More complex procedures may be split over multiple pages. But most people use easily recognizable shapes and simple rules to create their flowcharts.įlowcharts use basic shapes like rectangles, diamonds and circles to indicate the different steps, interactions and decisions in a process, linked together with arrows (connectors) to show the direction between steps. Some departments may use specialized types of process diagrams, like BPMN diagrams or UML activity diagrams. Flowcharts are also commonly used as checklists, and may be audited to ensure a company is following their documented processes reliably for certification requirements (ISO, SOX, etc.) They can be used to plan new processes, optimize existing processes, document software programs in development, explain processes simply to onboard new team members, plan project milestones, and more. Select Presentation mode from the View ribbon to get a full screen version of your diagram.Flowcharts, data flow diagrams, workflows, process diagrams, activity diagrams, process maps: No matter what you call them, you have most likely used them! Flow charts are the most common diagram type that is used in all industries and across all departments to clearly visualize the steps in any process. Click the plus sign in the bottom left corner of the document to add another page.ħ. Drag the container to the steps you want to highlight and add a label.Ħ. If relevant, select the Insert ribbon to insert a container. Highlight important steps in your diagram. To ensure that your diagram is evenly spaced and aligned, select all and then choose Position from the home ribbon and select Auto align and space.ĥ. You can also select a variant on a theme to further customize the look of your diagram.Ĥ. Click on Design in the ribbon and select one of the themes. Select one or more shapes and use the Shape style on the Home ribbon to update the style.ģ. Adjust the color of one or more shapes by clicking on either one shape or multiple shapes and selecting a new color using fill on the Home ribbon.Ģ. You can also label connectors by double clicking on them.ġ. Label the new shape by double clicking on it.ħ.

You can also drag the next shape from the left-hand tool bar. Select one and Visio will automatically insert a connector. Hover on the first shape to see a selection of shapes that you can use for the next step. Use the guide bars that automatically display in Visio to align your shapes.ĥ. If you don’t see the shape you want, click on More shapes in the menu. If you are using a template, shapes associated with that type of diagram will be displayed by default. From the left tool bar select a shape to use in your diagram. Double-click on Title at the top of the diagram to give your drawing a name.Ĥ. Go to the Data ribbon and select custom import to import data from Excel, Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL, or another data source.ģ. Explore sample diagrams to get inspiration.Ģ. Click on more templates to see the comprehensive list available to you. Each template comes with stencils that include shapes and tools relevant to that type of diagram-for example, an office floor plan template will come with door and window shapes. From the home screen select either the Blank Drawing or choose from one of the many templates. Build your first organizational chart or floor plan using Visio.ġ.

Simple diagrams