How to Create a Flowchart in Excel

Flowcharts are useful tools to visualize the workflow or process for a particular job or project. Flowcharts consist of symbols, boxes, and shapes to represent procedures. Using flowcharts for programming, merchandising, or production help explain the decision-making procedure necessary in a company. One of the many applications that have a flowchart maker and flowchart template is Microsoft Excel. The guide below details how to create flowcharts in Excel.

How to Create a Flowchart in Excel Using SmartArt

Using SmartArt is a convenient way to start creating your flowchart. Since there are plenty of templates to choose from on the Excel application, you can edit them easily to how you want your final diagram to look. Follow these steps to create a flowchart in excel using SmartArt.

1. Open Microsoft Excel and select New. Choose Blank Workbook to start creating your flowchart.

2. Click on the Insert menu, and hover over the SmartArt button. It tells you a brief description of the use of SmartArt diagrams and charts. Click on the button to access the available templates.

3. The Choose a SmartArt Graphic window pops up and allows you to view the various graphic templates you can use. Go to the Process selection and choose the flowchart template you would like to use. Click OK for it to appear on your sheet.

4. Once the template opens, you can now edit its content. A window opens where you can easily input the data you want to appear on your diagram. To access other editor tools, click on the Design tab. The Layout selection allows you to alter the layout of your diagram. Select the Change Colors button to select the color scheme of your flowchart. The SmartArt styles selection allows you to change the style of the boxes and arrows of the diagram.

5. To add more shapes to your flowchart, select the Add Shape button found on the Design tab.

6. To change or edit the shape of the containers, right-click on the selected shape and hover over Change Shape and choose the shape you want to change it to.

How to Make a Flowchart In Excel

If you manually want to create your own flowchart in Excel to ensure that nothing in the process is left out, then the following step-by-step guide helps you navigate the application.

1. Start by working on a Blank Workbook. Select all the cells of the sheet by clicking the small triangle on the upper-left portion of the sheet. Right-click on one of the columns and click on column width, adjusting it to 2.14 for the sheets to have square grids.

2. To insert the containers for the flowchart, click Insert, then the Shapes button, and choose from the flowchart shapes.

3. You can edit the style and fonts of the shape by selecting the shape you want to customize, then click the Format tab.

4. Connect the shapes using lines and arrows to form the flowchart diagram. You can edit the shape style of your connector through the Format menu.

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