Processing Steps
Build your production flow diagram with a visual drag-and-drop editor, then attach hazards to each step.
What this is for
The Processing Steps section is the visual flow diagram of your production process. Each box on the canvas is a step (Receiving, Storage, Mixing, Cooking, Packaging, Shipping, etc.), and arrows between boxes show the order. You can also add decision nodes (diamonds) for yes/no branches, start/end markers, and label nodes for free-floating text annotations.
For each step, you can attach hazards — the same way you do on incoming products — and evaluate them with the decision tree wizard. The result feeds the Hazard Analysis (Processing Steps) table.
The editor supports a deep set of conveniences: rich edge styling, orthogonal waypoint routing, edge crossings with bump arcs, helper-line snapping, copy/paste, undo/redo, auto-layout, page-view mode, and a minimap.
Common tasks
How to add a step
- Right-click on empty canvas → Add step.
- A new step is created at the cursor position.
- Double-click the step name to rename it.
How to connect two steps
- Hover a step — handles appear on all four sides (top, bottom, left, right).
- Click and drag from a handle to another step’s handle.
- An arrow is created.
You can have multiple connections between the same two nodes, and connections from any side to any side.
How to delete a connection
- Click the connection line to select it.
- Press Delete or Backspace.
Or right-click → Delete.
How to add a label to a connection
- Double-click the connection line.
- Type the label.
- Click outside to save.
Labels show as small text on the line. Drag the label to reposition it.
How to bend a connection (waypoints)
- Click the midpoint of an edge and drag.
- The edge bends at that point with a 90° (orthogonal) corner.
- Add more waypoints by dragging additional midpoints.
Waypoints follow strictly Manhattan routing — no diagonals — and corners are rounded for clarity.
How to style a connection
Right-click the connection → Edit style. The Edge Style modal lets you pick stroke colour, width, dash pattern, marker (arrowhead) start/end, and label position/orientation.
How to add a label node (free text)
- Right-click on canvas → Add label.
- Type the text.
Label nodes have no handles and don’t connect to other nodes — they’re for annotations only (e.g., ”← Sanitation zone”, “GMP zone start”).
How to attach a hazard to a step
- Click a step to select it.
- The Node detail panel opens on the right.
- Scroll to Hazards and click + Add hazard.
- Fill in type, hazard description, and risk (severity × probability).
- Click Evaluate to run the Decision tree wizard.
- Choose control type, standard items, justification, and any linked steps.
- Save.
The step’s colour automatically updates based on the highest-priority control type (CCP > PCP > PC > PRP), unless you’ve manually set a colour.
How to use page view
Toggle Page view in the toolbar to constrain the canvas to printable pages. Page guides show the page boundaries as a grid overlay so you can lay out the diagram across multiple pages.
How to auto-layout the diagram
Click Auto layout in the toolbar. The system rearranges all nodes and edges using a graph layout algorithm. Use it to recover from a tangled diagram, then nudge nodes manually if needed.
How to copy/paste nodes
- Select one or more nodes (click + Shift-click, or drag a marquee).
- Ctrl/Cmd + C to copy.
- Ctrl/Cmd + V to paste.
The pasted copy is offset slightly from the original. Hazards attached to the original are not copied (to avoid duplication in the analysis).
How to undo / redo
Ctrl/Cmd + Z undoes the last action; Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + Z redoes it. Most actions (add, delete, move, resize, edge changes, waypoint drags) are undoable.
Screen reference
Toolbar
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Auto layout | Re-arranges the diagram. |
| Page view | Toggles canvas mode (infinite ↔ paged). |
| Page guides | Shows printable page boundaries. |
| Minimap | Toggles the minimap panel. |
| Zoom indicator | Shows current zoom %. Click to fit. |
| Background | Selects grid style (none / dots / lines). |
| Layout | Switches the auto-layout algorithm. |
Context menus
| Right-click on… | Options |
|---|---|
| Empty canvas | Add step, Add decision, Add label, Paste. |
| A node | Edit, Color, Delete, Duplicate. |
| An edge | Edit label, Edit style, Toggle animation, Delete. |
Node detail panel
Opens on the right when a node is selected.
| Section | What it has |
|---|---|
| Name | The step name (also editable inline). |
| Color | Manual colour override. |
| Notes | Free-form text. |
| Hazards | Add / edit / evaluate hazards on this step. |
Keyboard shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Delete / Backspace | Delete selected node/edge. |
| Ctrl/Cmd + Z / Shift + Z | Undo / redo. |
| Ctrl/Cmd + C / V | Copy / paste nodes. |
| Mouse wheel | Zoom in/out. |
| Space + drag | Pan the canvas. |
FAQs
Why does my step automatically change colour after adding a hazard? The Flow Editor auto-colours nodes by their highest-priority control type — CCP (red), PCP (orange), PC (yellow), PRP (green). To override, click the step → Color in the detail panel and pick manually. To reset, choose Auto.
Can I make a step appear on multiple plans? No — each plan has its own flow diagram. To reuse, copy nodes from one plan, paste into another, or duplicate the plan in the cloud browser.
My waypoints look weird — straight lines instead of right angles? Waypoints route orthogonally. If two points are nearly aligned, the system snaps to a single straight segment to avoid micro-bends. Drag a midpoint to introduce a corner.
How do I print the diagram? Use File → Print preview. Page view + page guides help you lay out the diagram across pages first. See Print preview.
The toolbar is cluttered — can I hide it? Some options can be hidden via the layout submenu, but the main toolbar is always visible. On small screens it scrolls horizontally.
Can I have decision nodes with more than two outputs? Yes — a decision node can have any number of outgoing edges. Label each with the decision answer (e.g., “Yes”, “No”, “Maybe”).
Why does Verify Plan flag my flow as incomplete? Verify Plan checks that every step has at least one in/out connection (start/end excepted). Floating disconnected nodes trigger a warning.