A flowchart is used to communicate a process, and its power is in making the process visual. Consisting of shapes, text, and arrows, flowcharts range from giving step by step instructions to mapping the flow of an idea.

If the process you want your chart to show is fairly short and basic, or can be logically broken up, PowerPoint serves as a fine medium for creating the flowchart. The most common flowchart shapes and arrows are available, and a great bonus is that the chart inherits the color scheme of its slide.

This course guides you through creating a flowchart in PowerPoint. To find out more about it, check out the table of contents and the course goals on this page. When you're ready to move on, click the Next button.

Note    If your chart is specialized and intricate, you might want to create it in Microsoft Visio®, a more powerful charting tool, and then use it in PowerPoint. For more details, see the Quick Reference Card at the end of the course.