CSV to process map — drop a CSV, get a swimlane diagram

Exports from databases, workflow tools, and analytics systems all land in CSV. ProcessMapping.app reads a CSV of process steps directly and renders a swimlane diagram in real time. No transformation script, no manual re-keying, no separate diagramming tool.

Drop your CSV — see the diagram

The editor accepts CSV via drop or paste. Drop the file, the spreadsheet fills, the diagram renders. Free, no signup.

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Expected CSV shape

The editor's spreadsheet treats each CSV row as one process step. The columns that drive the diagram:

Box Text — the step label.
Shape — Start, Process, Decision, or End.
Line To — comma-separated step numbers this step connects to.
Horizontal Swimlane / Vertical Swimlane — who's responsible.

Handling extra columns

Extra columns in the CSV — anything beyond the diagram-driving columns — are ignored harmlessly. You don't have to strip them out before dropping the file in. This is useful when your CSV comes from a source that includes audit metadata, IDs, or other fields you want to keep but don't want on the diagram.

How to load a CSV

Three options, all on the free editor:

Drop the .csv file onto the spreadsheet area — the editor parses the rows directly.
Copy CSV text from any source and paste it in.
If your CSV is comma-separated in one column instead of split into cells, use Excel or Sheets first to split into columns, then paste.

Common CSV sources that work cleanly

Anything that exports a row-per-step tabular file is a good fit:

Database query results — one row per process step.
Workflow tool exports (Asana, Jira, Trello board exports) — re-shaped into step/responsible-role columns.
BI tool downloads — Power BI, Tableau, Looker, Metabase exports.
Process-mining tool outputs — distilled to representative paths.
Hand-curated CSVs maintained alongside a process-improvement project.

Editing after the CSV loads

Once the CSV is in the editor, it behaves like any other spreadsheet — change a cell, the diagram updates. Insert a row to add a step, delete a row to remove one, re-target a Line To cell to reroute a connector. The CSV file you started from isn't modified; the editor is the source of truth from here on.

Frequently asked questions

What CSV format does ProcessMapping.app expect?

Standard comma-separated values with a header row. Each row is one step; columns drive the shape, label, connections, and swimlane. Extra columns are ignored harmlessly.

Can I drop a CSV directly into the editor?

Yes. Drop the file onto the spreadsheet area or paste CSV text directly. The editor parses it into the spreadsheet and renders the diagram.

What if my CSV has thousands of rows?

The editor handles large CSVs, but a single diagram with thousands of steps becomes unreadable. Filter to the steps you want to visualize before importing, or split into sub-process diagrams.

Can I round-trip back to CSV?

PNG export is free. CSV round-trip and cloud save live on QueryChart's paid plans.

What if my CSV has the columns in a different order?

Use the header row to identify which column is which — the editor maps named columns, not positional ones. Rename headers in your spreadsheet tool before importing if needed.

Does this work with Google Sheets CSV exports?

Yes. Sheets exports plain CSV — drop it in. You can also copy directly from Sheets into the editor's spreadsheet.

Ready to map your first process?

The editor opens with a starter template. Edit the spreadsheet to define your process — the diagram updates as you type. No signup required to get started.

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