How to Do a Tree Diagram in Open Office

Create tree diagrams in OpenOffice Draw using your mouse.

OpenOffice Draw is the open source drawing program offered by OpenOffice. It features a "Drawing" toolbar with various tools to draw shapes and lines onto a blank sheet. A tree diagram consists of one central idea or starting point connected to additional points. Since a tree diagram spreads horizontally, you need to change the page orientation to "Landscape," then select tools from the "Drawing" toolbar to create the tree diagram. This example uses the "Circle" shape, but you can use any shape you like.

Instructions

1. Click "Start" and select "All Programs." Double click the "OpenOffice" folder and click "OpenOffice Draw" to open the program.

2. Click "Format" on the "File" menu and select "Page." Click the "Page" tab in the "Page Setup" dialog box and click the radio button next to "Landscape." Click "OK."

3. Click "View" and select "Toolbars." Click "Drawing" to display the "Drawing" toolbar at the bottom of the window.

4. Click the "Basic Shapes" icon tool on the "Drawing" toolbar. Click the "Circle" icon. Position the cursor in the top center of the blank sheet. Click and drag to create a circle.

5. Click the "Line" icon tool on the "Drawing" toolbar. Position the cursor next to the circle and drag diagonally to create a slanted line. Draw additional lines from the center of the circle.

6. Click the "Basic Shapes" icon tool, then click the "Circle" icon again. Click and drag to create circles at the end of each of the lines radiating from the central circle.

7. Repeat Steps 5 and 6 to create more slanted lines and circles. Click "File" and "Save" to save your tree diagram.

Tips & Warnings

• Label the circles of your tree diagram by clicking the "Text" icon tool on the "Drawing" toolbar, creating a text box and typing the label.

References

• OpenOffice.org: Drawing Basic Shapes PDF

Resources

• Gallaudet University: Sample of a Tree Diagram