Understanding how a project moves from one stage to another depends on how well you can visualize the flow of the project. That’s what’s made flowchart software so popular for teams needing more visual clarity.
However, some teams focus on the free software available and want to know how to make a flowchart in Google Docs. It’s not the most beneficial and simple way to create a flowchart, but it can be done!
For quick sketches and midday doodles, this system is just fine. But for complex flowcharts and workflow diagrams, there are so many other effective and functional resources that are just as convenient as the trusted pen and paper—promise.
In the context of this post, we are going to focus on just one of those alternatives—creating flowcharts in Google Docs.
Now, you may be a long-time Google Doc user wondering how you could’ve possibly gone this long without knowing that your favorite document editor was capable of so much more, but you’re not alone!
Follow along as we tell you everything you need to know about making flowcharts in Google Docs including a step-by-step guide and a crash course on flowcharts.
This Article Contains:
- What is a flowchart?
- Common flowchart symbols, shapes, and qualities
- Creating a flowchart in Google Docs
- 4 common flowchart types
- Pros & cons of using Google Docs for flowcharts
- Creating effortless flowcharts with ClickUp
- How to create clean & functional flowcharts with ClickUp Whiteboards
- Mind Map your way to the top of the charts
- Start (flow)charting the waters with ClickUp
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhat is a flowchart?
A flowchart is a visual tool that graphically represents a process or workflow.
Most users prefer them to represent large amounts of data or use them to plan complex concepts. They are easy to read and help break down complicated processes in a more digestible way due to their visual nature—they’re also very accessible for team members who process information differently.
In project management, flowcharts are a key element in the planning phase because they complement any project methodology including adaptive project framework, project cycle management, or agile. As a visual aid, flowcharts provide:
- Clarity: Team members can clearly see each stage of the project lifecycle
- Coordination: Flowcharts promote transparency so every member is on the same page when it comes to their role in the project’s workflow
- Communication: Flowcharts use simple graphics to quickly convey how complicated processes are carried out
- Analysis: Flowcharts map process’ flows from beginning to end, allowing project managers to easily determine where bottlenecks are likely to emerge and make adjustments if needed
Summarize this article for me pleaseCommon flowchart symbols, shapes, and qualities
To understand how to create and read a flowchart, let’s first dive into its most typical qualities and attributes.
Start/end
Like all of your favorite stories, most flowcharts have a beginning and an end, denoted by a rounded rectangle or terminal symbol.
Process
The process shows what is being done and is depicted by a rectangular-shaped component that is labeled by an action. “Turn off the TV,” “feed the cat,” and “call the executive supervisor,” are some examples.
Decision
This is where flowcharts show decisions to simple questions. We’re talking yes or no and true or false questions here. The process—or algorithm—will run in two different directions depending on the answers to the questions. A diamond or rhombus represents the decision sign.
Arrows
The direction of a process is shown by arrows, also called flow lines.
Summarize this article for me pleaseCreating a flowchart in Google Docs
Google Docs is a powerful document editor tool that can also be helpful in project management too. It is most commonly used for composing and formatting text documents, editing alongside other users, and securely sharing pages, but the built-in Google Drawings is also a great resource for creating custom flowcharts. Here’s how:
Step 1: Set up your Google Doc
First things first—we’re starting with a blank Google document.
If your flowchart is horizontal, click Page setup from the File tab, then Landscape to convert the page’s orientation to landscape.
Step 2: Open Google’s Drawing Tool
To make a flowchart, we’ll use Google Docs’ diagramming tool.
Access this tool by navigating to the top menu bar and selecting Insert, then hover your cursor over the Drawing option and select New.
At the top of your blank document, a blank sketching canvas will appear. Before we add anything, let’s just take a quick look around the tool.
Click the Shapes tool on the drawing toolbar for a full view of your flowcharting objects, then select Shapes from the list of choices. You can also locate the many flowcharting shapes in the bottom section of your menu.
If you’re not sure what certain shapes mean in flowcharting, hover your mouse over the shape for a text description of its purpose.
Step 3: Add shapes
Now for the good stuff—actually creating your flowchart!
To start adding content to the chart, go to the Shapes menu and choose the flowchart terminator—or the rounded rectangle.
You can individually add each object to fill out your chart, or if you’ve resized any of them, you can copy and paste the shapes to make sure they’re all the same size.
Step 4: Add rows
Click the Line tool on the toolbar, and select Arrow or Elbow Connector from the drop-down menu, depending on the sort of arrow or flow line you require.
Step 5: Add text
Using the Text tool (the boxed T icon in the drawing panel), add text inside your shapes.
Highlight your text, then click the three dots in the toolbar to format and style your text. You can alter the font type, change the text size, and position it as you please.
To keep the same formatting across each shape, copy and paste the content to the next box, then just edit the text.
Step 6: Save your draft
Okay, this step might take a little bit of getting used to.
People love Google Docs for its auto-save feature—where they can even work offline and open their doc at any time to view its most updated version without ever hitting save. But to make sure your flowchart is added to your Google document, you need to hit the blue Save and Close button when you’re finished.
If you need to make adjustments to the flowchart, double-click on it and you’ll be sent back to the painting canvas.
And voila! You have yourself a Google Doc flowchart! 🎉
Bonus: Flowchart software for Mac!
Summarize this article for me please4 common flowchart types
While there are several flowchart variations, we will focus on four of the most common use cases.
These four popular flowcharts are ideal for:
- Describing corporate, manufacturing, and administrative operations
- Breaking down how an organization operates
- Showing how different departments interact.
1. The Process Flowchart
A process flowchart, also known as a process flow diagram, is the most adaptable of the four flowcharts because we can use it for virtually anything.
But most commonly, organizations use process flowcharts to explain how things operate in your company.
2. The Workflow Diagram
Workflow diagrams show how a process or an organization works. They assist you in analyzing the movement of data and documents throughout your entire organization.
3. The Swimlane Flowchart
When you need to show multiple categories of information side by side, the swimlane flowchart is your go-to tool.
Swimlane diagrams may appear to be quite similar to workflow diagrams, but the major difference is that they allow you to divide activities into several categories.
A swimlane flowchart is useful for documenting a comprehensive process that involves multiple teams or affects different parts of an organization.
4. The Data Flowchart
A data flowchart shows how the process of data “flows.” It is helpful when you want to develop a new system or assess an existing one.
Although it is most commonly used for software design and development, data flowcharts are also useful to evaluate any spread of information, such as how data travels through an organization.
Summarize this article for me pleasePros & cons of using Google Docs for flowcharts
The up-side of Google Doc flowcharts? People are very familiar with Google products. All you need to get started using Google Docs is a Gmail account, so a ton of people refer to Google’s suite of products out of habit and convenience.
Beyond that, it’s also very simple to use.
Google Docs is both intuitive and easy to share with the team. With live cursors to edit in real-time and without a save button, Google Docs makes document creation collaborative and—dare we say—fun.
But unfortunately, it’s not all rainbows and butterflies when it comes to Google Doc flowcharts.
We hate to break it to you, but basic flowchart templates are not available in Google Docs. 🙁
You must start from scratch and follow each aforementioned step to create a flowchart in Google Docs every time. While Google Docs does makes it simple to add a flowchart to a document, it isn’t the greatest option for more complex flowcharts.
But that’s not all, here are three of its most challenging limitations:
1. Inconvenient offline work
Google Docs is accessible through a web browser. This means users can work from anywhere as long as they have an internet connection.
Google now has a Drive software for Chrome and a Drive desktop program that allows you to access all of your Drive files, including Doc files, offline. It sounds fantastic, but there are a few limits you should know because you must plan ahead of time to work offline.
First, ensure that you’ve configured Drive for offline use and select the files you will access offline. If you don’t, you won’t be able to use Docs offline.
However, there is a drawback to this. There are no flowcharts if there is no internet connection. Flowcharts in Google Docs are reliant on the save button, so you can access flowcharts you’ve already made offline, but will face challenges when trying to make one from scratch without Wi-Fi.
2. Not designed for flowcharts
Yes, Google Docs can display basic flowcharts, but this document editor was created for generating and sharing documents, similar to Microsoft Word.
If Google Docs had built-in flowchart templates or made the shapes tool a little simpler, the flowchart possibilities and user experience would be wildly different. But you must copy and paste shapes to replicate your work—a tedious and time-consuming process that is not ideal for complex charts.
3. No workflow capabilities
So, you’ve made a flowchart in Google Docs. What now? Can you create tasks? Nope. What about assigning or scheduling them? Also nope.
While you can make a flowchart in Google Docs, there isn’t much else you can do to act on it because it isn’t actually connected to any real workflow, it just maps one out.
That’s where ClickUp comes into play.
Summarize this article for me pleaseCreating effortless flowcharts with ClickUp
TBH, ClickUp is the only digital flowchart maker you’ll ever need.
ClickUp is an all-in-one productivity platform that teams of all sizes and across industries rely on to manage projects, create complex flowcharts, and optimize their processes with the entire team. Whether you’re a solopreneur or part of a large-scale enterprise team, ClickUp is flexible enough to align with any workflow—no matter what project style you use. 🏆
Easily create, edit, and share flowcharts for even the most complex of projects, and store it in your Workspace forever.
You can create a flowchart for every team member and every workflow in a matter of seconds with pre-built or customized templates that are flexible enough to handle virtually any use case. Explore ClickUp Mind Maps to map the flow of tasks in any project or build your flowchart on a collaborative digital whiteboard that will never run out of space and always stays up-to-date.
Check out our guide on Google Docs mind maps!
Summarize this article for me pleaseHow to create clean & functional flowcharts with ClickUp Whiteboards
ClickUp Whiteboards provides the ideal infinite canvas where you can develop and share your flowcharts with your entire team easily.
Follow these simple steps from start to finish, then let your creativity run wild with flowcharts in ClickUp Whiteboards:
Step 1: Choose a flowchart or diagram based on your end goal
Starting with the final aim in mind, choose the best flowchart for you. Here are a few ideas to get your thoughts going—you may create a diagram to…
- Consider a new procedure for a future project
- Find inefficiencies and innovate an existing system
- Improve how you employ resources in processes
- Set expectations for a specific process with your team, and work on improving your communication skills
- Dissect a complicated process with a checklist of activities, decision points, and data
Step 2: Sign up for ClickUp
ClickUp Whiteboards offer all the creative and collaboration features you need to construct the flowcharts of your dreams—and then some. But the best part? This powerful tool is completely free. All you have to do is sign up!
From anywhere in your Workspace, simply go to + View, scroll down, and click on Whiteboard. You’ll be greeted with a blank canvas, full of possibility. But drawing your flowchart freehanded is not your only option! More on that in a little bit though. 🥳
Step 3: Invite the team
You don’t have to make a flowchart all on your own. Collaboration invites new ideas, improvements, and innovation to any project—simply ask your team to be a part of the process with real-time editing and live cursors so you can work alongside members without overlap. 🤩
Adjust your Sharing & Permissions under Space Settings in ClickUp to invite team members to join your space. Once you’ve onboarded your team members, you’ll all share the same freedom to edit, create, and chart as you please.
Have more questions about how to onboard like a pro? Check out this post on how ClickUp’s Talent Development team uses ClickUp to onboard new team members!
Step 4: Create your flowchart!
We love ClickUp Whiteboards because they are truly limitless. You can create flowcharts by choosing a flowchart template, draw your chart freehand, or, use one of its adjustable shapes (that can be converted directly into ClickUp tasks).
You can draw connections between any shapes and media on your Whiteboard, meaning your flowchart can take place at any time, and form out of any cluster of information on your board.
Add text within a shape, on a sticky note, embed a ClickUp Doc and so much more—then use rich text editing to make your writing stand out on your chart. And for quick access, use ClickUp’s Slash Commands and keyboard shortcuts to choose from any number of styling and formatting options.
Since the canvas is infinite, you can make as many flowcharts as you need without ever running out of space, simply drag your cursor to an open area and continue creating on the same board! Share, edit, and present a clean flowchart from your Whiteboard at any time.
Plus, your Whiteboard is automatically connected to your workflow, so you can start acting on your ideas and putting your flowchart to use ASAP!
Summarize this article for me pleaseMind Map your way to the top of the charts
If you thought Whiteboards were cool, wait til we dig into ClickUp Mind Maps!
Mind Mapping is the perfect tool for planning and organizing your ideas, tasks, projects, and more in ClickUp. Think of Mind Maps as an active web of tasks that shows how each task is related to the others and the logical flow of work from start to finish.
Look-wise, Mind Maps closely resemble flowcharts. Rather than large shapes across a board, Mind Maps are made of lines connected to nodes or tasks that can be easily created, edited, and rearranged.
Similar to Whiteboards, you can build your Mind Map from scratch in Blank Mode and collaborate with the team to tweak your workflow to perfection.
But that’s not all! ClickUp offers a feature-rich experience across all of its tools, making it as functional as it is fun to use.
To give you an idea of else you can expect, here are some additional ClickUp features for optimizing your flowcharts, workflows, processes, and more:
- A native global timer to track time, set time estimates, and boost productivity on any task
- Custom Widgets to visualize data as a bar chart, portfolio, line and battery chart, among others.
- Over 15 customizable views including Embed view to add content from other popular work tools
- ClickUp Docs for creating everything from detailed knowledge bases to wikis, process Docs, and everything in between. Plus, you can download your Docs as Markdown, HTML, or PDF files, or share them via link
- Over 1,000 integrations including Slack, Trello, Zoom, and many, many more
- Easily adjustable task start dates and due dates that can be assigned to multiple team members at a time
- ClickUp’s mobile app for Android and iOS allows working on the go
Summarize this article for me pleaseStart (flow)charting the waters with ClickUp
Making a flowchart in Google Docs may be free, but the time commitment is not!
Without templates, the ability to connect your Google Doc flowchart to your workflow, or a more intuitive UI, you’ll lose precious time that could’ve been focused on your team or project.
The good news is that ClickUp gives you access to a vast library of templates to start flowcharting in the way that makes the most sense to you, and a powerful digital Whiteboard to encourage your creativity, even if you’re starting from scratch.
Since flowcharts are useful for communicating a wide range of information, you can bet that the four examples above are only the tip of the iceberg.
Start crushing and exceeding your company goals with interactive, intuitive, and flexible flowcharts in ClickUp—and get started for free!
Access ClickUp Docs, Whiteboards, and flowcharting templates—plus 100MB of storage, and unlimited tasks and members with ClickUp’s Free Forever Plan.
So, what are you waiting for?
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