Flow diagrams are being extensively opted for a visual representation of processes & ideas in all spheres. Whether it’s about a high-graded project or a business process that requires elaborated illustration to perceive the concept more precisely. A simple flow diagram is considered the composition of basic shapes, but it still necessitates a proper design structure. Therefore, an optimum designing tool is all you need to
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How to Create a Simple Flow Chart?
A raft of designing tools is available with varying features & designing options making it arduous to cherry-pick; you must figure out beforehand which tool can best-fit in your scenario. So, to make the selection hassle-free, here we’ve suggested a few highly reliable and free tools you may elect to create simple flowcharts.
Create a Simple Flowchart Using EdrawMax
In apropos of designing complex & simple flow diagrams, EdrawMax, an all-in-one designing tool, is a beguiling choice. You can avail yourself of endless design choices with the feature-enriched tool integrated with tons of functionalities & pre-built templates. If you’re a novice, you just have to follow a few basic steps to create a compelling flowchart swiftly. Such as:
Step1
Go to EdrawMax Online on your system and sign in to your account using your credentials.
Step2
Click on the New + icon located on the left panel and choose the option Basic Flowchart from the displayed menu list.
Step3
Initiate the flowchart design by adding a Start symbol; you can customize the inserted symbol by using the Format bar that appears above it.
Step4
Then Insert all other required shapes to indicate the processes of your flowchart.
Step5
Insert the relevant text in flowchart symbols by clicking in the center of each symbol.
Step6
Add Connectors to establish the connection between the shapes; click on the symbol's edges to extend it to the next symbol via a connector.
Step7
Customize the theme color of your flowchart by clicking on the Customization icon in the right panel. You can also change the layout, background color, shape location, sizes, etc., by accessing the top menu bar.
Step8
Now export the flowchart by clicking the Export icon at the top menu bar. You can export your designed flowchart in various formats, i.e., MS Word, Excel, HTML, Pdf, SVG, Graphics, etc.
- It's better to initiate with a pre-built flowchart template if you aren't an expert.
- For complex projects, customizing the relevant template proves to be highly time-saving.
Create a Simple Flowchart Using MS Visio
Creating & editing the flow diagrams is a duck soup with MS Visio that facilitates individuals, teams, and businesses by presenting the utmost feasibility in designing & sharing any flow diagram; you can experience the best flowchart designing with its endless exceptional functionalities.
Step1
Launch the MS Visio tool on your computer, and select the Basic Flowchart option below the Featured tab.
Step2
Choose the appropriate flowchart top-down approach or proceed with a blank page.
Step3
Insert all the required flowchart shapes from the left panel in the open blank page.
Step4
Double-click on each inserted flowchart shape to add text.
Step5
To establish a connection between shapes, add connectors. For this, click on the shapes individually and select the Connectors icon from the toolbar.
Step6
Add text to flowchart connectors by inserting a text box next to the relevant connector.
Step7
Now, customize your designed simple flowchart by changing its theme and background color; navigate to the top Design tab to do so.
Step8
Then, the flowchart can be saved in any format. To change the file format, you need to export the file to the desired format. For this, click on the File tab in the top menu and select the Export option.
- It’s better to refrain from Arrow shapes’ library as it’d be arduous for novices to manage arrow shapes as connectors.
- You can go to the Design tab to conveniently add Connectors & Text boxes.
Create a Simple Flowchart Using MS PowerPoint
Installing the new tools often seems like a fuss, so the pre-installed software can sort out this hassle. A remarkable pre-installed tool like PowerPoint is fully capable of meeting all your flowchart designing requirements by exhibiting an enormous collection of pre-built flowchart templates. You just have to follow the below-stated instructions to get an amazing flowchart designed in no time.
Step1
Open up the PowerPoint application on your system and proceed with a Blank Presentation.
Step2
Navigate to the Insert tab and click the SmartArt option to insert a particular process diagram template in the opened Blank Presentation.
Step3
Add the relevant text in the shapes of chosen flowchart template.
Step4
You can add new shapes to your flowchart template by navigating to the Shapes option in the Insert tab.
Step5
Right-click on each shape and select the Connector icon to connect the flowchart shapes.
Step6
Select the Design tab to change the theme and color of the flowchart.
Step7
To save your flowchart in the required format, click on the File tab and select the Export option.
- You can use shapes conveniently to make flowcharts in PowerPoint, but the SmartArt option is more efficient.
- Always opt for the Process Category in SmartArt options to create a flowchart.
Create a Simple Flowchart Using MS Word
MS Word is probably the most popular and widely-used tool as of now that can be used to carry out multiple tasks quite smoothly. Though it’s a word processor, it still allows you to elevate your productivity by creating different diagrams and flowcharts utilizing its massive built-in library of shapes. Here we have compiled the steps you have to follow to create a simple flow diagram using MS Word.
Step1
Launch the MS Word tool and open a new Blank document.
Step2
Access the Insert tab and click the Shapes option to insert the required shape to start the flowchart design process. You can change the layout of inserted shape by clicking the Layout icon next to the respective shape.
Step3
Insert all the relevant shapes required to create a simple flowchart by following the instruction stated in the above step.
Step4
Add textual information to your flowchart shapes by double-clicking on each shape.
Step5
Connect all the shapes by using connecting lines. To do so, you must access the Shapes option below the Insert tab.
Step6
Click the Format tab to change the flowchart shapes' color. You can customize the background color and resize or relocate the flowchart shapes later.
Step7
To export the created flowchart select the File tab and click the Export option. Here you can choose the specific export format of the flowchart before saving it.
- Complex flowcharts can be simplified by employing the SmartArt option.
- To minimize time consumption, you can copy and paste the same shapes using shortcut keys.
Conclusion
The perks of employing reliable designing & diagramming tools are endless, but deciding upon the best tool might be a plight as several factors must be considered in anticipation. Numerous diagramming tools can be contemplated, given the need to create simple flowcharts.
Most tools work outstanding in paid versions, but it isn’t a feasible way to pay for the tool beforehand for simple flowcharts. Therefore, concerning this, we have suggested a few most popular diagramming tools that also stand high in free versions, such as EdrawMax, MS Visio, MS PowerPoint, and MS Word.