Frequently asked questions
How the free spreadsheet-to-process-map editor works, what it does and doesn't do, and when to upgrade to QueryChart.
About ProcessMapping.app
What is ProcessMapping.app?
ProcessMapping.app is a free, no-signup editor that turns a spreadsheet into a swimlane process map. You edit the spreadsheet — the diagram renders as you type. No drawing, no boxes to drag, no account required.
Is ProcessMapping.app free?
Yes. The editor is completely free with no time limit, no watermark, and no account required. Your work is saved automatically in your browser.
Do I need to sign up to use it?
No. The editor opens ready to use — no account, no email, no trial clock. You only create an account if you later want cloud save and team features, which live on QueryChart.
Do I need to install any software?
No. ProcessMapping.app runs in the browser on Mac, Windows, Linux, and Chromebook. There is no download, no add-in, and no Microsoft 365 or Visio license required.
How the editor works
How does spreadsheet-to-process-map work?
Each spreadsheet row is one process step. Columns control the shape (Start, Process, Decision, End), the label, the connections to other steps (Line To), and the swimlane assignment. The diagram updates in real time as you edit any cell.
Can I use Excel data?
Yes. Copy rows in Excel and paste them into the editor's spreadsheet — one row per step. No Excel add-in, no fixed template format, no Visio Data Visualizer required.
Can I use my old Visio Data Visualizer Excel tables?
Yes. Microsoft retired Data Visualizer in March 2026, but its Excel tables survive and map one-for-one onto the editor: Process Step Description → Box Text, Next Step ID → Line To, Connector Label → Line Text, Function and Phase → swimlanes. Even the comma-separated branch syntax is the same.
Can I use CSV data?
Yes. Open the CSV in any spreadsheet app, copy the rows, and paste them in. CSV exports from ERP, BI, ticketing, and workflow tools all work — map the step name, owner, and sequence columns and the diagram renders.
What is a swimlane process map?
A swimlane process map groups steps by the role or department responsible for them. Every step sits inside its lane; connectors crossing lane boundaries are handoffs. It's the standard format for processes that involve more than one role.
What is the difference between a process map and a flowchart?
A flowchart is any directional diagram of boxes and arrows. A process map is a flowchart that documents a business process — with owners (swimlanes), explicit handoffs, labelled decision criteria, and a defined start and end.
Can I export my diagram?
Yes. The free editor exports the diagram as a PNG with no watermark — ready to drop into a doc, deck, or wiki. PDF/SVG export and cloud sharing are available on QueryChart.
Saving, teams, and the QueryChart upgrade
What happens when I need to save, share, collaborate, approve, or keep version history?
Those features live on QueryChart, the platform ProcessMapping.app is built on. Sign up and your local chart migrates to your QueryChart account, where you get cloud save, sharing, comments, team workspaces, approval workflow, and version history.
When should I upgrade to QueryChart?
When the map stops being personal and starts being shared documentation: a team needs to access it, changes need review or approval, or you need version history and an audit trail. Until then, the free editor covers individual use completely.
Is ProcessMapping.app the same as QueryChart?
No. ProcessMapping.app is the free editor — spreadsheet in, swimlane diagram out, saved in your browser. QueryChart is the parent platform: cloud save, collaboration, approvals, version control, audit trail, and compliance documentation. Same editor engine, different scope.
Does ProcessMapping.app support compliance workflows?
No — by design. ProcessMapping.app is the free editor; it has no approval workflow, audit trail, or version control. Compliance-grade process documentation is QueryChart's job.
Should compliance, SOP, or ERP documentation be done in QueryChart instead?
Yes. SOP documentation, ERP process documentation, and anything audit- or framework-driven (ISO 9001, ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, GxP) belongs on QueryChart, which adds approval workflow, version control, and an immutable audit trail. Use ProcessMapping.app to learn the format and draft freely; move to QueryChart when the document has to stand up to review.
Map your process now — no signup required
Open the editor, edit the spreadsheet, and the diagram updates as you type. Your work is saved automatically in your browser.
Start Process Mapping Free