Add Swimlanes To A Flowchart - Microsoft Support

Skip to main content Sign in with Microsoft Sign in or create an account. Hello, Select a different account. You have multiple accounts Choose the account you want to sign in with. Visio Diagrams Flowcharts Flowcharts Add swimlanes to a flowchart Applies ToVisio Plan 2 Visio Professional 2024 Visio Standard 2024 Visio Professional 2021 Visio Standard 2021 Visio Professional 2019 Visio Standard 2019 Visio Professional 2016 Visio Standard 2016

Swimlanes are shapes that you can drag onto your drawing and place in any order in your flowchart. Drag to move them or change their size, and drag process step shapes into them to build the flowchart.

Note: The following procedure assumes that your drawing has the Cross-Functional Flowchart stencil available. For instruction in adding a stencil, see Add a stencil to a template in Visio.

1. In the Shapes window, in the Cross-Functional Flowchart Shapes stencil, drag a Swimlane shape (either horizontal or vertical) onto an empty area of the diagram.

   

   Each new swimlane comes with a label bar, which says Function by default; to change the label, double-click the bar.

2. Drag more swimlane shapes from the Shapes window. Drop them when you see the orange connection indicator appear in the place you want the swimlane to go.

   

3. Drag any process shapes into the correct swimlanes. When the shape is contained in the swimlane, the swimlane shows a green highlight.

   Note:  If you drop a new swimlane onto a process shape that’s already on your drawing, the process shape is not associated, or grouped, with the swimlane, even though it might look like it. To group the process shape with a swimlane, move the shape so that Visio highlights the swimlane, and then drop the shape. Shapes that are grouped with a swimlane, move automatically with it when you move the swimlane.

Change a swimlane’s size or position

If you need to change the width of any swimlane, drag one of the swimlane’s separator lines until it is the width that you want.

You can also drag the swimlane’s end line, if you want to make it longer or shorter.

To move a swimlane higher or lower on the flowchart, click its label bar so that a grey highlight appears around the swimlane. Then drag the swimlane until the orange connection indicator appears at the location where you want the swimlane to be. Shapes contained in the swimlane move along with it.

To delete a swimlane, click its label bar so that a grey highlight appears around the swimlane, then press Delete. Deleting a swimlane also deletes the shapes it contains.

Need more help?

Want more options?

DiscoverCommunity

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Microsoft 365 subscription benefits

Microsoft 365 training

Microsoft security

Accessibility center

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.

Ask the Microsoft Community

Microsoft Tech Community

Windows Insiders

Microsoft 365 Insiders

Was this information helpful?

Yes No Thank you! Any more feedback for Microsoft? Can you help us improve? (Send feedback to Microsoft so we can help.) What affected your experience? Resolved my issue Clear instructions Easy to follow No jargon Pictures helped Other Didn't match my screen Incorrect instructions Too technical Not enough information Not enough pictures Other Any additional feedback? (Optional) Submit feedback By pressing submit, your feedback will be used to improve Microsoft products and services. Your IT admin will be able to collect this data. Privacy Statement.

Thank you for your feedback!

×