I don't have that requirement and if I need to make a diagram to post here I will almost certainly use LibreOffice Draw because I am reasonably familiar with it. I would expect my diagram to be clear, but not as stylish or as "standard" as one prepared on "proper" schematic software.
When I want to set out a project on Veroboard I use a little program called DIYLC
...R
For fast schematic drawing, just to illustrate a point, it's hard to beat a good ol' pencil & paper.
For the ones I want to be a bit neater or more permanent, I use MS Paint. (I have a *.bmp file of commonly-used components and sub-circuits, put together over many years, that I copy and paste from.)
For PCB layouts, I use a 20-year-old copy of Protel "Advanced PCB".
You can all laugh now.... 
OldSteve:
For fast schematic drawing, just to illustrate a point, it's hard to beat a good ol' pencil & paper.For the ones I want to be a bit neater or more permanent, I use MS Paint. (I have a *.bmp file of commonly-used components and sub-circuits, put together over many years, that I copy and paste from.)
For PCB layouts, I use a 20-year-old copy of Protel "Advanced PCB".
You can all laugh now....
not laughing, you are making my point.
I do 99% of my stuff with pencil and paper, well pen and paper.
usually on the commute to work.
to get gerbers, I use winQcad. half as hard to learn as eagle, and clunky. some stuff I still have not figured out.
but, at the end of the day, almost everyone posted that they use what they know. paint, eagle, LibreOffice Draw , whatever.
the learning curve to get to a decent schematic is two fold, one is knowing how to wire things, the other is how to use the program.
many times on here, I have taken a pencil sketch and put it into paint an then re-posted
dave-in-nj:
not laughing, you are making my point.
Yeah Dave, I noticed that you were also a proponent of pen/pencil & paper. Definitely not to be overlooked.
I do 99% of my stuff with pencil and paper, well pen and paper.
usually on the commute to work.
I haven't graduated to pens yet - I make too many mistakes changes as I go. 
to get gerbers, I use winQcad. half as hard to learn as eagle, and clunky. some stuff I still have not figured out.
My old faithful Protel is fine for Gerber output. I did install Eagle, but only for viewing others' PCB layouts etc. It does look like a steep learning curve, and I'm too old a dog to learn new tricks.
I use winQcad. . . . some stuff I still have not figured out.
Like what?
Robin2:
When I want to set out a project on Veroboard I use a little program called DIYLC
Just tried to download it and got an error message saying the application was damaged. Looks like it no longer runs.
Grumpy_Mike:
Just tried to download it and got an error message saying the application was damaged. Looks like it no longer runs.
I just downloaded it and it works OK for me. (V3.28)
After giving it a try, I'd still prefer MS Paint for schematics though. Much more flexible.
Grumpy_Mike:
Just tried to download it and got an error message saying the application was damaged. Looks like it no longer runs.
I just dowloaded diylc-3.28.0.zip from that link and used diff to compare it with the version I already have and they are identical.
...R
I am running a Mac with OS 10.9.5 - does that match what you are running?
Grumpy_Mike:
I am running a Mac with OS 10.9.5 - does that match what you are running?
If that is addressed to me "Jeez, no, I can't afford a Mac :)" - I'm using Linux.
As far as I know DIYLC is just a Java program. I have Oracle Java 1.7.0 on my system.
...R
No what it was meant to say was are you running a Mac because it might be that it is the Mac distribution that is broken. It installed java 6 before saying things were broke.
I will try it on my Pi tomorrow but I don't hold out much hope for it to work on that.
Grumpy_Mike:
No what it was meant to say was are you running a Mac because it might be that it is the Mac distribution that is broken. It installed java 6 before saying things were broke.I will try it on my Pi tomorrow but I don't hold out much hope for it to work on that.
And I tried it on a Windows machine. Maybe it is the Mac version that doesn't work.
Kicad http://kicad-pcb.org/ is getting popular.
LarryD:
Like what?
for one, when doing a handroute, then moving to pdbEdit to move chips around, then coming back to handroute, the name for bits like resistors and such are all very different sizes. often cover over the pads.. I delete them as I feel, but if I move to pcbEdit and back, they come back.
I do like to set the trace width to 20 before auto routing. it keeps nice distances and drastically reduces vias.
very interesting to increase the trace width and run the autorouter.
Grumpy_Mike:
because it might be that it is the Mac distribution that is broken.
I was really trying to pose the question whether you need a special Mac version. Have you tried the non-Mac version?
...R
OK got he Mac version working with help from:-
https://groups.google.com/forum/m/#!topic/diy-layout-creator/cA0SgUXRpok
However the resistors seem very big before they lay down from the initial on their ends. I normally have three tracks under them but you have to stretch to four.
The links for creating your own components are dead and there is only a very limited number of parts. The major problem as I see it, is that it is showing the wrong side of the board. That is copper strip up, great for surface mount parts but there aren't any.
Anyway thanks for the link.
Grumpy_Mike:
However the resistors seem very big
I think all the components can be resized. Unfortunately the default measurements are in inches.
The major problem as I see it, is that it is showing the wrong side of the board. That is copper strip up, great for surface mount parts but there aren't any.
I like it that way. I think of it as a transparent board. I have just had a look at one of my designs and to be honest it never even occurred to me that the copper tracks are on top. (Perhaps that reflects my amateur level and why the product suits me )
...R
Unfortunately the default measurements are in inches.
I have no problem with inches. Yes they can be resized as the width and length were separated in the menu I missed one. At the moment it is a bit of a pain changing each one, but I think there is a way of setting the default.
Just to give you an idea this is the sort of thing I have been doing in just a drawing package.
