Turn Boring Graphics into Interactive Gateways that Put Vital Business Resources Right at Your Fingertips

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 23, 2012 — (PRNewswire) — �Accessing vital business information to complete daily tasks is often time-consuming, frustrating and difficult, especially for remote employees, contractors and customers. It seems that just when you need a critical document to finalize an important presentation or project, the missing piece is either hard to find or it's locked away in the computer of a co-worker who happens to be out sick or on vacation.

SmartDraw Software, maker of SmartDraw 2013, has added two new features that effectively put an end to the search and scramble routine, making it easy to quickly find and share vital information with anyone, anywhere, on any device.

Picture Portals: Smart Infographics Made Easy
SmartDraw Picture Portals turn flat, one-dimensional business visuals into interactive, infographic-style information gateways. By adding web links, MS OfficeTM documents, notes or even other Picture Portals, to any SmartDraw visual, anyone can create interactive information portals that put vital data, documents and resources within easy reach in a single, secure location. And, because SmartDraw automates the process of drawing the visual, it's fast and easy to create rich, dynamic, smart infographics with no graphic arts skills required.

"Having the information you need, when you need it, is critical for making fast, well-informed decisions and formulating strategies to keep your business on pace and ahead of the competition in today's environment," said Paul Stannard, SmartDraw CEO. "SmartDraw Picture Portals put vital business information right at your fingertips, all linked together through an intuitive, easy-to-use, interactive graphic."

With more than 70+ visual templates to choose from to get started, adding links, photographs, notes or other attachments is easy: just point and click to build interactive flowcharts, floor plans, timelines, mind maps, calendars, network diagrams, project charts and more.

SmartDraw users simply click each component to easily drill down to access the detailed information they need, similar to navigating the web with a browser, only in a secure, permissions-based system that's accessible only to those who have been granted access.

SmartShare: Picture Portals in the Cloud
The new SmartShare cloud service is a secure cloud-based portal that lets project teams or entire companies securely save, store and share nearly any kind information, and access it all with just a click from any device in any location. Using SmartShare, visuals and Picture Portals created in SmartDraw can be shared and accessed by anyone, via the web, iPhone, iPad or any other mobile device. Simple save files to SmartShare and select the sharing options. Files can be made accessible only by those with permission or they can be shared publicly over Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and more. And, you don't have to be a SmartDraw user to view files in SmartShare. Creating a free SmartShare account takes only a few seconds and users can view visuals in a web browser or with the free SmartShare mobile app.

"Picture Portals effectively eliminate the barriers and bottlenecks that block efficient information access for any size business," Stannard said. "Why waste time poking around through file folders and shared servers when SmartDraw can put everything you need just a click away?"

For an immediate download of SmartDraw 2013 to try free for seven days with no obligation, visit www.smartdraw.com.

About SmartDraw Software
SmartDraw Software, LLC helps businesses increase their bottom line by improving communication, refining operations, completing projects on time and successfully implementing their plans through the everyday use of visual communication. Publisher of SmartDraw 2013, SmartDraw Software enables business professionals to easily and automatically create more than 70 types of common business visuals, including flowcharts, project charts, mind maps, org charts, timelines and more. SmartDraw lets anyone achieve professional-quality visuals in just minutes and share them with anyone, anywhere via the SmartShare cloud service. SmartDraw is used by more than half of the Fortune 500, as well as thousands of law firms, police departments, health systems and private enterprises of all sizes. SmartDraw Software, LLC is privately-held, with headquarters in San Diego, California. For more information or to download a free trial of SmartDraw, please visit www.SmartDraw.com.

SOURCE SmartDraw Software