Using the Organizational Chart Tool

Word 2016 2013 2010 2007 2003
The organizational chart, or organigram, is a diagram of the structure and relationships of the company or other organization. If you have Visio, you can build a huge organization histogram up to 1000 shapes with a very complex structure. SmartArt diagrams are much simple and recommended for smaller organizations, but you can add many visual effects and use Office theming for your organization diagrams. Using Microsoft Word built-in tools, you can easily create and share functional, divisional, or matrix org charts. A killer feature of SmartArt graphics templates is that you simply type and paste the text and the template positions and re-arranges the blocks automatically.

To create an organizational chart in Word for Microsoft 365, do the following:

   1.   On the Insert tab, in the Illustrations group, click the Insert a SmartArt Graphic button:

SmartArt in Word 365

   2.   In the Choose a SmartArt Graphic gallery, click Hierarchy, choose an organizational chart layout (such as Organization Chart), and then click OK:

Choose a SmartArt Graphic in Word 365

There are several useful chart types for building company organization diagrams:

  • Organization Chart, Picture Organization Chart, and Name and Title Organization Chart
  • Half Circle Organization Chart, Circle Picture Hierarchy, and Hierarchy
  • Labeled Hierarchy and Table Hierarchy
  • Horizontal Organization Chart, Architecture Layout, Horizontal Multi-level Hierarchy, Horizontal Hierarchy, and Horizontal Labeled Hierarchy
  • Hierarchy List and Lined List charts.

After adding a SmartArt graphic, Word will also open the SmartArt Design and Format tabs:

SmartArt Tools in Word 365

   3.   To enter your text, do one of the following:

  • Click inside the shape of the SmartArt graphic, and type your text.
    Note: For best results, use this option after you add all of the shapes that you want.
  • Click [Text] in the Text pane, and then type your text:
    SmartArt Text pane in Word 365
  • Copy text from another location or program: click [Text] in the Text pane, and then paste your text.

   4.   To add a shape to your organizational chart, on the SmartArt Design tab, in the Create Graphic group, click the Add Shape button, and then choose one of the following:

Add Shape in Word 365
  • To insert a shape at the same level as the selected shape, but following it, click Add Shape After.
  • To insert a shape at the same level as the selected shape, but before it, click Add Shape Before.
  • To insert a shape one level above the selected shape, click Add Shape Above.
    The new shape takes the position of the selected shape, and the selected shape and all of the shapes directly below it are each demoted one level.
  • To insert a shape one level below the selected shape, click Add Shape Below. The new shape takes the position after the other shapes at the same level.
  • To add an assistant shape, click Add Assistant. The assistant shape is added above the other shapes at the same level in the SmartArt graphic, but it is displayed in the Text pane after the other shapes at the same level.

    Note: Add Assistant is available only for organizational chart layouts. It is not available for hierarchy layouts, such as Hierarchy.

   5.   To change the hanging layout of your organizational chart, on the SmartArt Design tab, in the Create Graphic group, click Layout, and then do one of the following:

SmartArt Layout in Word 365
  • To center all of the shapes below the selected shape, select the Standard item.
  • To center the selected shape above the shapes below it and arrange the shapes below it horizontally with two shapes in each row, select the Both item.
  • To arrange the selected shape to the right of the shapes below it and left-align the shapes below it vertically, select the Left Hanging item.
  • To arrange the selected shape to the left of the shapes below it and right-align the shapes below it vertically, select the Right Hanging item.

   6.   To change the format (the colors, line styles, and so on), on the SmartArt Design tab, in the SmartArt Styles group, click the Change Colors button:

SmartArt styles in Word 365

Example:

Organizational chart example in Word 365

Before you change a layout, we recommend you save the document. The Undo might not work properly here; so, if you don't like the results of your changes, you can close the file and reopen to get back to the previous layout.

See also this tip in French: Utilisation de l'outil Organigramme.

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