FLOWCHARTS

3.3.1

THIS PRESENTATION COVERS

• WHAT IS A FLOWCHART?

• WHY ARE THEY USED?

• HOW TO DRAW THEM.

INTRODUCTION• DIAGRAMS ARE GREAT FOR HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW A

SYSTEM WORKS.

• HOWEVER, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO CREATE A SYSTEM (GENERALLY THE CUSTOMER!) A MORE SIMPLIFIED METHOD OF HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SYSTEM DOES NEEDS TO BE USED.

• FLOWCHARTS ARE SIMPLIFIED DIAGRAMS WHICH SHOW BASIC INPUT, OUTPUT, DECISIONS AND PROCESSES.

• BECAUSE THEY ARE SIMPLIFIED DIAGRAMS THEY CAN ONLY BE USED TO SHOW A GENERALISED OVERVIEW OF THE SYSTEM OR THE FUNCTIONS WITHIN IT.

UNDERSTANDING THE SYMBOLSYOU CAN USE ANY SYMBOLS THAT YOU LIKE...AS LONG AS YOU HAVE A KEY AND STICK TO IT...BUT THESE ARE THE MORE COMMON SYMBOLS USED.

YOU CAN SEE THEM IN THE SHAPES OPTION IN MS APPLICATIONS...

OutputProcess

InputStart/End

Decision

BOILING THE KETTLE EXAMPLEStart

Add water to kettle

Is it full?

Turn on power

Heat water

Is water boiling

?

Turn off power

End

Yes

No

Yes

No

YOUR GO...

• PRODUCE A DATA FLOW DIAGRAM WHICH:

• CONTROLS A SET OF TRAFFIC LIGHTS OVER A BRIDGE WHICH ONLY ALLOWS TRAFFIC TO GO OVER IT IN ONE DIRECTION AT A TIME.

• LIFTS A BARRIER IF IT SENSES A CAR IS STATIONARY ON ITS WEIGHT PAD AND ALSO IF THE DRIVER HAS TAKEN A TICKET.

YOUR GO AGAIN...

• GO TO THE ONLINE TEXT BOOK OR TO PAGE 33 OF THE TEXT BOOK...

• YOU WILL FIND AN EXAMPLE SCENARIO AND AN ACTIVITY...

• COMPLETE THE ACTIVITY.