How to Draw a Roadmap (Diagram)

What is a Roadmap?

A roadmap is a useful diagram to show plans for upcoming features. It allows you to present what should be released in the next months, quarters, or time unspecified stages. A roadmap may consist of several partitions. A partition can represent a module. A roadmap and its partitions can be divided horizontally to periods:

• dates - strictly specified periods
• stages - time unspecified periods

The timeline can be displayed on the top or bottom of the roadmap.

This tutorial shows you how to draw a roadmap and create the particular parts.

How to Insert Partitions to a Roadmap?

Drag the Partition element from the toolbox and drop it over a roadmap element. Alternatively, you can click on the Add Partition button in the context bar for a selected roadmap.

Add Partitions to Roadmap

How to Insert a Milestone to a Roadmap?

Drag the Milestone element from the toolbox and drop it over a roadmap element. You can also click on the Add Milestone button in the context bar for a selected roadmap. In this case, the milestone will be positioned automatically.

Add a Milestone to a Roadmap

How to Insert a Label to a Roadmap?

Drag the Label element from the toolbox and drop it over a roadmap partition. You can also add a new label using the context bar. Select the desired partition and click on Add Label. The label with be inserted to the partition and automatically positioned.

Insert a Label to a Roadmap

How to Change the Shape of a Roadmap Label?

The default shape for the roadmap label is rectangular. Software Ideas Modeler supports several shapes for the label:

• default (rectangle)
• hexagon
• left pentagon
• right pentagon
• left arrow
• right arrow
• left tab
• right tab
• rounded

Change Roadmap Label Shape

Roadmap Setting

The roadmap timeline may be displayed above to partitions or below them. It may be a series of strictly defined periods or numbered stages. To configure the roadmap right-click on it (not on a partition) and choose Properties from the context menu. In the Properties dialog, switch to the Roadmap tab. There you can set the Timeline position to Top or Bottom. You can also choose between two timeline modes - Dates and Stages.

Roadmaps

Roadmap Dates

If you choose Dates timeline, you can specify a start and end date using two date pickers called From date and To date. You can also change the period unit from Auto to:

• Days
• Weeks
• Months
• Quarters
• Years

Roadmap Dates

Roadmap Stages

If you choose Stages timeline, you can specify the start and end number of the range using two text boxes - From index and To index.

Roadmap Stages

Roadmap Example

The picture shows an example of a roadmap:

Roadmap

Download Roadmap Editor