Graphic tools – swim lanes and markings for clear processes
Anyone who has ever presented a longer-running process as a diagram knows the problem: at thirty, forty or fifty steps the process turns into a wall of boxes and lines – and nobody can find their way through it anymore. linqi therefore offers graphic tools in the process designer that structure your diagram without changing the process itself: swim lanes divide the process into areas by responsibility, colors highlight key sections, and markings such as text fields and shapes add explanations that remain understandable for everyone involved.
Swim lanes can be arranged horizontally or vertically and split into several lanes – for example by department, role or system. Each swim lane gets its own name and a color from a clear palette: red, orange, green, blue, purple or the default color. In addition, you can place named milestones as reference points inside the lanes and add annotations – freely positioned text fields – directly into the diagram. The result is a process graphic that even managers and external auditors can read without knowing your process in detail.
From process diagram to a shared language
The graphic tools do not change a single process step or any logic – they make the flow readable. Swim lanes show at a glance which organization or system is responsible for which section, and the milestones mark the most important points along the way. Free markings such as text fields and shapes serve as notes right next to the diagram: for handovers, deadlines, responsibilities or special cases. The result is a process you can explain in workshops, audits and handovers to new colleagues without walking through every single box – the graphic itself tells the most important relationships.
Frequently asked questions about the graphic tools
What are swim lanes in the process designer?
Swim lanes – pools with lanes – divide the diagram into areas, for example by department, role or system. They run horizontally or vertically and can be named, colored and marked with milestones.
Which colors can I use?
Each swim lane offers a selection: the default color plus red, orange, green, blue and purple – so the sections stay distinguishable at a glance.
Do the markings affect the process flow?
No. Swim lanes, colors and markings are pure presentation elements: the flow, the steps and the logic of the process remain unchanged.
What are milestones for?
Milestones place named reference points in the diagram – for example handovers, approvals or deadlines – making key time points visible without reading the details.