Creating Flowcharts

Learn how to use the editor to create professional flowcharts with nodes, connections, and styling options.

Node Types

OpenCharts provides four standard flowchart node types, each with a specific meaning:

Terminal

Oval/Rounded

Marks the start or end of a process. Every flowchart should have at least one start and one end terminal.

Use for "Start", "End", "Begin", "Finish"

Process

Rectangle

Represents a single step or action in the process. This is the most commonly used node type.

Use for actions like "Calculate total", "Send email", "Update record"

Decision

Diamond

Represents a branching point where a decision must be made. Typically has two or more outgoing paths.

Use for yes/no questions, conditions, or choices

Data

Parallelogram

Represents input or output operations. Use when data enters or leaves the system.

Use for "Read input", "Display result", "Save to database"

Using the Editor

The Canvas

The canvas is your workspace. It's an infinite scrollable area where you place and connect nodes. You can pan by clicking and dragging on empty space, and zoom using your mouse wheel or the zoom controls.

The Node Palette

The node palette on the left side of the editor contains all available node types. To add a node to your flowchart:

  1. 1Find the node type you want in the palette
  2. 2Click and drag it onto the canvas
  3. 3Release to place the node

The Toolbar

The toolbar at the top provides quick access to common actions:

Undo

Reverse last action

Redo

Restore undone action

Zoom

Adjust view size

Grid

Toggle snap grid

Auto Layout

Arrange nodes

Delete

Remove selected

Working with Nodes

Selecting Nodes

Click on a node to select it. Hold Shift and click to select multiple nodes. You can also click and drag to create a selection box.

Moving Nodes

Drag selected nodes to reposition them. When the grid is enabled, nodes will snap to the grid for easier alignment.

Editing Labels

Double-click on a node to edit its label. Press Enter to confirm or Escape to cancel.

Styling Nodes

Select a node and use the properties panel on the right to change colors, borders, and other visual properties.

Copy & Paste

Use ⌘/Ctrl + C to copy and ⌘/Ctrl + V to paste selected nodes.

Creating Connections

Connecting Nodes

Connections (edges) show the flow between nodes. To create a connection:

  1. 1

    Hover over a node

    Small circular handles will appear on the edges of the node

  2. 2

    Click and drag from a handle

    A connection line will follow your cursor

  3. 3

    Drop onto another node

    Release on a handle of the target node to complete the connection

Tip: For decision nodes, you can add labels to connections (like "Yes" and "No") by clicking on the edge and using the edge properties panel.

Auto Layout

The Auto Layout feature automatically arranges your nodes for better readability. This is especially useful after:

  • AI extraction creates many nodes at once
  • You've added several nodes and connections
  • Your flowchart has become messy or overlapping

Click the Auto Layout button in the toolbar to organize your flowchart. You can choose between horizontal (left-to-right) and vertical (top-to-bottom) layouts.

Best Practices

  • ✓Start and end clearly — Always include Terminal nodes for start and end points
  • ✓Use consistent flow direction — Stick to left-to-right or top-to-bottom
  • ✓Keep labels concise — Use short, clear descriptions for nodes
  • ✓Label decision paths — Always label Yes/No or True/False on decision branches
  • ✓Avoid crossing lines — Reposition nodes to minimize line crossings
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