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To create a simple organization chart in a publication, you can use the Objects toolbar. You can create shapes to represent manager positions and reporting positions, connect them by using connector lines, and format the shapes and lines with the colors and styles you want.

Set up the publication for building your organization chart

Before you build your chart, display the Basic Shapes and Connectors submenus as floating toolbars (floating toolbar: A toolbar that is not attached to the edge of the program window. You can change the shape of some floating toolbars.) so that you don't have to display the submenus each time you want to add a shape or connector line.

1. Open or create the publication you want to add the organization chart to.
2. On the Objects toolbar, click AutoShapes , and then point to Connectors.
3. Drag the move handle at the top of the Connectors submenu to a location that you can see while you work in the publication.

   The Connectors submenu becomes a floating toolbar.

4. On the Objects toolbar, click AutoShapes , and then point to Basic Shapes.
5. Drag the move handle at the top of the Basic Shapes submenu to a location that you can see while you are working in the publication.

   The Basic Shapes submenu becomes a floating toolbar.

   

Build the organization chart

Now that the Connectors and Basic Shapes toolbars are displayed, you are ready to build the organization chart.

Create the shapes

1. On the Basic Shapes toolbar, click the shape you want in your organization chart, such as Rectangle , and then click the publication to insert the shape.
2. Change the size, color, fill, or line of the shape.

   How?

   1. Right-click the shape, and then click Format AutoShape.

      The Format AutoShape dialog box appears.

   2. Select the options that you want. For example, to change the fill, click the Colors and Lines tab. Under Fill, click a new color in the Color list or click Fill Effects to create a texture, pattern, or gradient (gradient: A gradual progression of colors and shades, usually from one color to another color, or from one shade to another shade of the same color.).
3. When the shape looks the way you want for your chart, right-click the shape, and then click Copy.
4. Right-click where you want the object, and then click Paste.
5. Repeat step 4 until you have all the shapes you want for your chart.

Connect the shapes

   Connector line

   First connection site

  Second connection site; connection sites appear as blue circles when you point to a shape.

1. On the Connectors toolbar, double-click the connector line that you want, such as Elbow Connector.

    Note   When you double-click a connector line, the button stays selected while you add the connectors you want.

2. Point to where you want to attach the connector, such as at the bottom of your top manager position shape in the organization chart.

   Connection sites appear as blue circles when you point to a shape.

3. Click the first connection site you want, point to the other object (such as the first reporting position shape in your organization chart), and then click the second connection site.
4. Repeat steps 2–4 to add all the connector lines that you want.
5. After you add the connector lines that you want, either click the connector line that you selected on the Connectors toolbar in step 1 or press ESC to cancel the selection of the connector line button.
6. Change the color or weight of the connector lines.

   How?

   1. Select the connector lines that you want to change. To select multiple connectors, hold down SHIFT while you click each connector line.
   2. On the Format menu, click AutoShape, and then click the Colors and Lines tab.
   3. Under Line, select the options that you want.

Add text

1. To add text to a shape in the organization chart, click the shape, and then type the text that you want.
2. To format the text, select the text inside the shape, and then use the options on the Formatting toolbar.

Move shapes and connector lines in the organization chart

Now that you have added shapes and connectors for your organization chart, you may want to fine-tune the placement of each piece.

Move a shape

Move a connector

Work with the organization chart as a single object

When the organization chart looks the way you want it, you may want to group all the shapes and connector lines together as a single object. Grouping the objects makes it easier to move and size the entire organization chart, and it helps to avoid moving shapes or connector lines inadvertently.

Group objects

1. On the Objects toolbar, click the Select Objects tool , and then drag the selection box around the shapes and connector lines in your organization chart.
2. Below the selection box, click Group Objects .

If you need to make changes to the chart, you can ungroup the shapes and connectors.

Ungroup objects

1. Select the grouped objects (the organization chart).
2. Below the selection box, click Ungroup Objects .