Create an organization chart in Office by using SmartArt

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If you want to illustrate the reporting relationships in your company or organization, you can create a SmartArt graphic that uses an organization chart layout, such as Organization Chart.

Tip: An alternative way to draw an org chart is with Visio, the Microsoft diagramming app. If you have Visio, read about how to use it to make an org chart in Create an organization chart in Visio.

Overview of creating an organization chart

Use a SmartArt graphic to create an organization chart in Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, or Word to show the reporting relationships in an organization, such as department managers and non-management employees.

Shows an example of a SmartArt Organizational Chart

If you're unfamiliar with using SmartArt graphics, you might want to read the following articles before getting started on an organization chart:

Create an organization chart

Shows the SmartArt button in the Insert tab

  1. On the Insert tab, in the Illustrations group, click SmartArt.

Shows the SmartArt dialog box with Hierarchy selected

Example of the Illustrations group on the Insert tab in PowerPoint 2016 In the Choose a SmartArt Graphic gallery, click Hierarchy, click an organization chart layout (such as Organization Chart), and then click OK.

Typing in a box in a SmartArt graphic

To enter your text, do one of the following:

Note: For best results, use this option after you add all of the boxes that you want.

Typing in the Text pane

Click [Text] in the Text pane, and then type your text.

Text pane control

Notes:

What else would you like to do?

Create an organization chart with pictures

Shows the SmartArt button in the Insert tab

  1. In your document, presentation, or spreadsheet, on the Insert tab, in the Illustrations group, click SmartArt.

Selecting a Picture organization chart

Example of the Illustrations group on the Insert tab in PowerPoint 2016 In the Choose a SmartArt Graphic gallery, click Hierarchy, click Picture Organization Chart or Circle Picture Hierarchy, and then click OK.

Add or delete boxes in your organization chart

Shows the Add Shape button in SmartArt tools

  1. Click the existing box that is located closest to where you want to add the new box.
  2. Under SmartArt Tools, on the Design tab, in the Create Graphic group, click the arrow next to Add Shape, and then do one of the following:

Note: If you do not see the SmartArt Tools or Design tabs, make sure that you have selected the SmartArt graphic. You may have to double-click the SmartArt graphic to select it and open the Design tab.

Delete a box

To delete a box, click the border of the box you want to delete, and then press Delete.

Change a solid line to a dotted line

To show a dotted-line reporting relationship between two boxes, change the style of the line between the two boxes.

  1. Click the SmartArt graphic whose line you want to change.
  2. Right-click the line, and then click Format Shape on the shortcut menu.
  3. Click Line or Line Style, and then click the Dash type that you want.
Change the hanging layout of your organization chart

A hanging layout affects the layout of all boxes below the selected box. Although you can use other hierarchy layouts to create an organization chart, hanging layouts are available only with organization chart layouts.

Shows the Layout option in SmartArt tools

  1. Click the box in the organization chart that you want to apply a hanging layout to.
  2. Under SmartArt Tools, on the Design tab, in the Create Graphic group, click Layout, and then do one of the following:

Note: If you do not see the SmartArt Tools or Design tabs, make sure that you have selected a SmartArt graphic. You may have to double-click the SmartArt graphic to select it and open the Design tab.

Change the colors of your organization chart

You can apply color combinations that are derived from the theme colors to the boxes in your SmartArt graphic.

The Change Colors button on the <a href=SmartArt Tools Design tab" />

  1. Click the SmartArt graphic whose color you want to change.
  2. Under SmartArt Tools, on the Design tab, in the SmartArt Styles group, click Change Colors.

Tip: When you place your pointer over a thumbnail, you can see how the colors affect your SmartArt graphic.

Change the color of a box in your organization chart
  1. Right-click the border of a box, and then click Format Shape on the shortcut menu.
  2. Under Fill, click Solid fill.
  3. Click Color, and then click the color that you want.
  4. To specify how much you can see through the background color, move the Transparency slider, or enter a number in the box next to the slider. You can vary the percentage of transparency from 0% (fully opaque, the default setting) to 100% (fully transparent).
Add SmartArt Style effects to your organization chart

A SmartArt Style is a combination of various effects, such as line style, bevel, or 3-D, that you can apply to the boxes in your SmartArt graphic to create a unique and professionally designed look.

  1. Click the SmartArt graphic whose SmartArt Style you want to change.
  2. Under SmartArt Tools, on the Design tab, in the SmartArt Styles group, click the SmartArt Style that you want. To see more SmartArt Styles, click the More button

Tip: For even more effect options, such as shadow, glow, and reflection, under SmartArt Tools, on the Format tab, in the Shape Styles group, click Shape Effects, and then choose the effect that you want.