Export & Templates

Learn how to export your flowcharts in various formats and create reusable templates to speed up your workflow.

Exporting Flowcharts

To export your flowchart, click the "Export" button in the editor toolbar, or use the keyboard shortcut ⌘/Ctrl + E.

Choose your preferred format from the export dialog. Each format has different strengths depending on how you plan to use the exported file.

PNG Image

.png

High-quality raster image with transparent or white background

Best for: Presentations, documents, social media

SVG Vector

.svg

Scalable vector format that stays crisp at any size

Best for: Print materials, web embedding, editing in design tools

JSON Data

.json

Raw flowchart data for backup or programmatic use

Best for: Backups, integrations, importing into other systems

Export Options

Image Quality (PNG)

Choose between standard (1x) and high-resolution (2x) exports. High-resolution is recommended for presentations or print, while standard is fine for web use.

Background

Export with a transparent background (PNG only) or include the canvas background color. Transparent works best when placing the flowchart on colored backgrounds.

Include Padding

Add extra space around the flowchart edges. Useful when the export will be placed in a document or presentation with tight margins.

Printing

To print your flowchart, we recommend exporting as a high-resolution PNG or SVG, then printing from your image viewer or design application. This gives you the most control over print settings.

For best print results, use the 2x resolution option and ensure your flowchart fits well within standard paper dimensions (A4, Letter, etc.).

Using Templates

Templates give you a head start by providing pre-built flowchart structures. OpenCharts offers three types of templates:

System Templates

Pre-built templates created by OpenCharts, covering common use cases.

My Templates

Templates you've saved from your own flowcharts for reuse.

Community

Templates shared publicly by other OpenCharts users.

Browsing Templates

Navigate to Templates in the sidebar to browse all available templates. You can filter by:

Flowchart

General-purpose flow diagrams

Process

Business and operational workflows

Decision

Decision trees and branching logic

Organizational

Org charts and hierarchies

Technical

System architecture and data flows

Business

Business processes and strategies

Click on any template to preview it. From the preview, you can click "Use Template" to create a new flowchart based on that template.

Creating Your Own Templates

1. Open Your Flowchart

Start with a flowchart you want to save as a template. Make sure it represents the structure you want to reuse.

2. Save as Template

Click the menu button (⋮) in the toolbar and select "Save as Template".

3. Add Details

Give your template a descriptive name, add a description, select a category, and add relevant tags to make it easy to find later.

4. Choose Visibility

Keep the template private (My Templates) or make it public so other OpenCharts users can discover and use it.

Template Best Practices

✓
Use placeholder text
Instead of specific content, use generic labels like "Step 1", "Process Name", or "Decision Point".
✓
Keep it flexible
Design templates that work for multiple scenarios, not just one specific use case.
✓
Include common patterns
Add typical elements like start/end nodes, common decision branches, and standard connections.
✓
Write clear descriptions
Help others (and your future self) understand when and how to use the template.
✓
Add meaningful tags
Use tags that describe the template's purpose, industry, or use case for better discoverability.

Managing Your Templates

Find your saved templates in the "My Templates" tab on the Templates page. From there you can:

Preview the template before using it
See how many times the template has been used
Toggle between private and public visibility
Delete templates you no longer need

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