How do I Make a Flowchart?

The flowchart SmartPanel was the result of the testing. No more dragging and dropping, just click and all the lines are added for you, and the shapes just know where to go to look good. Most users were able to document a process in less than 5 min, without having to go back and nudge things around.

As great as the new SmartPanel is, it is still not the best way to create a flowchart because you still have to use the mouse. If you're not using the arrow keys to make your flowcharts, you need to start. Don't be scared, it is completely painless.

You do not need to know what CLI stands for to make a flowchart using your keyboard. Do it once, and you will feel like the master of the universe, and bet you will even prefer to make flowcharts over boring outlines, just because they make you look so much cooler. Give it a try, open SmartDraw and use the CTRL+arrow keys (up, down, left, right) to add shapes and tab or shift+tab to navigate until your flowchart is complete.

You can right click on each shape to change them as needed, and use quickstyles to give it your personal style. Maybe it is just because I helped design this feature, maybe it is because I hate taking my hands off the keyboard, but I think Hotkeys are the best way to make a flowchart. Don't you agree?