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How to create a hierarchy map

Gather your related journey maps into one space and link them so you can move between a high-level overview and the journeys it connects to.

A hierarchy map gathers your existing journey maps into one space, linked together so you can move between a high-level overview and the detailed journeys it connects to. Create one from the Hierarchies area, then add each journey map as a linked node.

Prerequisites

The journey maps you want to link already exist in this workspace (or in the Account Library). A hierarchy map connects maps you have already built; it does not create them. To make the underlying maps first, see How to create a journey map.

Plan availability

Hierarchy maps are built from linked journey map cards, available on the Repository plan and above.

How to create a hierarchy map

1

Open the Hierarchies area

In the workspace sidebar, click Hierarchies. The list shows every hierarchy map in the workspace, or an empty state if you have not made one yet.

The Hierarchies area in a workspace, with no hierarchy maps yet. A New hierarchy button sits in the top-right corner and the sidebar shows Hierarchies selected below Journey maps.
[Workspace name] / Hierarchies, empty state
2

Create the hierarchy map

Click + New hierarchy in the top-right corner. There is no naming dialog. Smaply creates the hierarchy map straight away and opens it in the editor, which works like a journey map: a Stage lane across the top and a Linked maps lane below it.

A new, empty hierarchy map open in the editor. It has a Stage lane at the top and a Linked maps lane below, where an empty cell shows an Add a linked Journey Map prompt with a Link journey map button.
New hierarchy map, before any maps are linked
3

Rename it

Click the auto-generated title in the top bar and type a name that describes the experience the hierarchy covers, for example the product or lifecycle it maps.

4

Add your top-level map as a linked node

In the Linked maps lane, click Link journey map on the empty-cell prompt. (You can also hover any empty cell, click + Add card, and pick Link journey map from the picker.)

The Add card picker open on an empty cell in a hierarchy map. Link journey map is the highlighted quick-select entry at the top, followed by BASIC CARDS (Text, Image, Stage, Icons, Slider) and ADVANCED CARDS (Embed, Planning).
Add card picker, Link journey map at the top
5

Pick the map to link

In the Link journey map dialog, search the workspace's maps in the Search or create journey map field. Select a result to load a preview of how the linked node will appear on the right, then click Select to add it. Start with your highest-level map, the lifecycle or overview that anchors the structure.

The Link journey map dialog with a map selected in the results list. The right pane previews the linked node showing the map name and a Healthy performance indicator. A blue Select button confirms the choice.
Link journey map dialog, with a map selected to preview

To link a map that does not exist yet, type its name and click Create. The new map opens for you to build out, then becomes available to link.

6

Build out the hierarchy

Repeat the link step to add the rest of your maps. Linking is flexible, so arrange them to match your experience:

  • Zoom in - add another Linked maps lane (the lane's three-dot menu offers Duplicate lane below) and link the detailed journeys that sit under a higher-level map.

  • Link across - add more linked maps along a lane to connect related journeys side by side, like the same stage across different channels.

The same map can be linked into more than one hierarchy, so a reusable journey like login or checkout can appear in several places.

A built-out hierarchy map with three linked journey nodes across two Linked maps lanes. A Level 1 product map sits in the upper lane above two Level 2 maps in the lower lane, each node showing a map thumbnail, name, and Healthy performance indicator.
A hierarchy map with a Level 1 map over two Level 2 sub-journeys
lightbulb

Tip: Sub-journeys can come from other workspaces

A linked node can point at a map from a different workspace through the Account Library. The row menu on a hierarchy map also offers Copy to other workspace and Move to library. See How to use the Account Library for sharing maps across workspaces.

How to navigate between linked journeys

Each node carries the linked map's live details and two ways to open it without leaving the hierarchy.

Select a node and click Preview in its toolbar to open the linked map in an overlay. From the preview header, switch on Full screen for a larger read-only view, or click Edit map to open the linked journey in a new tab.

A linked journey map rendered in a preview overlay on top of the hierarchy map. The overlay header shows the map name, a Full screen toggle, and an Edit map button.
Preview overlay of a linked journey map

To see the node's details, click Show card details in the toolbar. The side panel carries the linked map's description and performance indicator, with Preview and Go to journey buttons. Go to journey opens the underlying map, the same destination as Edit map in the preview header.

The details side panel for a linked journey node, showing the linked map's name, description, and a Healthy performance indicator, with Preview and Go to journey buttons above the Personas, Card tags, and Comments sections.
Linked journey node details, with Preview and Go to journey

For the full set of fields a linked node can display and how to switch between condensed and custom layouts, see How to use linked journey map cards.

Related topics

How to choose between a journey map and a hierarchy map

When to reach for a hierarchy map instead of a single journey map.

How to use linked journey map cards

Every field a linked node can show, plus condensed and custom display settings.

How to create a journey map

Build the underlying maps you link into a hierarchy.

PreviousJourney vs hierarchy mapNextPersonas overview

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