How to Create a Branch Chart
Branch charts, also known as tree structures or tree diagrams, use a combination of objects called "nodes" and connections called "branches" to define relationships. These charts resemble trees in that they start from a single concept or node and split into various directions like the branches of a tree.
Different types of tree diagrams exist for different purposes. For example, family trees show the genealogical origin of family members. Each person in a family tree is a node and the branches are the familial relationship between each. Tree charts can also be used to show decisions and consequences or probabilities of potential events.
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Instructions
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Choose the starting node of your tree. The starting node is the first step in a procedural tree or the most general concept in a descriptive tree.
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Create several "leaves" or "nodes."
In procedural trees, the subsequent nodes are the possible outcomes of the previous node. For example, a starting node of "Eating a sandwich" could result in two leaf nodes: "Full Stomach" and "Upset Stomach."
In descriptive trees, the leaf nodes are more specific versions of the original node. For example, a root node of "Fruit" could have leaves like "Apple," "Orange" and "Lemon."
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Draw lines between the starting node and the leaf nodes. These connections are called "branches" and can include symbols or words to define the relationship between the nodes.
In application hierarchies branches can be used to define how objects relate to one another. A branch with the word "contains" shows that the starting node owns a copy of the leaf node.
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Add additional nodes and branches as necessary. Trees can be as descriptive or limited as the user desires.
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Tips & Warnings
Tree diagrams can become too large if the scope is not limited. When creating new nodes, make sure that each concept is important and unique to the tree.
References
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