Chapter 2

FLOWCHARTING

A flowchart is an organized combination of shapes, lines, and text that graphically

illustrates a process or structure.

A flow chart is a graphical or symbolic representation of a process. Each step in the

process is represented by a different symbol and contains a short description of the process step.
The flow chart symbols are linked together with arrows showing the process flow direction.

A flowchart is a diagrammatic representation that illustrates the sequence of operations

to be performed in order to get the solution of a problem. Flowcharts are generally drawn in the
early stages of formulating computer solutions. Flowcharts facilitate communication between
programmers and business people. These flowcharts play a vital role in the programming of a
problem and are quite helpful in understanding the logic of complicated and lengthy problems.
Once the flowchart is drawn, it becomes easy to write the program in any high level language.

COMMON FLOWCHARTING SYMBOLS

Symbol Symbol Name Symbol Description

(Alternate Shape Name)

Process Show a Process or action step. This is the

most common symbol in both process
flowcharts and business process maps.

Predefined Process A Predefined Process symbol is a marker

(Subroutine) for another process step or series of process
flow steps that are formally defined
elsewhere. This shape commonly depicts
sub-processes (or subroutines in
programming flowcharts). If the sub-
process is considered “known” but not
actually defined in a process procedure,
work instruction, or some other process
flowchart or documentation, then it is best
not to use this symbol since it implies a
formally defined process.

Preparation As the names states, any process step that is

a Preparation process flow step, such as a
set-up operation.
 Flow Line Flow line connectors show the direction
(Arrow, Connector) that the process flows.

Terminator Terminators show the start and stop

(Terminal Point, Oval) points in a process. When used as a Start
symbol, terminators depict a trigger action
that sets the process flow into motion.

Decision Indicates a question or branch in the process

flow. Typically, a Decision flowchart shape
is used when there are 2 options (Yes/No,
No/No-Go, etc.)

Connector In flowcharts, this symbol is typically small

(Inspection) and is used as a Connector to show a jump
from one point in the process flow to
another. Connectors are usually labeled
with capital letters (A, B, AA) to show
matching jump points. They are handy for
avoiding flow lines that cross other shapes
and flow lines. They are also handy for
jumping to and from a sub-processes
defined in a separate area than the main
flowchart.

Off-Page Off-Page Connector shows continuation of

Connector a process flowchart to another page. When
using them in conjunction with Connectors,
it’s best to differentiate the labels, e.g. use
numbers for Off-Page Connectors and
capital letters for Connectors. In actual
practice, most flowcharts just use the
Connect shape for both on-page and off-
page references.

Data (I/O) The Data flowchart shape indicates

inputs to and outputs from a process. As
such, the shape is more often referred to as
an I/O shape than a Data shape.

The following are some guidelines in flowcharting:

a. In drawing a proper flowchart, all necessary requirements should be listed out in logical
order.
b. The flowchart should be clear, neat and easy to follow. There should not be any room for
ambiguity in understanding the flowchart.
c. The usual direction of the flow of a procedure or system is from left to right or top to
bottom.
d. Only one flow line should come out from a process symbol.

or

e. Only one flow line should enter a decision symbol, but two or three flow lines, one for
each possible answer, should leave the decision symbol.

<0 >0

=0

f. Only one flow line is used in conjunction with terminal symbol.

g. Write within standard symbols briefly. As necessary, you can use the annotation symbol
to describe data or computational steps more clearly.

-------- This is top secret data

h. If the flowchart becomes complex, it is better to use connector symbols to reduce the
number of flow lines. Avoid the intersection of flow lines if you want to make it more
effective and better way of communication.
i. Ensure that the flowchart has a logical start and finish.
j. It is useful to test the validity of the flowchart by passing through it with a simple test
data.

FLOWCHARTING EXAMPLES
 start

1. Input two numbers

num1=0 and display the sum
num2=0

input num1

sum = num1 + num2

print sum

end

start

2. Create a flowchart that will

area = 0 compute and display the area and
perimeter = 0 perimeter of a square

Area = side2
input side Perimeter = 4 * side

area = side * side

perimeter = 4 * side

print area

end

SAMPLE FLOWCHARTING WITH DECISION

 start Create a flowchart that will
input age and print the string
can vote if the age is >= (greater
age = 0 than or equal to) 18 otherwise
print the string cannot vote

input age

T
age >= 18 print “can vote”

print “cannot vote”

end

start
Create a flowchart that will
input two integer values and
num1 = 0
will print the higher
num2 = 0
number/value.

input num1

T
num1 > num2 print num1

print num2 end

SAMPLE FLOWCHARTING WITH LOOP

 start
Create a flowchart that will
print the numbers from 1 to
10.
ctr = 1

F
ctr < = 10 end

T T

print ctr

ctr = ctr + 1

start
Create a flowchart that will
print even numbers from 1 to
x=2 10.

x < = 10 end

T
print x

x=x+2