Real Organizations Aren't Simple Trees
Most org chart tools only show one thing: who reports to whom. But real organizations are more complex. People have secondary managers. Teams work cross-functionally. Project leads guide people who formally report elsewhere.
OrgCanvas supports dotted-line relationships alongside solid reporting lines. This lets you represent your organization the way it actually works — not just the simplified version.
When to Use Dotted Lines
- Matrix organizations: A designer formally reports to the Head of Design (solid line) but works day-to-day with the Mobile Product Manager (dotted line).
- Cross-functional projects: Engineers assigned to a special project have a dotted line to the project lead while keeping their solid line to their engineering manager.
- Secondary oversight: Regional offices have a local manager (solid line) and a functional lead at HQ (dotted line).
- Mentorship: A senior leader mentors a junior employee in another department. A dotted line shows the relationship without implying a reporting change.
How It Works in OrgCanvas
Adding a dotted line is simple:
- Click on a person's card
- Select "Add dotted-line connection"
- Click the person they have a secondary relationship with
- Done — a dashed line appears connecting them
The auto-layout engine accounts for dotted lines, routing them cleanly without crossing solid reporting lines where possible. Dotted lines are visually distinct (dashed, lighter color) so they're immediately recognizable as secondary relationships.
Dotted Lines in Exports
Dotted-line relationships are preserved in all export formats — PNG, PDF, and PowerPoint. They render as dashed lines in the same style as the on-screen version, so your printed or presented org charts show the full picture.
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