How to Draw a Flowchart

How to Make a Flowchart?

A flowchart should start with a Start symbol. Drag the Start End Symbol from the toolbox and drop it to the diagram editor canvas.

Create a flowchart - start with a Start symbol

Then you can add other symbols depending on what workflow you want to depict. You have various options on how to add another symbol. The easiest way is to choose it from the context bar. The context bar is placed below the selected element. We started with the Start symbol – so our flow can continue with a process, predefined Process, or decision.

Drawing a flowchart - add other elements to the flow

You have also other options. In that case, drag the desired flowchart element from the toolbox and drop it over an element, where you want to place it.

Then select the Flow button in the toolbox and drag from Start symbol to the new element.

Adding another elements to a flowchart

Repeat these steps until your flowchart is complete.

Converting Flowchart Symbols

If you realize that the chosen flowchart symbol was not the one you wanted to use, you do not need to delete it and insert another one. It is easier to select the element you want to change and click on Convert Element button in the context bar and choosing the desired symbol from the displayed context menu.

Converting a flowchart element to another one

Inserting a New Element into the Middle of an Existing Flow

You may find out that an element is missing in the middle of your flowchart. You do not need to move the elements one by one and reconnect the flows. You can use the Move tool to move the part of the flowchart from a point where you want to insert a new element to the direction of the flow. Then just drag & drop the new element over the flow connector. The new element will be incorporated into the existing flow.

An element can be incorporated into an existing flow

Delete an Element from the Flowchart and Reconnect the Flow

If you want to delete an element from the flowchart and you do not want to replace it with another element, you can use Delete and Reconnect the Relationships feature. Select the element you want to delete, switch to Home tab in the ribbon, click on the arrow on the Delete drop-down button, and choose Delete and Reconnect the Relationships. Alternatively, you can right-click the element and choose this action from the context menu - the submenu Delete.

Delete an element from your flowchart

Sharing the Flowchart

So, your drawing of the flowchart is finished, and what to do next? You may want to export it to image format and upload it to a website or to attach it to a document. In that case, right-click on an empty space on the diagram canvas and choose Export. Change the settings in the displayed Export Setting dialog if you want and then click on OK to save the exported image to disk.