There are several programs available today to create flow charts, graphs, and what is now being called mind maps. Rather than spend more money on yet another piece of software I decided to play around in Microsoft Word using the Smart Art tools. The Smart Art tools provide you with a predesigned form to begin, horizontal, vertical, hierarchical, and many other designs. There is no limit to the size or style of graphs or charts that you can create. The Smart Art tool is a part of Microsoft Office 2007 and allows you to create a plan of action either through the use of flow charts or lists. A very powerful tool and one that allows you to get as creative as you want.

To begin using Smart Art tool you will begin by creating a new word document. Once your document is open, go to insert on the tool bar, then click Smart Art. Browse the different layouts, pick one that will work with your plans.

The next step is to decide on colors, fonts and formatting your flow chart.

Positioning where you want the chart to sit in the page is simple, at the right hand side of the format menu is the position button, simply click and select from the drop down menu to place your chart either in the center, lower right, upper right, it only matters according to your content. If you are creating a presentation for print then you can set your chart to the lower left, formatting so the text will flow above and to the right of the chart. There are no hard or fast rules to designing your presentation. However, you will only be able to position your chart if it is selected.

While the chart is selected the Format menu is set as the active tool bar, here is where you decide on what the font will look like, the colors in the chart, shapes and other details. Double click in the center of the chart and the Design menu will replace the Format menu, or at the top you can select either one. Choosing the layout, colors, etc is important but you can fill in the text first, then go back and make changes easily.

To fill in the text, click in on the word text, write your content and as you write you will notice that the text adjusts according to the size of the word.

The default chart can be adjusted, added to or subtracted from. If there are not enough boxes for your purpose adding more is easily accomplished, simply click the box you want to add to, then go to the Add Shape button on the Design menu, it is located in the left end of the menu. Click and from the drop down menu select add shape below or above, your choice. I added mine below.

Complete your graph according to your needs and when you are done save it as a pdf or xps document simply by selecting save as. You are done. No spending extra money to purchase more software, the Smart Art is easily used in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word; you can even use this little piece of technology directly in Outlook emails. I am writing this in Microsoft Word right now, the graphics were created using Jing, (it is a free download and full use software).

Contact me if you have further questions in regards to using Smart Art or Microsoft Word. I am available for tutoring.