

On the Cross-functional Flowchart tab, click Swimlane.Right-click a swimlane header, and then click Insert ‘Swimlane’ Before or Insert ‘Swimlane’ After in the shortcut menu.Based on the analogy of lanes in a pool, a swimlane diagram places process steps within the horizontal or vertical “swimlanes” of a particular department, work group or employee, thus ensuring clarity and accountability. Have participants and department heads verify the accuracy of the process.Ī swimlane diagram is a type of flowchart that outlines who does what in a given process.Depict each step in the process from start to finish, moving from lane to lane based on who owns each step.List all the participants who are (or should be) involved in the core process you’re diagramming.Label your swimlanes by creating a text box from the Insert tab. Next, create your swimlanes by going to Insert > Shapes and selecting the Rectangle shape. On a blank PowerPoint slide, navigate to the insert tab and click “Shapes.”
#CREATE SWIMLANES IN STARUML HOW TO#
How to create a swimlane diagram in PowerPoint Define the starting point of the process. Decide what divisions you need represented by swimlanes and label them. Insert the swimlane diagram that you have already created, or create a new diagram.Sign up for a Lucidchart account, if you haven’t already.The tools to connect everything at your fingertips. SmartDraw makes drawing activity diagrams easy with built-in activity diagram templates that already have all the basic symbols docked and All action flows are represented with arrows indicating the transitions from state to state. The next state usually a rectangle with rounded corners. The starting point is usually marked with a dark, filled-in circle with an arrow pointing to You can make an activity diagram by connecting and joining various activity states. Final State or End PointĪn arrow pointing to a filled circle nested inside another circle represents the final action state. Swimlanes group related activities into one column. Interrupting EdgeĪn event, such as a cancellation, that interrupts the flow denoted with a lightning bolt. For example, an authorization of payment is needed before an order can be completed. They usually appear in pairs of sent and received signals, because the state can't change until a response is received, much like synchronous messages in a sequence diagram. Signals represent how activities can be modified from outside the system. Merge EventĪ merge event brings together multiple flows that are not concurrent. This refers to an event that stops the flow for a time an hourglass depicts it. It is represented as a straight, slightly thicker line in an activity diagram.Ī join node joins multiple concurrent flows back into a single outgoing flow.Ī fork and join mode used together are often referred to as synchronization. SynchronizationĪ fork node is used to split a single incoming flow into multiple concurrent flows. These are not essential, but are useful when a specific answer, such as "Yes, three labels are printed," is needed before moving forward. In UML, guards are a statement written next to a decision diamond that must be true before moving next to the next activity. You can also label one of the paths "else." Guards The outgoing alternates should be labeled with a condition or guard expression. When an activity requires a decision prior to moving on to the next activity, add a diamond between the two activities. Decisions and BranchingĪ diamond represents a decision with alternate paths. An object flow arrow from an object to an action indicates that the action state uses the object. An object flow arrow from an action to an object means that the action creates or influences the object. Object flow refers to the creation and modification of objects by activities.

They are usually drawn with an arrowed line. Action FlowĪction flows, also called edges and paths, illustrate the transitions from one action state to another. You can draw an action state in SmartDraw using a rectangle with rounded corners. Activity or Action StateĪn action state represents the non-interruptible action of objects. For activity diagram using swimlanes, make sure the start point is placed in the top left corner of the first column. Learn about activity diagram symbols below:īasic Activity Diagram Notations and Symbols Initial State or Start PointĪ small filled circle followed by an arrow represents the initial action state or the start point for any activity diagram.

In between there are ways to depict activities, flows, decisions, guards, merge and time events and more.
