DIA(1)

📦
version 0.97.3 · 3 versions
, in epel 9, fedora 43, fedora 44, opensuse-leap 16.0

🌈 DIA(1) — the dia manual page, bestie 🌈

okay so this is DIA(1), the manual for dia, the diagram drawing program. The original header has a lil' [FIXME: manual] placeholder in it, and honestly? relatable. ✨

🌸 NAME 🌸

dia — a diagram drawing program 💖

✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

dia [-c] [--credits] [-e OUTPUT] [--export=OUTPUT] [-L LAYER,LAYER,...]
    [--show-layers=LAYER,LAYER,...] [-h] [--help] [-n] [--nosplash]
    [-s WxH] [--size=WxH] [-t FORMAT] [--filter=FORMAT] [-v] [--version]
    [file ...]

🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

Dia is used to create diagrams. Dia has a number of basic tools, like lines and boxes, but it can also dynamically load sheets. A sheet is a collection of tools that are used in a certain type of diagram. No cap, it's giving toolbox-with-layers energy. 🎀

Most diagram objects in Dia have connection points. Lines can be connected to these connection points and this way graph structures can be formed. When objects are moved or resized the connections will follow the objects. It's literally the friend group that moves together and stays connected. 🫶

Diagrams drawn in Dia can be exported as PostScript. Iconic export moment. ✨

💅 OPTIONS 💅

Dia accepts the following options:

  • -c, --credits — Display credits list and exit. Give the people their flowers. 🌸
  • -e OUTPUT, --export=OUTPUT — Export loaded file to OUTPUT and exit.
  • -h, --help — Display a list of all commandline options. The classic “help me help you” moment. 💖
  • -n, --nosplash — Do not show the splash screen.
  • -s WxH, --size=WxH — Export loaded file in decimal given width and/or height. It is allowed to only select width or height. E.g. --size=520x exports an image that is 520 pixels wide, while --size=x900 exports an image of 900 pixels height. Choose your own adventure: width, height, or both. 🦋
Note: This option is currently only implemented for the PNG export filter. PNG girlies only, rn. 💀
  • -L LAYER,LAYER,..., --show-layers=LAYER,LAYER,... — Only include specified layers when exporting. Layers can be specified either as a layer name, the layer number or a numeric range X-Y of layers. --show-layers=background,2-5 shows the layer named background and layers 2-5, --show-layers=2- shows layers 2 and up. Layer curation? We love a selective queen. 👑
  • -t FORMAT, --export-to-format=FORMAT — Export loaded file in FORMAT and exit. Formats are described below.
  • -v, --version — Display dia version and exit. Version check, periodt. 💅

🌟 EXPORT FORMATS 🌟

The following export formats are supported by dia.

  • cgm (Computer Graphics Metafile, ISO 8632)
  • dia (Native dia diagram)
  • dxf (Drawing Interchange File)
  • eps or eps-builtin or eps-pango (Encapsulated PostScript)

The format specifications eps and eps-pango both use the font renderer of the Pango library, while eps-builtin uses a dia specific font renderer. If you have problems with Pango rendering, e.g. Unicode, try eps-builtin instead. Font drama? Try the built-in one, bestie. 🫶

  • fig (XFig format)
  • mp (TeX MetaPost macros)
  • plt or hpgl (HP Graphics Language)
  • png (Portable Network Graphics)
  • shape (Dia Shape File)
  • svg (Scalable Vector Graphics)
  • tex (TeX PSTricks macros)
  • wpg (WordPerfect Graphics)
  • wmf (Windows MetaFile)

That's the whole format menu, and yes, every single one made the list. 💜

🎀 FILES 🎀

dia creates a directory .dia in the user's home, which contains different files to store user preferences. To reset dia to it's default behaviour, just remove the respective file:

  • defaults.dia: contains default values for elements (XML format).
  • diarc: keeps dia preferences (ASCII).
  • history: keeps the list of last edited diagrams (ASCII).
  • menurc: contains an automated accelerator map dump (Lisp).
  • persistence: contains GUI information, e.g. open windows (XML).
  • pluginrc: the list of loaded plugins (XML).

Reset by deleting the little file, iykyk. 🍓

🔥 SEE ALSO 🔥

  • Pango[1]
  • X (1)
  • xfig (1)
  • inkscape (1)

Copyright 1999 Alexander Larsson.

Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and that both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in supporting documentation.

The legal bit, kept cute but kept exact. 💖

💖 AUTHORS 💖

Alexander Larsson

This manual was written by Fredrik Hallenberg.

💖 AUTHORS 💖 (again, bestie)

  • Fredrik Hallenberg <hallon@lysator.liu.se> — Author.
  • W. Borgert <debacle@debian.org> — Author.
  • Alan Horkan <horkana@tcd.ie> — Author.

Copyright © 1999, 2004 Fredrik Hallenberg, W. Borgert, Alan Horkan

🧚 NOTES 🧚

  1. Pango — http://www.pango.org/

okay that's the whole page, bestie 🫶 this DIA(1) manual's footer says source/version [FIXME: source] and date 2004-11-26. bye! 💅✨

📦 where this page comes from