A flowchart is simply a graphical representation of steps. It shows steps in sequential society and is widely used in presenting the period of algorithms, workflow or processes. Typically, a flowchart shows the steps as boxes of various kinds, and their order by connecting them with arrows.

Flowchart example

What is a Flowchart?

A flowchart is a graphical representations of steps. It was originated from computer science as a tool for representing algorithms and programming logic merely had extended to use in all other kinds of processes. Nowadays, flowcharts play an extremely important role in displaying data and assisting reasoning. They help the states visualize circuitous processes, or make explicit the structure of problems and tasks. A flowchart can too exist used to define a process or project to exist implemented.

Flowchart Symbols

Different flowchart shapes take different conventional meanings. The meanings of some of the more common shapes are as follows:

Terminator

The terminator symbol represents the starting or ending point of the system.

Flowchart symbol: Terminator

Process

A box indicates some detail operation.

Flowchart symbol: Process

Document

This represents a printout, such every bit a document or a report.

Flowchart symbol: Document

Determination

A diamond represents a decision or branching bespeak. Lines coming out from the diamond indicates different possible situations, leading to dissimilar sub-processes.

Flowchart symbol: Decision

Data

It represents data inbound or leaving the system. An input might be an order from a customer. Output can be a product to exist delivered.

Flowchart symbol: Data

On-Page Reference

This symbol would contain a letter of the alphabet inside. It indicates that the flow continues on a matching symbol containing the aforementioned letter somewhere else on the same folio.

Flowchart symbol: On page reference

Off-Folio Reference

This symbol would contain a letter within. It indicates that the menstruation continues on a matching symbol containing the same alphabetic character somewhere else on a different folio.

Flowchart symbol: Off page reference

Delay or Clogging

Identifies a delay or a bottleneck.

Flowchart symbol: Delay

Flow

Lines stand for the menstruation of the sequence and direction of a process.

When to Draw Flowchart?

Using a flowchart has a multifariousness of benefits:

It helps to clarify complex processes.
Information technology identifies steps that exercise not add value to the internal or external customer, including delays; needless storage and transportation; unnecessary work, duplication, and added expense; breakdowns in communication.
It helps team members gain a shared agreement of the process and use this knowledge to collect data, place problems, focus discussions, and identify resources.
Information technology serves every bit a ground for designing new processes.

Flowchart examples

Here are several flowchart examples. Run across how yous tin utilize a flowchart practically.

Flowchart Example – Medical Service

This is a hospital flowchart example that shows how clinical cases shall be processed. This flowchart uses decision shapes intensively in representing alternative flows.

Flowchart example: Medical services

Flowchart Example – Simple Algorithms

A flowchart tin also be used in visualizing algorithms, regardless of its complexity. Hither is an example that shows how flowchart tin be used in showing a simple summation process.

Flowchart example: Simple algorithms

Flowchart Example – Calculate Turn a profit and Loss

The flowchart example below shows how turn a profit and loss can be calculated.

Flowchart example: Calculate profit and loss

Creating a Flowchart in Visual Paradigm

Allow's see how to depict a flowchart in Visual Prototype. We volition employ a very elementary flowchart instance here. You may expand the example when finished this tutorial.

Select Diagram > New from the principal menu.
In the New Diagram window, select Flowchart and click Next.
You tin start from an empty diagram or get-go from a flowchart template or flowchart example provided. Let'south showtime from a blank diagram. Select Blank and click Adjacent.
Enter the proper noun of the flowchart and click OK.
Let's first by creating a Start symbol. Drag the Start shape from the diagram toolbar and drop information technology onto the diagram. Name information technology Start.
Create the adjacent shape. Movement your mouse pointer over the first shape. Press on the triangular handler on the right and drag it out.
Release the mouse button. Select Menstruation Line > Process from the Resource Catalog.
Enter Add together items to Cart as the proper name of the process.
Follow the same steps to create two more processes Checkout Shopping Cart and Settle Payment.
End the flow past creating a terminator.

Your diagram should look like this:
Color the shapes. Select Diagram > Format Panel from the main menu. Select a shape on the diagram and click update its colour through the Style setting in the Format Panel.

This is the final flowchart: