---
name: drawio-flowchart
description: "Creates flowcharts, swim lane diagrams, and business process diagrams using Draw.io (diagrams.net). Covers standard flowchart shapes (process, decision, start/end), connectors, auto-layout, and export to PNG/SVG/PDF. Use when the user needs to visualize workflows, decision trees, or business processes."
license: Complete terms in LICENSE.txt
---

## When to use this skill

Use this skill whenever the user wants to:
- Create flowcharts for business processes or technical workflows
- Design swim lane diagrams showing responsibilities across teams or systems
- Visualize decision trees with conditional branching
- Export process diagrams for documentation or presentations

## How to use this skill

### Workflow

1. **Start from template** - Choose Flowchart template in Draw.io or start blank
2. **Add shapes** - Use standard shapes: rounded rectangle (start/end), rectangle (process), diamond (decision)
3. **Connect with arrows** - Label decision branches (Yes/No) and flow direction
4. **Apply auto-layout** - Use Format > Layout > Vertical/Horizontal Tree for clean alignment
5. **Export** - Save as `.drawio` for editing; export PNG/SVG/PDF for sharing

### Quick-Start Example: Order Processing Flowchart (XML)

```xml
<mxGraphModel>
  <root>
    <mxCell id="0"/><mxCell id="1" parent="0"/>
    <!-- Start -->
    <mxCell id="2" value="Order Received" style="ellipse;fillColor=#d5e8d4;" vertex="1" parent="1">
      <mxGeometry x="200" y="20" width="120" height="40" as="geometry"/>
    </mxCell>
    <!-- Decision -->
    <mxCell id="3" value="In Stock?" style="rhombus;fillColor=#fff2cc;" vertex="1" parent="1">
      <mxGeometry x="200" y="100" width="120" height="60" as="geometry"/>
    </mxCell>
    <!-- Process -->
    <mxCell id="4" value="Ship Order" style="rounded=0;fillColor=#dae8fc;" vertex="1" parent="1">
      <mxGeometry x="100" y="200" width="120" height="40" as="geometry"/>
    </mxCell>
    <mxCell id="5" value="Backorder" style="rounded=0;fillColor=#f8cecc;" vertex="1" parent="1">
      <mxGeometry x="300" y="200" width="120" height="40" as="geometry"/>
    </mxCell>
    <!-- Arrows -->
    <mxCell id="6" style="" edge="1" source="2" target="3" parent="1"/>
    <mxCell id="7" value="Yes" edge="1" source="3" target="4" parent="1"/>
    <mxCell id="8" value="No" edge="1" source="3" target="5" parent="1"/>
  </root>
</mxGraphModel>
```

### Swim Lane Diagram

For cross-team processes, use Draw.io's swim lane containers:
1. Insert > Advanced > Pool/Lane
2. Drag process steps into the appropriate lane
3. Connect steps across lanes with labeled arrows

## Best Practices

1. **Consistent flow direction** - Use top-to-bottom or left-to-right consistently
2. **Standard shapes** - Rectangles for processes, diamonds for decisions, ovals for start/end
3. **Label decision branches** - Always label Yes/No or condition text on decision arrows
4. **One process per diagram** - Keep diagrams focused; split complex flows into sub-processes
5. **Include a legend** - Add a key explaining shape meanings and color coding

## Keywords

draw.io, diagrams.net, flowchart, swim lane, business process, decision tree, workflow diagram, 流程图, 泳道图, process diagram