Turn Excel step lists into BPMN diagrams
That spreadsheet of numbered steps, owners, and 'if X go to step 6' notes is already a process model. Swimdraft reads .xlsx and .xls files and turns them into editable, spec-validated BPMN 2.0 diagrams.
No credit card required · Export SVG, PNG, and .bpmn
Operations teams keep processes in spreadsheets because they are easy to edit: one row per step, a column for the owner, a notes column carrying the branching logic. The trouble starts when someone needs the diagram version: RPA discovery, an audit, a systems implementation. Redrawing a fifty-row workbook in a diagramming tool is an afternoon gone.
Swimdraft parses the workbook in your browser, reads the step sequence, owners, and branch notes, and generates BPMN 2.0 with the structure made explicit: decision rows become exclusive gateways with labelled branches, “back to step 2” notes become loops, and owner columns become lanes. The result is validated against the OMG 2.0.2 spec before you see it.
A real example
| # | Step | Type/Owner | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Order placed | Trigger | |
| 2 | Check stock level | System | |
| 3 | In stock? | Decision | No → step 6 |
| 4 | Pick and pack order | Warehouse | |
| 5 | Book courier | System | Then done |
| 6 | Order stock from supplier | Purchasing | Back to step 2 |
Generated from the sheet above: row 3's condition became a gateway, row 6's note became the loop.
How it works
- 1
Upload the workbook
Drop the .xlsx or .xls file in as-is. It is parsed in your browser. Only the extracted text is sent for generation.
- 2
Structure is inferred
Step order, owner columns, and condition notes are mapped to activities, lanes, gateways, and loops, then validated against 19 BPMN 2.0.2 rules.
- 3
Refine and export
Adjust anything in the built-in editor with live re-validation, then export SVG or PNG for slides or .bpmn for Camunda, Signavio, and friends.
Frequently asked questions
What should my spreadsheet look like?
Any recognisable step list works: one row per step, ideally with columns for the step name and who does it. Branching can live in a notes column ("if rejected, go to step 9") or in the step text itself. You do not need to reformat before uploading.
Does it handle multiple sheets?
Yes. All sheets in the workbook are read. If different sheets describe different processes, generate them one at a time for cleaner results.
How are decisions in my sheet turned into gateways?
Rows phrased as questions or carrying conditional notes become exclusive gateways with labelled outgoing branches and a default flow, one of the BPMN 2.0.2 rules (§10.6.2) the validator enforces, so no decision is left with ambiguous branches.
Is my spreadsheet uploaded to a server?
The file itself never leaves your browser. Parsing happens on your device using the same technique as the studio, and only the extracted text content is sent to generate the diagram.
Can I go back from BPMN to a step list?
The XML export preserves all names and structure, so downstream tools can consume it. Within Swimdraft, the diagram itself stays editable. Most teams stop maintaining the spreadsheet once the diagram becomes the source of truth.
Upload your process spreadsheet
Paste your notes, transcript, or spreadsheet and get a spec-validated BPMN 2.0 diagram in seconds. Your first 5 diagrams are free.
Start freeNo credit card required