How to Make Flowcharts
OEES 215

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 Most-Used Flowchart Symbols
Terminator: Used at the beginning and end of  a program or subroutine.
Process: Such as performing arithmetic.
Decision: Used for statements that cause the computer to choose between two or more paths. The IF statement is an example of this.
Input/output operations.
Subroutine call: The computer temporarily runs the instructions in the subroutine and then returns to the instruction immediately following the subroutine call. Flowcharts for subroutines can be on different pages than the flowchart for the main program.
On-page connector: Instead of drawing a line between two points, you can have a line going to an on-page connector and then have a second on-page connector at the place where a long line would have gone. The same letter is placed inside each of these two circles to distinguish them from other circles on the page.
Off-page connector: Same purpose as the on-page connector, except the second point is on a different page. Again, identical letters are placed inside each of two connectors that go together.
 
General Rules for Creating Easily Readable Flowcharts (and Programs)
  • If your main program requires more than one page, you probably should be breaking it down into more subroutines. Flowcharts longer than one page are hard to understand. 
  • A word to the wise: good programmers use lots of subroutines, whereas bad ones usually don't. 
  • Use the standard flowchart symbols--they were designed to make flowcharts easy to read. Also, you want other people to easily understand your flowcharts.
  • Put comments next to flowchart blocks that need additional explanation.
  • At points where two arrows come together, assign a label. Then, use this same label in the actual program.
  • Make your labels easy to understand. In otherwords, for a portion of a program that calculates an average, use a label such as CalcAverage, rather than something that doesn't give us any clues, such as ROUTINE2. 
  • When you have arrows going back to a point higher up on a flowchart, make the flow go in a clockwise direction.
  • Use Word or a flowcharting program to create your flowcharts. You'll then be able to move blocks around as needed while you're figuring out how your program will really work. (Using pencil and paper for complex flowcharts will drive you batty!)

How to Use Word for Drawing Flowcharts 
[work in progress]
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