In this article, we’re going to show you how to create a flowchart in Word and Excel. We’re going to use Microsoft Office 2019 for the demonstrations, but you can follow the same steps using Office 2010 or Office 365. If your Microsoft Office suite version isn’t older than 2007, you can create flowcharts using our methods.

How to Create a Flowchart in Word Using Shapes

Word is a versatile word processor that is used by people of all ages and backgrounds. It has evolved over time to include more features, making it an even more popular choice for users. Now, Word comes with additional tools that can help you create things like flowcharts, barcodes, and greeting cards. ..

Shapes is a great way to create simple flowcharts on the go. Let’s start with a basic flowchart using Shapes. ..

Start With a Blank Document

When you launch Microsoft Word, you are automatically given the option to open a blank document. Simply click on the Blank document option and you’re good to go. ..

Enable Gridlines

Gridlines can help you size everything properly and place each flowchart element correctly, which will make your flowchart look professional.

To enable gridlines in a document, go to the View tab and click on the Gridlines checkbox. ..

Your document will now look like this.

Insert Shapes

Word offers a variety of shapes to help you create professional-looking documents. ..

There are several shapes in the world.

Word recommends using the rectangle for process steps and the diamond shape for decision points. You can find this information by hovering your mouse pointer over each shape. ..

Now, let’s add the first shape. Let’s start with an oval shape. Open the shape menu, select the oval, and draw it by clicking and dragging your mouse pointer. ..

When you first open a new document, you’ll see a new tab at the top - the Format tab. This is where you can modify your shapes, add colors, and more. ..

To add text to your shapes, right-click on the shape and select “Add Text” from the menu. ..

Now let’s add another shape and then link them together by using a line as a connector. ..

Insert a rectangle shape into the text.

Next, go to the shape library, and instead of choosing a shape from the Flowchart category, select a line arrow from the Lines category.

To move the arrow between shapes, select the arrow and then use the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard. ..

  1. Choose a shape or line to represent your data.
  2. Draw a line from the first point to the second point, representing a relationship between the data.
  3. Repeat this process, connecting each new point with the previous one using lines or shapes that represent your data.
  4. When you’re finished, your flowchart should look like a network of lines and shapes representing your data relationships. ..

How to Create a Flowchart in Word Using SmartArt

SmartArt is a newer feature that comes with premade layouts for flowcharts, organization charts, Venn diagrams, and much more. While the Shapes tool is enough to present your ideas, SmartArt takes it to the next level with a more professional look and saves you some time. ..

Create SmartArt Graphic in Word

The new document has a gridline feature enabled.

SmartArt is a collection of shapes that you can use to add visual interest to your reports. You can insert SmartArt into your reports by clicking the Insert tab, and then clicking the Shapes button. ..

The Process section of the SmartArt template window offers a variety of options for creating graphics that represent the steps in a process. You can choose to create a simple graphic, or create a more complex graphic that represents the steps in a process.

To create a picture accent process, first select the Process category in the Select Picture Accent window. Then click on the OK button to open the Picture Accent Process window. In this window, you can visually present a workflow or a step-by-step process. You can use this window to create a picture accent process for your website, blog post, or any other type of content. ..

This option allows users to create shapes that can contain images, text, and arrows that link them in a logical order. ..

You can also use the buttons on the toolbar to control how the text and graphics are displayed. For example, you can choose to show or hide the text pane, the image shape, and any annotations. ..

You can also modify the SmartArt design after generating it. You can insert new shapes from the Add Shape button in the top left corner, change layouts like in the above image, add new colors, and more.

Flowcharts created with SmartArt templates are faster to create, but sometimes it is better to create them manually because you have more control over the design. ..

How to Create a Flowchart in Excel with the Shapes Tool

Microsoft Excel is a powerful spreadsheet and graphics tool that can be used to create charts, histograms, graphs, and more. It has a variety of features that make it an excellent choice for data analysis and management.

To create a flowchart from scratch, follow these steps:

  1. Choose the Shapes tool from the Tools palette.
  2. In the Shapes palette, click on the Line tool.
  3. Drag the line to create a path.
  4. Click on the arrow at the bottom of the path to change its direction.
  5. To make a legend, click on the legend icon at the top of the path and drag it to one side of the chart.

Set Up the Grid

Flowchart grids make it easier to position flowchart shapes properly. ..

To set up a grid in Excel, start by changing the widths of the column. An Excel worksheet is already a grid, you just need to tweak it. The column width should be equal to the height of the row.

Then, select the text in the cells that you want to change. Click on the blue arrow next to the text you want to change and then click on the red arrow next to the text that is unchanged.

In the Column Width dialog box, select the desired column width and click OK. ..

To have a 20 pixel width in a row, set the column width to 2.14 and select OK.

To enable the Snap to Grid feature in Microsoft Word, follow these steps:

  1. Open Microsoft Word.
  2. Click the File tab and then click Options.
  3. In the Options dialog box, click Advanced.
  4. In the Advanced options area, under General, click the Enable Snap to Grid check box.
  5. Click OK to close the Options dialog box. ..

Align the content of the page to a grid.

Insert Shapes

To add shapes to Excel, you first need to create a worksheet. Then, use the following steps to add shapes:

  1. Choose the type of shape you want to add.
  2. Click on the shape’s thumbnail and then click on its name in the list of shapes.
  3. To add a shape to your sheet, click on it and then select the Format Cells button.

On the Insert tab, click on the Shapes button, and select your first Flowchart shape. Next, on the Flowchart Tools Design tab, in the Shape Styles group, click on the Add a New Style button. Next, on the Flowchart Tools Design tab, in the Shape Styles group, click on the Add a New Style button. ..

The shape is a spiral.

The Shape Format tab in Microsoft Word is identical to the one in other word processors. All the controls, options, and buttons work the same. ..

You can select another shape from the Insert Shapes section in the top left corner and add it under the first one. Then connect them with an arrow, change their colors, and continue adding more shapes to complete your flowchart.

How to Create a Flowchart in Excel Using SmartArt

To create a SmartArt flowchart in Excel, you first need to open the Flowchart tab of the Insert tab. Then, click on the SmartArt button and select the type of flowchart you want to create. Once you have selected your type of flowchart, you will need to select the steps that you want to include in your chart. You can do this by clicking on the individual steps or by selecting a group of steps by clicking on the circle next to it. After you have selected your steps, you will need to add text or other graphics between each step. You can do this by using the Text Box tool or by using one of Excel’s built-in shapes. When you are finished adding text and graphics, click on the OK button to close the SmartArt dialog box and save your chart. ..

Create SmartArt Graphic in Excel

To insert a SmartArt image into Excel, go to the Insert tab and click on the SmartArt button.

A window with SmartArt flowchart templates will open. It looks just like the one in Word. There’s no difference between the two, so refer to our section on how to create a flowchart in Word using SmartArt if you need help. All the flowchart formatting and editing options are identical as well. ..

What’s Your Favorite Flowchart Making Tool?

Microsoft Word and Excel are both great for designing flowcharts. However, Excel is better because it can use SmartArt graphics which are great for creating illustrations.