Create Your First Flowchart

What You'll Learn

• How to create your first workspace and flowchart
• Using the shape palette to add flowchart elements
• Connecting shapes to show process flow
• Editing labels and customizing nodes
• Saving and exporting your flowchart

Prerequisites

• A DiagramKit account (Free plan works perfectly)
• A modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge)
• No prior flowcharting experience needed

Time Estimate

5-10 minutes

Step 1: Create Your Workspace

When you first log in to DiagramKit, you'll need a workspace to organize your flowcharts.

Instructions

1. After logging in, you'll see the workspace dashboard
2. Click the "Create Workspace" button
3. Name it "My First Workspace" or any name you prefer
4. Click "Create"

Expected Result

You'll be taken to your new workspace where you can create flowcharts.

Step 2: Create Your First Flowchart

Now let's create a flowchart to work with.

Instructions

1. Inside your workspace, click "New Flow" or the "+" button
2. Name your flowchart "User Login Flow"
3. Optionally add a description: "A simple login process flowchart"
4. Click "Create"

Expected Result

The flowchart editor opens with a blank canvas, showing:

• Left sidebar: Shape palette with available flowchart elements
• Center canvas: Your empty flowchart workspace
• Right panel: Inspector for viewing shape properties

Step 3: Add Your First Shape (Start)

Every flowchart begins with a Start/End shape (represented as a rounded rectangle or stadium shape).

Instructions

1. Look at the left sidebar (shape palette)
2. Find the "Start/End" shape (it looks like a rounded rectangle)
3. Click and drag it onto the canvas
4. Position it near the top-center of your canvas
5. Double-click the shape to edit the label
6. Type "Start" and press Enter

Expected Result

You now have a Start shape on your canvas with the label "Start" inside it.

Step 4: Add Process Steps

Let's add the main steps of our login process.

Instructions

1. From the shape palette, drag a "Process" shape (rectangle) onto the canvas below your Start shape
2. Double-click to edit the label
3. Type "Display Login Form" and press Enter
4. Add another Process shape below it
5. Label it "User Enters Credentials"
6. Add one more Process shape
7. Label it "Validate Credentials"

Expected Result

You now have three process boxes stacked vertically, representing the sequential steps in your login flow.

Step 5: Add a Decision Point

Login processes need to check if credentials are valid. We'll use a Decision shape (diamond) for this.

Instructions

1. Drag a "Decision" shape from the palette (diamond shape)
2. Place it below the "Validate Credentials" process
3. Double-click to edit
4. Type "Valid Credentials?" as the label
5. Press Enter

Expected Result

A diamond-shaped decision node asking "Valid Credentials?" is now on your canvas.

Step 6: Add Outcome Shapes

Now we need to show what happens based on the decision.

Instructions

1. Add a Process shape to the right of the decision
2. Label it "Show Error Message"
3. Add a Start/End shape to the left of the decision
4. Label it "Login Success"
5. Add another Start/End shape below the error message
6. Label it "End"

Expected Result

You have two possible paths: one for successful login and one for errors.

Step 7: Connect the Shapes

Now we'll create connections (edges) between shapes to show the flow of the process.

Instructions

1. Hover over the "Start" shape until you see small connection points (handles)
2. Click and drag from the bottom handle of "Start"
3. Release over the "Display Login Form" shape
4. Repeat this process to connect:
   • Display Login Form → User Enters Credentials
   • User Enters Credentials → Validate Credentials
   • Validate Credentials → Valid Credentials? (decision)
   • Valid Credentials? → Login Success (left path)
   • Valid Credentials? → Show Error Message (right path)
   • Show Error Message → End

Expected Result

All shapes are now connected with arrows showing the flow of the login process.

Step 8: Label Your Decision Paths

Decision paths should be labeled to indicate which outcome they represent.

Instructions

1. Click on the connection line from "Valid Credentials?" to "Login Success"
2. In the right panel (Inspector), look for the label field
3. Type "Yes" or "True"
4. Click on the connection to "Show Error Message"
5. Label it "No" or "False"

Expected Result

Your decision paths are now clearly labeled, making it obvious which path represents success and which represents failure.

Step 9: Adjust Layout and Styling

Let's make your flowchart look professional.

Instructions

1. Click and drag shapes to adjust spacing and alignment
2. Use the grid (16px snap) to keep things aligned
3. Select any shape and use the Inspector panel to:
   • Lock shapes in place (prevents accidental movement)
   • Adjust colors (optional, shapes use flowchart colors by default)
4. Zoom in/out using the controls or mouse wheel to get a good view

Expected Result

Your flowchart is now neatly organized with consistent spacing and professional appearance.

Step 10: Save Your Work

DiagramKit auto-saves your work, but it's good practice to verify.

Instructions

1. Look for the save indicator in the top bar
2. If you see "Saved" or a checkmark, your work is preserved
3. You can also press Cmd+S (Mac) or Ctrl+S (Windows) to manually save
4. Navigate back to your workspace to see your flowchart listed

Expected Result

Your flowchart is safely saved and appears in your workspace flow library.

Step 11: Export Your Flowchart

Finally, let's export your flowchart to share or use elsewhere.

Instructions

1. Click the "Export" button in the top toolbar
2. Choose your preferred format:
   • PNG - Best for presentations and documents
   • SVG - Best for scalable graphics and web use
   • PDF - Best for printing and formal documentation
   • JSON - Best for importing into other tools
3. Click "Download"

Expected Result

Your flowchart downloads in your chosen format, ready to share with colleagues or include in documentation.

Final Result

Congratulations! You've created a complete user login flow flowchart that includes:

• A clear start and end point
• Sequential process steps
• A decision point with labeled outcomes
• Proper connections showing process flow
• Professional styling and layout

Your flowchart should look something like this:

Start
  ↓
Display Login Form
  ↓
User Enters Credentials
  ↓
Validate Credentials
  ↓
Valid Credentials?
  ├─→ Yes → Login Success
  └─→ No → Show Error Message → Log Failed Login → End

Common Issues

Problem: Shapes Won't Connect

Solution: Make sure you're dragging from one of the connection handles (small circles that appear when hovering over a shape). If a shape is locked, unlock it first in the Inspector panel.

Problem: Can't Edit Labels

Solution: Double-click the shape to enter edit mode. If that doesn't work, make sure the shape isn't locked. Check the Inspector panel on the right.

Problem: Flowchart Looks Cluttered

Solution: Use the zoom controls to get a better view. Drag shapes to add more spacing. Use the 16px grid snap feature to align shapes consistently.

Pro Tips

Next Steps

Now that you've created your first flowchart, here's what to explore next:

1. Learn Best Practices - Read our Best Practices Guide to create professional, flowchart
2. Explore Templates - Check out our Template Library to jumpstart common flowchart types
3. Business Processes - Try creating a more complex Business Process Flowchart
4. Collaborate - Upgrade to Pro to invite team members and collaborate in real-time

Related Documentation

• Quick Start Guide - Overview of DiagramKit basics
• Shape Reference - Complete guide to all 19 flowchart shapes
• Keyboard Shortcuts - Full list of keyboard shortcuts
• Export Options - Detailed guide to all export formats

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Congratulations on creating your first flowchart! You're now ready to tackle more complex diagrams and explore the full power of DiagramKit. Happy diagramming!