š Overview
Written instructions describe what to do. Flowcharts show how it all connects. When a process has multiple steps, decision points, or branching paths -- like a sales workflow, a subcontract approval process, or a new employee onboarding sequence -- a visual map makes it far easier to understand and follow than a wall of text.
Structur's flowchart builder, built into Company Operations, lets you create visual maps of any process or workflow directly inside your company's operating system. Flowcharts live alongside your SOPs, policies, and procedures, so the visual guide and the written context are always in the same place.
Once created, flowcharts become a go-to resource for training new hires, walking through decision points, and identifying where a process could be improved.
š Understanding Flowcharts
ā” What It Does
The Flowchart element in Company Operations allows you to:
Create visual process maps -- document any workflow, decision tree, or multi-step procedure as a visual diagram
Use purpose-built shapes -- rectangles for process steps, diamonds for decisions, circles for start and end points, arrows and lines for connectors
Add text to every shape -- label each element to describe the step, action, or decision it represents
Style elements freely -- choose stroke color, background color, stroke width, stroke style, edge style, sloppiness, and opacity for any shape
Insert images -- add images directly onto the canvas when visual reference is needed
Add freehand drawings -- use the pencil tool for annotations or informal diagrams
Align and layer elements -- use the alignment tools and layer controls to keep the diagram clean and organized
Store flowcharts inside Company Operations -- flowcharts live on pages within your department structure, alongside related SOPs and procedures
š When to Use It
Flowcharts are most valuable when a process has multiple steps or branching decision points that are hard to follow in text alone, when you're onboarding new employees and want to give them a visual map of how the company operates, when you need to document a troubleshooting guide, when you want to map an existing process to identify bottlenecks, or when you need to standardize a workflow so every team member follows the same sequence.
š Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Open Company Operations and Navigate to the Right Page
Click Company Operations in the left sidebar
Select the department where this flowchart belongs -- for example, Project Management for a project kickoff workflow, or Human Resources for an onboarding process
Open an existing page or click + New Page at the bottom of the left panel to create one
Note: Keeping flowcharts in the right department ensures your team finds them in context, next to the related written procedures they illustrate.
2. Add a Flowchart Element to the Page
In page editing mode, click New Element in the content area
The New Element modal opens with nine element types. Select New Flowchart
A modal appears with two fields: Flowchart Title and Flowchart Description (optional)
Enter a descriptive title that reflects the process you're mapping -- for example, "Change Order Approval Workflow" or "New Hire Onboarding Process"
Click Create
The Flowchart element now appears on your page with an empty state showing "Click here to create your Flowchart."
3. Open the Flowchart Editor
Click the orange Click here to create your Flowchart link in the empty state, or click Edit Flowchart if a flowchart already exists in the element
The Flowchart Editor opens as a full-page canvas with a toolbar at the top and a properties panel on the left when elements are selected
The toolbar contains (left to right): Lock, Hand/Pan, Select, Rectangle (process step box), Diamond (decision point), Circle (start or end node), Arrow (directional connector), Line, Pencil (freehand), Text, Image, Eraser, and More options.
4. Build Your Flowchart
Select a shape from the toolbar to activate it
Click and drag on the canvas to draw the shape at the size you want
Hover over or click the shape to activate it for editing, then type to add a text label directly inside it
Repeat to add all the shapes your process requires
Use the Arrow tool to draw connectors between shapes -- click on one shape and drag to another to create a directed connection
Use the Text tool to add labels to connectors (for example, "Yes" or "No" on branches out of a decision diamond)
Standard shape conventions: Rectangle = a single process step or action, Diamond = a decision point with two or more possible outcomes, Circle = the start or end of the process, Arrow = the direction of flow from one step to the next.
Note: Every flowchart should have a clear starting point and at least one end point. Every shape should connect to at least one other shape -- no orphaned elements.
5. Style Your Elements
Click any shape or connector to select it. The left panel opens with styling options
Available styling controls: Stroke (outline color), Background (fill color), Stroke width, Stroke style (solid, dashed, dotted), Sloppiness (clean to hand-drawn), Edges (sharp or rounded), Opacity, Layers (move elements forward or backward), and Actions (duplicate, delete, or link)
To select multiple elements at once, drag a selection box across them. An Align section appears in the panel with alignment and distribution controls
6. Save and Return to the Page
Click Save in the top right of the Flowchart Editor when the diagram is complete
Click Discard Changes if you want to cancel edits without saving
The editor closes and you return to the page, where the flowchart now displays as a preview inside the element
Click Save again on the main page editor to save the page
To edit the flowchart later, click Edit Flowchart in the top right of the element.
ā Best Practices
Start with the start point and work forward -- map the process in the order it actually happens, beginning at the trigger event and following each step to its logical conclusion.
One action per rectangle -- each box should represent a single, discrete step. If you find yourself writing "and then..." inside a box, split it into two boxes.
Use diamonds for every decision point -- if a process has a condition, that point needs a diamond with labeled branches. Skipping decision points creates ambiguity.
Label every connector at decision branches -- on arrows coming out of a diamond, always add text labels like "Yes / No" or "Approved / Needs Revision" so the path is unambiguous.
Keep labels short and action-oriented -- use verb-first language inside shapes: "Send proposal," "Review budget," "Notify project manager." Avoid full sentences inside flowchart elements.
Use color to add meaning -- stroke and background colors can distinguish between process types or responsible parties. Use them consistently if you use them at all.
Place the flowchart in the right department -- a flowchart stored in the wrong department won't get used. Put it where your team will naturally look for it, next to the related written procedures.
Update flowcharts when processes change -- an outdated flowchart is worse than no flowchart. It causes confusion and erodes trust in your documentation.
ā Common Questions
Q: Where do flowcharts live in Structur?
A: Flowcharts are created and stored inside Company Operations, on pages within the department structure you've set up. They live alongside other elements on the same page -- Rich Text, Checklists, Quizzes, and Documents can all appear on the same page as a Flowchart element.
Q: What shapes are available in the Flowchart Editor?
A: The toolbar includes Rectangle, Diamond, Circle, Arrow, Line, Pencil (freehand), Text, and Image. These cover all standard flowchart conventions: rectangles for process steps, diamonds for decisions, circles for start and end points, and arrows for connectors.
Q: Can I style shapes with different colors?
A: Yes. Select any shape to open the properties panel, where you can set stroke color, background color, stroke width, stroke style, edge style, sloppiness, and opacity.
Q: Can I add images to a flowchart?
A: Yes. Use the Image tool in the toolbar to insert an image directly onto the canvas.
Q: How do I edit a flowchart after saving it?
A: Click Edit Flowchart in the top right of the Flowchart element on the page. This reopens the full Flowchart Editor where you can make changes and save again.
Q: Can I duplicate or delete a Flowchart element?
A: Yes. Click the three-dot menu in the top right of the Flowchart element on the page to access Duplicate and Delete options.
Q: Can I zoom in and out in the Flowchart Editor?
A: Yes. Use the minus and plus controls in the bottom left of the editor to zoom in and out. Use the Hand tool to pan around the canvas.
ā ļø Common Mistakes to Avoid
ā Don't | ā Do |
Start placing shapes without a clear starting point | Always begin with a circle or labeled start shape and trace the process forward from there |
Put multiple actions in a single rectangle | Use one rectangle per action -- split compound steps into separate boxes |
Skip diamonds at decision points | Use a diamond wherever the process has a conditional branch, and label all outgoing arrows |
Leave connector arrows unlabeled at decision branches | Add "Yes / No" or condition labels to every arrow leaving a decision diamond |
Use vague labels like "handle it" or "process request" | Use specific, verb-first labels: "Send estimate to client," "Review insurance certificate," "Notify PM" |
Store flowcharts in the wrong department | Place each flowchart in the department where your team will naturally look for it |
Never update flowcharts when processes change | Review and update flowcharts whenever the underlying process is modified -- an outdated flowchart causes more confusion than no flowchart |