Getting Started with Microsoft Word FlowCharting
GC BASIC
OEES 215

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Getting Started with Microsoft Word FlowCharting
Getting Started
  1. Open Microsoft Word
  2. Right Click on any blank space on the menu bar and click on (enter a check mark) Drawing Menu. Notice that a new menu with several icons will appear at the bottom of the page.
  3. Click on the AutoShapes option and drag the mouse to Flowchart.
  4. Select a shape to start the new flowchart with.  Click the shape once and then click inside the flowchart to "write" the shape to the flowchart.
  5. When the new shape appears in the flowchart, it will have "handles", or circles displayed around the outside of it. If you move the mouse cursor over one of these circles it will turn into "double arrows". At this point you can resize the shape you have chosen by clicking down and dragging the shape.
  6. You can also move the shape by moving the cursor over it until the cursor turns into a cross hair with 4 arrows. You would then, click and drag the shape to its new location
  7. You can reposition (move) several blocks at once or the entire flowchart by dragging a rectangle around the entire chart. Then move the mouse over the chart. When it becomes a cross hair with 4 arrows you can move the chart to a different place on the same page or to a different page.
    • Dragging means to hold the left  mouse button down while you move the mouse
 Using Text  Boxes
  1. To add text to the shape you have chosen, move the mouse cursor inside the shape, and then right-click the mouse,click on Add Text and then simply type into the shape. By "selecting" (click at one end of the text and then drag the mouse to the other end of the text)  the text inside the shape,  you can modify the text in several ways. Examples of this are changing the font size, centering, bolding, underling, changing the color, etc. To remove text, simply select it and  press the Delete key.
  2. To add text outside the shape you have chosen, click on Insert and then click Text Box. Then simply type the text you want displayed into the new text box. You can resize, move, or Delete a Text Box the same way you would a  shape. 
  3. Generally speaking, users will not want a text box with a visible border around it. If for example, you are simply typing the capital letter "Y" (for a Yes decision in the flow chart),  you can remove the border by right clicking on the "fuzzy" area around the text box and clicking on Format Text Box. This will bring up the Format Text Box window. Under the Colors and Lines tab, click the down arrow for Line and Color and click on No Line.

Adding Connectors Between Flow Chart Shapes
  1. Make sure there is a "fuzzy" line around the entire flowchart (meaning the flowchart is selected) before you click on AutoShapes and then Connectors. If this is not done the connectors will be "dimmed out".
  2. Select the Connector that you want. Click the connector you want and move the mouse to the point in the flowchart where you want to connect it. Then drag the mouse to create the line the connector will take.
  3. If you are simply drawing a line from one shape to another, you will usually use a Straight Arrow Connector. Make sure you get the arrow pointed in the right direction (indicating the correct flow of the program).
  4. Most other times, we will be using an Elbow Arrow Connector. Usually the program will NOT allow us to place the elbow connector where we want. One way to fix this "bug" is to let the connector settle where it will. After it settles, you can grab the yellow diamonds on the connector to place it exactly where you want it.
  5. You can also turn off snapping to the grid.  To do this, click the Draw option on the Drawing Menu you displayed in Getting Started, Step 2. Then click on Grid and uncheck the box entitled Snap Objects to Grid. This allows you to place the connector more efficiently.
  6. While you are in the Drawing Grid window, you have the option of turning a visible grid on or off. This is done by putting a check mark in the Display GridLines on Screen box, or by removing the check mark (Having the grid displayed or not has no effect on snapping).

The Word Help File for Flow Charts
  1. Click on Help at the far right end of the toolbar menu.
  2. Click on Micosoft Office Word Help.
  3. In the Search For box type "FlowChart". At this point, you will be able to receive help on a variety of topics relating to Word's FlowChart program.
 
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