Organization Chart Design Element: How to Create an Organizational Chart in SharePoint

Looking to add an organizational chart in SharePoint? This step-by-step guide covers everything you need to know about using the Organization Chart Design Element for professional-looking employee directories. With it, you can effectively visualize your hierarchical structure.


Showcasing an Organization Chart in a SharePoint page


TABLE OF CONTENTS


Prerequisites

  • You must have the ShortPoint SPFx version 9.2.0.0 or later installed in your SharePoint environment.
  • You must be a ShortPoint Designer with an active license.

What Is the Organization Chart Design Element?


The Organization Chart Design Element is available in ShortPoint SPFx version 9.2.0.0 and later.


Selecting the Organization Chart element from the search results in Insert an Element panel


This powerful organization chart lets you create beautiful and engaging employee directories on your SharePoint page.


Showcasing an Organization Chart in a SharePoint page


You'll have complete control over the content, plus the ability to customize every design aspect, from font size and style to colors, helping you achieve the perfect layout for your SharePoint intranet site.


Customizing design options for the Organization Chart Design Element


Interactive Tutorial


Click Get Started to easily add organizational charts to your SharePoint page and visualize your company's hierarchical structure:

NOTETo learn more about the features you can customize for Organization Chart, 
check out Organization Chart Features.

Step-by-step Tutorial


Learn how to create organizational charts in SharePoint using the Organization Chart Design Element to easily visualize your company's reporting relationships.


Step 1: Edit the ShortPoint Web Part

  • Go to the SharePoint page you want to use and click Edit:


Clicking the Edit button on the SharePoint page to start the chart setup

  • Close the Toolbox:


Closing the SharePoint Toolbox panel before accessing the ShortPoint web part properties

  • Click the Edit properties icon:

Clicking the Edit properties icon on the ShortPoint web part action bar


Step 2: Insert the Organization Chart Design Element

  • Choose where you want to add the Organization Chart and click the plus icon:


Clicking the plus icon within a row column to add a Design Element


  • Use the search box to look for Organization Chart and click it:


Clicking the Organization Chart card in the search results panel to insert it


Step 3: Customize the Content

  • Go to the Content tab.
  • Click the cogwheel icon of the first item:


Clicking the cogwheel icon of an item entry to modify individual profile content


  • Edit the content to your liking.
  • Click the back icon:

Clicking the back arrow icon to return to the main item entries list



  • Repeat the steps.


NOTEMake sure to enter the correct email address and manager’s email address. Your organization chart depends on these fields to map the right branches.

Entering the required employee email and manager email address fields to map chart branches


TIPYou can also create dynamic Organization Charts. Check out How to Create a Dynamic Organization Chart in SharePoint to learn more.

Step 4: Customize the Design

  • Go to the Design tab.
  • Customize the look of the Organization Chart according to your preferences.
  • Go to the Advanced tab.
  • Modify the design even further.
  • Once satisfied, click the green check mark.


NOTETo learn more about the features you can customize for Organization Chart, 
check out Organization Chart Features.



Step 5: Save

  • Click the eye icon to see your page in real-time:


Clicking the eye icon to preview the page layout changes in real-time

  • Save your changes:


Saving all the changes made in the ShortPoint Page Builder


Congratulations! You've successfully added organization charts to your SharePoint page. With this handy design element, you can now easily draw attention to key organizational data and keep your visitors engaged.


Organization Chart Features


Looking to customize your organization chart in SharePoint? The Organization Chart Settings window offers a wide range of useful options to help you display your content exactly as you've imagined.


A. Items Tab


The Items tab is where you can edit the content inside the Organizational Chart Design Element. Here are the options you can tweak:


Managing multiple employee profiles under the Items configuration tab interface


alt=""Add Newallows you to add a new item.
alt=""Drag iconwill enable you to rearrange the items.
alt=""Duplicate iconallows you to copy an item.
alt=""Cogwheel iconallows you to edit the content of an item. See the table below to see the options you can find inside.
alt=""Trash iconallows you to remove an item.


COGWHEEL ICON (Content tab)

alt=""Profile Imageallows you to choose the image to use.
alt=""Nameallows you to add the employee’s name.
alt=""Roleallows you to specify the role of the employee.
alt=""Departmentallows you to modify the department of the employee.
alt=""Manager’s Emailallows you to specify the email of the manager. Make sure to enter the correct email address. Your organization chart depends on this field to map the right branches.
alt=""Email Addressallows you to enter an email address. Make sure to enter the correct email address. Your organization chart depends on this field to map the right branches.
alt=""Phone numberallows you to enter the contact details of the employee.
alt=""Profile Linkallows you to add the profile link of the employee.
alt=""Link behaviorallows you to choose how the link will be opened, either in a new window or the existing one.


COGWHEEL ICON (Design tab)

alt=""Color allows you to customize the color of the specified item.

B. Design Tab


The Design tab is where you get to have fun customizing the look and feel of your organizational chart. Here are the options you can modify:


Customizing primary styling selections within the element design tab


alt=""Styleallows you to choose the style you prefer. You can choose from 2 styles. Check out Organization Chart Styles to see how they look.
alt=""Colorallows you to change the primary color of the organizational chart. You can change the color by [1] typing the HEX code, [2] using the drop-down, or [3] using the color picker.
alt=""Color Modeallows you to choose from Light or Dark mode.

C. Connect Tab


The Connect tab allows you to link the Design Element to SharePoint sources (List, Document Library, News, etc.) and other internal sources (Microsoft Graph API, Teams, Outlook, etc.). For more details about ShortPoint Connect, check out Basic Tutorial: How to Establish Seamless SharePoint Connection with ShortPoint Connect.


Connecting the design element to live sources using ShortPoint Connect features


D. Visibility Tab


The Visibility tab allows you to specify who can see the Design Element and what type of devices it can be shown on. For more details, check out How to Use the ShortPoint Visibility Feature for Effective SharePoint Access Management.


Defining visibility restrictions via the Visibility tab


E. Advanced Tab


The Advanced tab allows you to modify even further the look of the Organization Chart. Here are the options you can customize:


Accessing advanced slider handles to refine exact margin spacing values around layout elements


alt=""Margin Topallows you to adjust the top margin value.
alt=""Margin Bottom

allows you to adjust the bottom margin value.


F. Custom CSS Tab


This tab lets you add your own custom touch to the Organizational Chart Design Element using custom CSS, HTML, and JavaScript. This gives site owners and designers greater control over how the design element will look.


Injecting targeted style overrides into custom CSS input panel


NOTECheck out our support article on How to Insert Custom CSS into a Page Builder Element? (Basic Tutorial) to know more about Custom CSS.

Organization Chart Styles


Ready to elevate the design of your Organization Chart? You have two amazing styles to choose from. Let’s take a look at each one:



Style 1 presents a traditional horizontal layout where the leadership card sits at the top center with team member cards arranged side by side below. This style works beautifully when you want a classic, straightforward org chart that's easy to scan from left to right.


Displaying a traditional horizontal employee layout structure


Style 2 takes a more vertical, portrait-oriented approach that creates a striking visual hierarchy. This style is perfect when you want a more formal, executive presentation that emphasizes the leadership position and creates a stronger sense of top-down authority.


Reviewing a vertical portrait-oriented tree visual structure


Practical Use Cases for the Organizational Chart Design Element

The Organizational Chart tool in ShortPoint is incredibly useful for improving how your company communicates and operates internally. Here's how different teams can put it to work:


  • Employee Onboarding


New team members can quickly get their bearings by exploring the interactive org chart. They'll see exactly how the company structure is organized and easily identify their manager, position, teammates, and other key contacts.


  • Team Management


Managers get a clear visual of their teams and reporting lines within the hierarchy, making it much simpler to understand who does what and delegate work accordingly.


  • Departmental Overviews


HR teams and leadership can pull up a comprehensive view of any department, complete with job titles, roles, and contact information.


  • Cross-Department Collaboration


Finding the right person for a project or question becomes straightforward, no matter which department they're in.


  • Keeping Information Current


Because the chart can pull data from live sources, it updates automatically whenever someone joins, gets promoted, or changes roles—no manual editing required.


  • Accessible Anywhere


Employees can view the org chart from their laptop, tablet, or phone, which is perfect for teams that work remotely or on the go. You can also adjust visibility settings to control who sees what.


  • Career Development


For companies that are focused on employee development, employees can easily find mentors in specific areas of the company where they see themselves in the future. It’s especially useful for targeting their career progressions.


Start Designing with the Organization Chart Design Element


The Organization Chart Design Element isn’t just a static diagram. It is a living tool that helps everyone stay connected and informed about your company's organizational structure.


Want to unlock the potential of this design element? If you’re already a ShortPoint Designer, just hop into our interactive tutorial and update your ShortPoint SPFx version to 9.2.0.0 and up.


First time exploring ShortPoint? We've made it easy for you to start with a FREE 15-day trial—full access, no strings attached. Alternatively, book some time with our ShortPoint experts for a one-on-one demo. They'll demonstrate exactly what the Organization Chart can do and introduce you to the rest of our powerful features.


Frequently Asked Questions


How do I create an organization chart in SharePoint?


You can create an organization chart in SharePoint using ShortPoint's Organizational Chart Design Element. Simply enter ShortPoint Page Builder mode on your SharePoint page, add the organizational chart, and customize it to fit your needs.


Can I customize the organizational chart layout and design?


Yes, the organizational chart offers various layout and design customization options, including font styles, colors, and styles, allowing you to tailor the org chart to your business branding and preferences.


What data sources can I use for the organizational chart?


The organizational chart can connect to multiple data sources using ShortPoint Connect. You can connect to SharePoint user profiles and Microsoft Graph API, ensuring your chart stays automatically updated with accurate employee information.


How do I add or edit employee information in the chart?


In edit mode, use the Items tab to add new employees, edit existing entries, or rearrange items. You can fill in fields such as name, job title, department, manager email address, and contact details.


Is the organizational chart mobile-friendly and accessible?


The chart supports visibility settings to control who can see it and on which devices, ensuring accessibility across desktops and mobile devices.


Does the organizational chart integrate with Microsoft Teams?


Yes, through integration with Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Graph API, the organizational chart can be linked with Microsoft Teams and other tools to provide seamless access to employee information.


How do I save and publish changes to the organizational chart?


After customizing your chart in edit mode, simply save your changes and publish the SharePoint page to make the updated organizational structure visible to your users.


Is there a tool to create organizational charts in SharePoint?


ShortPoint offers a powerful Organization Chart Design Element as part of its intranet design tools. While it requires a license, it provides extensive features beyond basic free tools, including customization and integration capabilities.


Related articles:


Did you find it helpful? Yes No

Send feedback
Sorry we couldn't be helpful. Help us improve this article with your feedback.

World's best intranet sites are designed using ShortPoint

Get started today! Learn more
See all 86 topics

Start a trial

Ignite your vision. Install ShortPoint directly on your site, or play in sandbox mode. No credit card required.

Get started today

World’s best intranet sites are designed using ShortPoint

Thousands of companies using ShortPoint everyday to design, brand and build award winning intranet sites.

Get started Learn more