---
title: Flowchart
description: "Create a flowchart in SmartDraw three ways: drag and drop, Quick Action Controls, or the keyboard alone."
---
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# Flowchart
To create a flowchart in SmartDraw, select the **Flowchart template** in the **Flowchart** category of the dashboard under **New Document**.
### Add Symbols
You can drag and drop flowchart symbols from the left panel to your workspace to start your diagram.
There are a few ways to keep adding symbols. You can:
- Keep dragging and dropping from the library or the shape menu
- Use **Quick Action Controls**
- Use your keyboard
### Quick Action Controls
To add the next step using **Quick Action Controls**, click on any of the yellow dots around a selected shape. These **Quick Action Control** buttons let you drag your mouse to draw a connected line and then choose a shape to add to the end of the line from a pop-up menu of options.
This menu is intelligent and will populate with the last 6 symbols you've used in your diagram, so you'll always have the right symbols at your fingertips.
### Using Your Keyboard
You can also add shapes by holding down **Ctrl** and then using the **arrow keys** to add the most recently used shape in the direction of the arrow. When you add shapes this way, shapes are always equidistant and perfectly aligned.
### Swimlane Flowcharts
If you need to make swimlane flowchart, you can easily turn any flowchart into a swimlane diagram using the options in the SmartPanel to the left of your drawing area.
You can pick the number of lanes and the orientation to start, but you can modify both later.
Learn more about [swimlane flowcharts.](https://support.smartdraw.com/swimlane-flowchart?hsLang=en-us)
#### To read the full tutorial on making a flowchart with SmartDraw visit our flowchart how to guide:
[Read more](https://www.smartdraw.com/flowchart/how-to-make-a-flowchart.htm)
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