How to use flow lanes

Map a process in a flow lane by drawing connector arrows between cards, with swimlanes, columns, and lines of interaction for service blueprints.

A flow lane shows how one step leads to the next. It works like a grid lane, split into named rows (swimlanes) that cross your map's columns, with one extra ability: you draw connector arrows from card to card to trace a process, sequence, or decision flow. It is the lane type for service blueprints, system and process flows, decision trees, and dependency maps.

A flow lane: cards in swimlanes, joined by connector arrows

Flow lanes are available on the Repository plan and above.

To add a flow lane, use the + Add lane picker and choose Flow under BASIC LANES, the same way you add any other lane. A new flow lane arrives with a small starter example (a couple of swimlanes, a few cards, and connectors) that you can edit or replace. See How to add and manage lanes for the full add and manage flow.

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How to add cards to a flow lane

In a flow lane, clicking and dragging draws connectors, so adding a card uses a modifier key to keep the two actions apart. Hold Cmd (Mac) or Ctrl (Windows) and hover an empty cell to reveal a + Add card button, then click it to add a card. The lane header shows the reminder Hold ⌘ CMD to add cards. The connectors step out of the way while you add, so you can drop a card without catching a connector.

Hold Cmd or Ctrl to reveal + Add card in an empty cell

Cards live where a swimlane meets a column, the same as a grid lane, and a cell can hold cards of any type. Adding and editing card content works the same as anywhere else on the map. See How to add and edit cards for the shared card mechanics.

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How to connect cards

Connectors run from card to card within the same flow lane. They cannot connect to cards in another lane, but inside the lane they run from any edge to any edge, in any direction, and can cross swimlanes and span columns.

1

Select the card to connect from

Click a card. It shows a blue selection border and four connector attach points, one at the middle of each edge (top, bottom, left, and right).

Click a card to show its four connector attach points

2

Drag from an attach point to another card

Drag from one of the attach points onto the card you want to connect to, and release. Smaply draws an arrow from the first card to the second, with the arrowhead at the target. Repeat to branch a card to more than one destination.

The new connector, drawn from Manual review to Approved

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How to edit or remove a connector

Click a connector to select it. Its two ends show as small circles, the Retarget source and Retarget target handles. Drag either handle onto a different card or edge to re-route that end. To remove a connector, select it and press Delete or Backspace.

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How to set up swimlanes and lines of interaction

A flow lane's rows are its swimlanes, and you can also add horizontal lines of interaction across the lane, the reference lines a service blueprint uses (a line of visibility, a line of interaction, and so on). Both live in the Edit rows dialog.

1

Open Edit rows

Click Edit rows at the top-left of the flow lane. The dialog lists the lane's current swimlanes.

2

Add swimlanes and lines

Click + Add row to add a swimlane, and type a name in each row's field. Click + Add line to add a line of interaction: it comes named Line of visibility by default, so rename it to whatever the blueprint needs, set its colour with the swatch, and switch between a solid and dashed style with the toggle. Reorder rows and lines with their drag handles, remove any with the trash icon, and click OK to apply.

Edit rows: + Add row for swimlanes, + Add line for a line of interaction

A line of interaction then runs full-width across the lane, labelled with its name down the left. Connectors can cross it, so you can show a step moving from one side of the line to the other.

A Line of visibility rendered across the flow lane

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Related topics

How to use grid lanes

The row-and-column lane a flow lane is built on, without the connectors.

How to add and manage lanes

Add a flow lane, reorder it, recolour it, or delete it, alongside every other lane type.

How to add and edit cards

Add cards to a flow lane's cells and manage their tags, personas, and comments.

How to use divider lanes

Separate whole sections of a map with a labelled horizontal divider.