We use Excel for many different reasons. Educational institutions, companies, business sectors, etc. store information and records in MS Excel. They perform various operations according to their requirements. Data analysis is straightforward in Excel. We can also create Flowcharts using distinct Excel tools. Flowcharts help a viewer to understand the whole procedure of a new project plan in brief steps. They especially come in handy when presenting the new project to the board of executives. In this article, we’ll show the step-by-step procedures to make an Interactive Flowchart in Excel.
How to Make an Interactive Flowchart in Excel: Step by Step Procedure
The Flowchart is a kind of diagram that shows the step-by-step approach to performing an operation. These diagrams are brief and to the point. They illustrate the workflow or process. The Flowchart depicts the steps as boxes of different shapes. The boxes are connected by lines and arrows to represent the order of the workflow. Additionally, the Interactive Flowchart is a more effective kind. Instead of just showing the one-way workflow, this Flowchart has the scope for Decision steps. The workflow order can also be modified. Therefore, go through the below procedure carefully for making an Interactive Flowchart in Excel.
STEP 1: Create a Grid
Creating a Grid is optional. But, the grid eases the process of making an Interactive Flowchart with uniform shapes and sizes. We can generate the grid by modifying the column widths to match the row height. To illustrate, we’ll use the default font and size of the Excel worksheet, Calibri 11. The standard row height is 15 pts. Now, to create the grid, the column widths need to be 2.14. So, follow the steps below to perform the task.
- First, click on the upper-left corner (red-colored box) of the spreadsheet.
- Then, right-click on any of the Columns.
- Consequently, you’ll get the context menu. There, select Column Width.
- As a result, the Column Width dialog box will pop out.
- Type 2.14 in the box.
- After that, press OK.
- Thus, you’ll see the grid in the worksheet.
STEP 2: Enable Snap
The Snap feature aligns the edges of the shapes to the nearest grid lines. It’s a useful feature. The diagram will look neat if we create the flowchart with this feature turned on. We can choose Snap to Grid or/and Snap to Shape. The Snap to Shape feature aligns the edges of the shapes to the nearest shapes. Hence, learn the following steps to carry out the operation.
- Firstly, go to the Page Layout tab.
- Next, select Arrange ➤ Align ➤ Snap to Grid.
- Accordingly, the feature gets activated.
Read More: How to Create a Flowchart in Excel
STEP 3: Modify Excel Page Layout
Moreover, you can set the Page as per your choice and requirements. Under the Page Layout tab, you’ll get the Page Setup section. There, choose your desired Margin, Orientation, etc. in this example, choose Normal from the Margin drop-down and Portrait from the Orientation drop-down.
STEP 4: Insert & Edit Flowchart Shapes
The primary part of making the Interactive Flowchart will start from this step. You need different shapes for each step in the workflow diagram. There are various types of shapes available in the Shapes drop-down. The dedicated Flowchart shapes are also there. You can then edit the shapes the way you need. Hence, follow the process to Insert & Edit Flowchart Shapes.
- First of all, go to the Insert tab.
- In the Illustrations drop-down, select Shapes.
- Then, from the Shapes drop-down, pick your desired Flowchart Shapes.
- Subsequently, you need to repeat the above steps to place all the shapes.
- Afterward, click any shape and you’ll get a Shape Format There, you can edit the shapes.
- Lastly, see the below figure where the input of the shapes is complete for this example.
STEP 5: Add Text to Shapes
We know that the shapes alone won’t help to deliver a clear work process. You need to add texts inside the shapes for a better understanding of the project map.
- To add texts, click the desired shape and start typing.
- Format the texts if necessary by going to the Font, Alignment, etc. sections under the Home tab.
- The following image demonstrates the shapes along with the texts.
- Now, the viewers can grasp the total concept more clearly by seeing the Flowchart.
STEP 6: Connect Shapes to Make an Interactive Flowchart
However, connecting the shapes is very important in a flowchart. Otherwise, viewers will get puzzled and won’t know the work orders. Displaying the interactions between the operation steps is essential to making an Interactive Flowchart.
- You can join the shapes using Lines and Arrows. Arrows can distinctly show the directions of the workflow.
- You’ll get those in the Shapes drop-down as we demonstrated in STEP 4. Look at the image below where our shapes are connected.
STEP 7: Attach Side Notes in Excel Flowchart
Again, attaching the side notes is another vital step in making the Interactive Flowchart. The side notes label the connecting lines coming out of the decision steps. Hence, it clarifies the multiple links joined to a particular shape.
- You can insert the notes using the Text Box which you’ll find in the Shapes drop-down.
- The following image displays the Side Notes in the diagram.
Final Output of an Interactive Flowchart
Finally, we have completed our Flowchart design. You can now remove the Gridlines to get a more efficient viewpoint of the diagram.
- Go to the Show section under the View tab to uncheck the Gridlines option.
- In this way, the Interactive Flowchart is designed.
- The following picture shows the final output of the Interactive Flowchart.
Read More: How to Make a Yes No Flowchart in Excel
Download Practice Workbook
Download the following workbook to practice by yourself.
Conclusion
Henceforth, you will be able to Make an Interactive Flowchart in Excel following the above-described procedures. Keep using them and let us know if you have more ways to do the task. Don’t forget to drop comments, suggestions, or queries if you have any in the comment section below.
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