Software Development/Programming


System development involves many different processes, as the system goes large it becomes too complicated to edit or upgrade the system. it's where flowcharting comes in, a flowchart shows you the logical flow of the processes which makes it makes easy to debugg and or upgrade a system.

Flowcharting is not only used in software development, this is very usefull in all types of system. You need to see the flow of system to depict some areas of improvement.

In software development, it is a must that the developer create a flowchart prior to the coding to a programming language where he wants developed.

This is why the Garborne Tutorials is being developed to help you gain the basic/essentials knowledge and or skill in creating a flowchart.



WHAT is a Flowchart? :


- Is a representation, primarily through the use of symbols, of the sequence of activities in a system.

- A diagram consisting of a set of symbols (such as rectangles or diamonds) and connecting lines that shows step-by-step progression through a procedure, process or system.

- A graphic representation of the logic or steps in a program or system. A flowchart represents how a program or activity moves through various processes or program routines. It uses symbols to represent the activities, and it uses arrows to represent the direction of activity through the processes. Flowcharts can be used to define the behavior of a single program or a system (a combination of programs).


OBJECTIVES in flowcharting:

1. To provides a quick and uncomplicated view of a process.
2. To ensure a systematic flow of the processes in a system.
3. To ease the debugging and development work of the system.
4. To trace the algorithm of the system.


Flowcharting SYMBOLS: Click Here



Start/End

The terminator symbol marks the starting or ending point of the system. It usually contains the word "Start" or "End."
It is a must that this symbol be placed when ever starting/ending a flowchart



Action or Process

This is the symbol used to show that a process is to take place.
A box can represent a single step or and entire sub-process within a larger process.


Document

A printed document or report. This is the symbol for the printed output, output can be printed or just shown in the monitor screen.



Decision

A decision or branching point. Lines representing different decisions emerge from different points of the diamond. This a very important part of the flowchart since a program has to choose many different possibilities and each possibility has its own set of processes.


Input/Output

Represents material or information entering or leaving the system, such as customer order (input) or a product (output). This is the symbol used to depict the raw materials (inputs) to be processed in order to obtain the desired result (output).



Connector


Indicates that the flow continues where a matching symbol (containing the same letter) has been placed. This symbolizes the continuity of the flow of the system under a different page or the same page.



Flow Line

Lines indicate the sequence of steps and the direction of flow. This indicates the order of steps/processes taken by the system.


Delay

Indicates a delay in the process. This shows that a delay is applied in the program, the length (in seconds) may be indicated.


Merge

Indicates a step where two or more sub-lists or sub-processes become one. This is also used in showing that a certain process is being invoked by different processes.


Collate

Indicates a step that orders information into a standard format.


Sort

Indicates a step that organizes a list of items into a sequence or sets based on some pre-determined criteria. A process symbol can also be used depicting the type of sorting used instead of the sort symbol.


Subroutine

Indicates a sequence of actions that perform a specific task embedded within a larger process. This sequence of actions could be described in more detail on a separate flowchart.


Manual Loop

Indicates a sequence of commands that will continue to repeat until stopped manually. This type of loop is dependent to the user of the system, the system will only continue upon the intervention of the user.


Loop Limit

Indicates the point at which a loop should stop. This is a predetermined point by which the loop will end, this can be a declared statement or a point which is a result of a certain process meaning that a process is needed prior to the determination of the limit.



Data storage

Indicates a step where data gets stored for the future use, a data can be edited/updated, removed or added to a storage medium.



Database

Indicates a list of information with a standard structure that allows for searching and sorting removing editing/updating and adding of new set of data.



Display

Indicates a step that displays information, this is another type of an output. The other one being printed. This kind of output only displays the result in the monitor.



Off Page

Indicates that the process continues off page, as larger programs denotes large/lengthy flow which could span to many pages hence an off page symbol is needed to depict the continuity of the flow on the other page.