FOR SYBCA SEM 4 - DIV A - SE-II 2016

Introduction to flowcharting
The computer has no imagination or thinking of its own, every logic or task
that has to be performed to the computer is detailed. For this purpose, we
have to give some instructions to the computer that is called programming.

Programming process:-
The set of detailed instructions which group the data processing activities
together that are to be performed by a computer is called programs. The
computer programming process is the collection of these six phases.

1. Program Analysis: Before making programs, the analysis of the system is

done. This includes the inputs that are to be taken, the processing and
the outputs that are to be generated. In this phase, it is also checked
that if the program worth making.

2. Program Design: In this phase; the program layout is prepared by the

system analyst and provided to the programmer. This is done using
flowcharts that shows the flow of data, documents etc. very clearly.

3. Program Coding: In this phase, the implementation of flowchart is done

using any programming language. For each language, there are separate
set of instructions with their respective syntax. Program coding is done
in a way that these three objectives are achieved:- simplicity, efficient
utilization of storage and least processing time.

4. Program debugging: After completion of program coding, it is compiled

and run. During this process, only few errors can be traced. After
elimination of these errors, the program is put to use in real necessity.
The logical errors (bugs) that arise now are to be removed and this
process is known as debugging.

HETA J DESAI-BCA-SDJIC
 FOR SYBCA SEM 4 - DIV A - SE-II 2016

5. Program documentation: Program documentation is done to provide

explanation to the end user. This includes:-
 Program specification
 Program description
 The test data that is employed in debugging the program.
 The operation manual that lists operating instructions for the
operator.
 The maintenance documentation that is required to the person
who has to make the necessary changes to the program.

6. Program Maintenance: the changes are constantly required in a

business system and hence the program is also required to be changed.
For this, separate programmers are required that are known as
maintenance programmers. Because of this purpose the programs that
ire written should be simple and self explanatory.

Types of Flow charts:-

1. System outline chart: These charts mainly list the broad aspects of an
application like structure, inputs, types of files to processed without
regard to any sequence of flow. In these charts we mainly outline the
work to be done in an application.

2. System flow chart: These charts represent the logical flow of all aspects
of the data processing system in graphical manner. Like in complete
application of sales department, to display the logical flow of sales order
processing systems and its interlinking with other application, a systems
flow chart is prepared.

3. Run flow chart: Since the system flowchart is a collection of several

processes, the run flow chart in fact represents the future detailing of
any particular process of system flow chart.

HETA J DESAI-BCA-SDJIC
 FOR SYBCA SEM 4 - DIV A - SE-II 2016

4. Program flow chart: These flow charts are the most detailed flow charts
and are concerned with actual logical/arithmetic operations on data
within CPU & for flow of data to various devices within application.
These flow charts are normally directly converted into programs with
the help of statements. These flow charts are normally prepared by
programmer for graphical solution of any arithmetic and logical
problems.
Here, mainly we have concern with program flowchart for solving the
problem. As we saw that flowcharting is the part of program design and
programs design phase comes after program analysis, hence to dray any
flowchart we should first of all do the analysis of the problem for which we
want to draw the flowchart. i.e. the input required and the processing that has
to be applied to get the desired output.

System flowcharts : showing controls at a physical or resource level

Program flowchart : showing the controls in a program within a system

Flowchart

Definition: Flow charts can be defined as pictorial representations of an

algorithm by system analysts for planning the procedure to solve a program.
The diagram includes the flow of process, relevant operations and
computations, point of decision and other information which is a part of
solution.
Symbols used in a flow charts:-

Start/End Symbol

HETA J DESAI-BCA-SDJIC
 FOR SYBCA SEM 4 - DIV A - SE-II 2016

Action or Process Symbol

Document Symbol

A printed document or report.

Multiple Documents Symbol

Represents multiple documents in the process.

Decision Symbol

A decision or branching point. Lines representing different decisions emerge

from different points of the diamond.

HETA J DESAI-BCA-SDJIC
 FOR SYBCA SEM 4 - DIV A - SE-II 2016

Input/Output Symbol

Represents material or information entering or leaving the system, such as

customer order (input) or a product (output).

Manual Input Symbol

Represents a step where a user is prompted to enter information manually.

Preparation Symbol

Represents a set-up to another step in the process.

Or Symbol

Indicates that the process flow continues in more than two branches.

HETA J DESAI-BCA-SDJIC
 FOR SYBCA SEM 4 - DIV A - SE-II 2016

Sort Symbol

Indicates a step that organizes a list of items into a sequence or sets based on
some pre-determined criteria.

Subroutine Symbol

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 Symbol

Indicates a sequence of commands that will continue to repeat until stopped

manually.

Loop Limit Symbol

Indicates the point at which a loop should stop.

HETA J DESAI-BCA-SDJIC
 FOR SYBCA SEM 4 - DIV A - SE-II 2016

Delay Symbol

Indicates a delay in the process.

Data Storage or Stored Data Symbol

Indicates a step where data gets stored.

Database Symbol

Indicates a list of information with a standard structure that allows for

searching and sorting.

Internal Storage Symbol

Indicates that information was stored in memory during a program, used in

software design flowcharts.

HETA J DESAI-BCA-SDJIC
 FOR SYBCA SEM 4 - DIV A - SE-II 2016

Display Symbol

Indicates a step that displays information.

General guidelines to prepare Flowcharts:-

1. Listing all requirements in proper logical order and in detail.

2. Must be maid clear, neat and easy to fallow in order to have a good
visual impact.
3. Use appropriate standard flowcharting symbols.
4. Make comparison instructions simple. Yes/No type.
5. Avoid intersections of lines, used to depict the flow of logic.
6. Use connectors to reduce the number of flow lines. Connector’s are
useful where the flow charts are several pages long.
7. Check that the flowchart is logically correct and complete. This process is
technically known as debugging and is done by using suitable test data.

Advantages of using flowcharts:-

1. Communication: flowcharts are a good visual aid for communicating

the logic of a system, to all concerned.
2. Quicker group of relationship: with the help of flowcharts, the
relationship between the procedures can be identified and understood
easily.
3. Effective analysis and synthesis: before programming a new system, the
analysis is done effectively using flowcharts. In a running system
program, flowchart may be used to combine old approaches with the
new logics.

HETA J DESAI-BCA-SDJIC
 FOR SYBCA SEM 4 - DIV A - SE-II 2016

4. Efficient coding: with the help of flow chart the program logic can be
implemented in any programming language for building up a new
system.
5. Orderly debugging: the flowchart also helps in debugging process i.e. it
helps in detecting, locating and removing mistakes.

Limitations of Flowcharts:-

1. Complex Logic: When the program logic is complex, the flowcharts

become lengthy and lack clarity in decision table.
2. Alteration and Modification: If alterations are required, the flowchart
may require re-drawing completely.
3. Reproduction: As flowchart symbols cannot be typed, reproduction of
flowchart is often a problem.
4. Standardization: Though program flowcharts are easy to follow, they are
neither expressed completely in English, nor ere they translated in
programming languages.

HETA J DESAI-BCA-SDJIC
 FOR SYBCA SEM 4 - DIV A - SE-II 2016

HETA J DESAI-BCA-SDJIC
 FOR SYBCA SEM 4 - DIV A - SE-II 2016

HETA J DESAI-BCA-SDJIC