How to draw flowcharts

What a mess! I have to rearrange the ideas. What better solution than to create a nice flowchart? How do you say? Do I start taking pen and paper? But imagine if I draw it by hand! I am so messy that I would understand less than what I think I understand. They snap, I use my computer. Yeah, that strange “tool” that you own too, under your desk! Of course, I create my beautiful diagram, save it, print it and use it to study. Quick and easy. Does this interest you too? Yes? then read my guide on how to draw flowcharts to find out immediately how to proceed.

In fact, in the following lines I will go to show you how to use some useful programs for the purpose in question. These are mostly free resources (or at least at no cost in their basic form) and usable on both Windows and Mac. They are quite simple to use and allow you to create beautiful diagrams, to the point that, believe me, you will want to frame them. How do you say? Don’t feel like downloading new software on your PC? So you do it all online, right? Just use the appropriate Web services (which are always indicated below) and you’re done.

A somewhat similar argument can be made for what concerns the mobile side. If you do not want to know anything about the PC and you rather have the habit of doing everything from a smartphone or tablet, I am happy to announce that there are ad hoc apps that in a few taps can allow you to generate noteworthy flow charts. But now enough chatter and let’s get to work. Take a few minutes all to yourself and focus on the information you find below. Happy reading and good “work”!

Index

• Crately (Online)
• io (Online)
• Diagram Designer (Windows)
• CmapTools (Windows / Mac / Linux)
• App for drawing flowcharts

Crately (Online)

The first of the resources for drawing flowcharts that I want to suggest you employ is  Creately. It is a free online service (basic, then offers paid plans with additional features) that allows you to create diagrams and concept maps with just a few clicks, as well as various other types of diagrams, even in collaboration with other people. Everything can then be saved on the PC in use or on the network. To use it, however, it is essential that Flash Player is installed on the computer used (read my guide on the subject to find out more) or you must use a browser that integrates it “as standard” (eg Chrome ).

To use it, first of all connect to the website of the service and click on the Sign Up item at the top right. In the registration form that opens, type your name and surname respectively in First Name and Last Name and your e-mail address in Email Address / Confirm Email Address. After typing the password you will use to access Creately in the appropriate field, click on the Sign Up button and press the Go to App button at the top.

Once this is done, click on the New Document button at the top right. In the window that opens, type in the category to which your flow chart belongs and select the relevant suggestion from those proposed, select the model that you think will best suit you or choose Blank Diagram to start from scratch, if required also select the template by moving the cursor over it and then clicking on Use then assign a name to your schema, type a description and select relevant tags. To conclude, click on the well Create Document.

At this point, you will finally find yourself in the presence of the editor of the service. To reduce the size in which the diagram is displayed in the work plane, select a value lower than the one selected in the Zoom drop-down menu at the top right. To add text to a selected diagram element, simply double-click it and select the A button that appears.

In the window that opens, you can type the text to be inserted in the element of the diagram and format it, choosing, for example, its size and its font. To delete an element from the diagram, just click on it and press the Delete key on your computer keyboard.

To add new elements to the diagram instead, select and drag the shapes you find in the left sidebar. To add or change the links you have to press on them instead and select the buttons that are next to the letter. Borders and fill can instead be defined using the Style and Fill buttons at the top, respectively.

Also through the toolbar at the top you can add texts ( Text ), lines ( Line ) and images ( Import ) in any other point of the diagram. If instead you want to adjust the size of this or that other element added to the diagram, section it and drag the small squares that you see appear on the edges.

Then when you are satisfied with what has been achieved, click on the Export button at the top right and select the Export as image item. In the window that opens, select the JPEG item and click the Export button. If, on the other hand, you want to share the diagram with other users, inviting them to collaborate in creating it or viewing it, click on Share and use the menu that seems to define everything.

Draw.io (Online)

Did the above online service not convince you in a particular way and are you looking for an alternative resource that can always be used via web browser? Then try taking a look at and you will see that you will not regret it. It is one of the most complete services in the category: it offers many special tools for creating various diagrams and schemes, has a beautiful user interface and allows you to save what you have created both on PC and on supported cloud storage services.Draw.io

You ask me how to use it? I’ll point it out to you right away. First of all connected to the home page of the service, then select Italian from the Language menu at the bottom right and choose, after clicking on the appropriate buttons, whether to save the diagram you are about to create on Google Drive, OneDrive or on your computer and then click on the Create new diagram button.

Now, if you want to create a diagram from scratch, select Empty diagram in the right part of the window and then click on Create, otherwise select first the reference category on the left and then the type of diagram you prefer on the right.

Once the service editor is displayed, to modify any elements already attached to the scheme press above and use the buttons attached to the tabs on the toolbar on the right to modify style ( Style ), text ( Text ) and various characteristics ( Organize ). If you want to edit a text instead, double-click on it.

If you want to add custom elements to the scheme, click on the shapes of your interest on the left and drag them to the desired point. To delete them, instead, click on them and press the trash can icon at the top left.

The other buttons you find at the top of the editor, on the toolbar, allow you to add lines, arrows, texts, change the zoom of the diagram, etc.

Once the changes are complete, click on the File item at the top left of the menu bar and select Save as… then assign a name to the diagram in the field adjacent to the File name: item, choose where to save the diagram and press the Download button.

Diagram Designer (Windows)

If, on the other hand, you prefer to use a “classic” resource to be installed on a computer, you can rely on Diagram Designer. It is a free software for Windows operating systems that allows you to draw flow diagrams and other types of diagrams through a decidedly spartan but very simple to use user interface. It includes many shapes to choose from and works perfectly even on older computers. In short, try it now and you will see that you will not regret it.

To use it, first connect to the program’s website and click on the Download Installer button. You will be redirected to the Fosshub website that hosts the installation client. You press on the item  Download Diagram Designer MSI installer and once you have the .exe file of Diagram Designer open it.

In the window that appears on the desktop, click on Yes / Run, then on  Next twice in succession, on Install  and then on Finish to complete the setup. Now, make sure that Italian (italy) is selected in the window that appeared on the screen (and if not, you can do it yourself) then click OK three times in a row.

Once this is done, you will find yourself in the presence of the program editor. To add shapes, links and other elements, select what you are interested in from the right sidebar and by dragging it brings everything to the diagram sheet. Therefore, place the additional elements you deem most appropriate and modify their colors and sizes using the appropriate buttons in the toolbar at the top and those you will see appear around. If you want to add texts instead, double-click on the reference element and write in the window that opens.

On the left side of the Diagram Designer screen, you will find the complete list of everything that makes up your flowchart. By double-clicking on the individual items you can assign a custom name and define its general characteristics.

Once the changes are complete, click on the File item at the top left, select Save as… from the menu that opens, assign a name to your diagram and indicate the location on your PC to save it. If, on the other hand, you want to export the scheme as an image or in other file formats, select the Export page… item, always attached to the File menu.

CmapTools (Windows / Mac / Linux)

If, on the other hand, you have a Mac or you are using Linux or if you have Windows installed on your PC but the above program has not convinced you, you can rely on  CmapTools which is one of the best applications for drawing flowcharts in circulation. It is free if used in a personal or non-profit context, it integrates all the basic tools useful for the purpose and is very intuitive.

To download it, connected to the program’s website, fill out the form with all the required data and first press the Submit button and then the button with the name of your operating system.

When the download is complete, open the software installation package and click first on the Yes button and then on Next. Then check the box next to the item  I Accept the terms of the License Agreement and complete the setup by clicking on Next four times in a row and then on, Install, Next and Done. On Mac the procedure to follow is the same but the setup file is inside the .dmg package downloaded from the site.

When installation is complete, start CmapTools, fill out the form that is proposed to you with the required data and press  OK. Then double-click anywhere on the screen to begin adding elements to the scheme. To make changes to the newly generated element you can use the appropriate window that you see appear and through the Format menu at the top.

Anything you add is linkable via the arrows that appear on the nodes when you select them. Once two points are connected together, you can optionally add labels to better illustrate the meaning of the reference relationship.

When you have finished your diagram you can then export it in a format of your choice among those supported by selecting by clicking on the File menu at the top and selecting the wording  Export Cmap as.

App for drawing flowcharts

Are you looking for applications for smartphones and tablets through which you can draw flow charts on the go? Then you have found bread for your teeth, as they say. With the following list I have in fact provided you with what I believe to be the best resources in the category, useful for creating flowcharts and various diagrams. Download them now and immediately start creating your schemes, you will see that in the end you will be satisfied. Happy download!

• MindMapper( Android / iOS ) – Easy-to-use app full of tools and functions that allows you to create patterns in a few taps to save locally and/or share them. Free.
• Mindly( Android / iOS ) – App especially designed to create mind maps. The patterns created have a professional and well-groomed appearance. Free.
• miMind( Android ) – application for creating flowcharts, concept maps and other diagrams. Includes various layouts, shapes and customization options. Free.
• Mental( iOS ) – Available for iPad only, this is an app to create patterns to which various customizations related to shapes, fonts, colors, etc. can be applied. The diagrams obtained can then be exported to PDF. Free.

For further information on the above applications and to get acquainted with other ad hoc resources that could be useful to you, I suggest you take a look at my post dedicated to apps for making patterns and my tutorial on the app for concept maps.

 

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