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Flow Chart

A flowchart is a graphical representation of an algorithm or process. It uses standard symbols to represent actions, decisions, and flow. Flowcharts can be used to describe manufacturing, administrative, or project processes. They are commonly used by programmers to plan algorithms and represent computer program logic. Basic flowchart symbols include terminals, input/output, processing, decision diamonds, connectors, and flow lines. Flowcharts must follow rules like starting with "start" and ending with "end", connecting all symbols with arrows, and associating decision symbols with arrows. Flowcharts are useful for communicating logic, assisting in program design, debugging, and providing documentation. However, they can be difficult to create for large programs and modify.

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Muhammad Atif Qaim Khani
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150 views

Flow Chart

A flowchart is a graphical representation of an algorithm or process. It uses standard symbols to represent actions, decisions, and flow. Flowcharts can be used to describe manufacturing, administrative, or project processes. They are commonly used by programmers to plan algorithms and represent computer program logic. Basic flowchart symbols include terminals, input/output, processing, decision diamonds, connectors, and flow lines. Flowcharts must follow rules like starting with "start" and ending with "end", connecting all symbols with arrows, and associating decision symbols with arrows. Flowcharts are useful for communicating logic, assisting in program design, debugging, and providing documentation. However, they can be difficult to create for large programs and modify.

Uploaded by

Muhammad Atif Qaim Khani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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WHAT IS A FLOWCHART?

Also called, process flowchart, process flow diagram

It is a generic process analysis tool that can be adapted for a wide variety of purposes, and can be used
to describe various processes, such as a manufacturing process, an administrative or service process,
or a project plan.

Flowchart is a graphical representation of an algorithm. It makes use of symbols which are connected
among them to indicate the flow of information and processing. The process of drawing a flowchart for
an algorithm is known as “flowcharting”.

Flowchart is a technique that allows you to represent computer program graphically.


Programmers often use it as a program-planning tool to solve a problem.

FLOWCHART BASIC PROCEDURE


1. Define the process to be diagrammed. Write its title at the top of the work surface.
2. Brainstorm the activities that take place.
3. Arrange the activities in proper sequence.
4. Draw arrows to show the flow of the process.
BASIC SYMBOLS USED IN FLOWCHART DESIGNS
 Terminal: The oval symbol indicates Start, Stop and Halt in a program’s logic flow. A pause/halt is
generally used in a program logic under some error conditions. Terminal is the first and last
symbols in the flowchart.

 Input/Output: A parallelogram denotes any function of input/output type. Program instructions


that take input from input devices and display output on output devices are indicated with
parallelogram in a flowchart.

 Processing: A box represents arithmetic instructions. All arithmetic processes such as adding,
subtracting, multiplication and division are indicated by action or process symbol.

 Decision Diamond symbol represents a decision point. Decision based operations such as yes/no
question or true/false are indicated by diamond in flowchart.
 Connectors: Whenever flowchart becomes complex or it spreads over more than one page, it is
useful to use connectors to avoid any confusions. It is represented by a circle.

 Flow lines: Flow lines indicate the exact sequence in which instructions are executed. Arrows
represent the direction of flow of control and relationship among different symbols of flowchart.

RULES FOR CREATING FLOWCHART:


A flowchart is a graphical representation of an algorithm.it should follow some rules while creating a
flowchart
Rule 1: Flowchart opening statement must be ‘start’ keyword.
Rule 2: Flowchart ending statement must be ‘end’ keyword.
Rule 3: All symbols in the flowchart must be connected with an arrow line.
Rule 4: The decision symbol in the flowchart is associated with the arrow line.
ADVANTAGES OF FLOWCHART:
 Flowcharts are a better way of communicating the logic of the system.
 Easy to understand.
 Flowcharts act as a guide during program designed.
 Assists in program writing.
 Flowcharts help in debugging process/ Helps diagnose program errors/ Easy to trace errors in the
software.
 With the help of flowcharts programs can be easily analyzed.
 It provides better documentation.
 Flowcharts serve as a good proper documentation.
 The flowchart can be reused for inconvenience in the future.
 It helps to provide correct logic.
 It helps in writing complex programs easily and concisely.

Disadvantages of Flowchart:
 It is difficult to draw flowcharts for large and complex programs.
 There is no standard to determine the amount of detail.
 Difficult to reproduce the flowcharts.
 It is very difficult to modify the Flowchart.
 Making a flowchart is costly.
 Some developer thinks that it is waste of time.
 It makes software processes low.
 If changes are done in software, then the flowchart must be redrawn
Example: Draw a flowchart to input two numbers from the user and display the largest of two
numbers
Alternate symbols for start and end points

Use the flowchart template (Excel) to create a graphical representation of the steps in a process to better understand it and reveal opportunities
for improvement.

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