The Basics to Flowchart Design

[Miles]

Your basic flow chart is going to have three shapes, the circle, rectangle, and diamond. These are used for a distinct reason.

First, circles are used to identify the start and finish of a work flow.

Rectangles are used to identify instructions or actions.

And Diamonds indicate a decision to be made.

Example:
1. Start Process of Answering the phone <-- Circle
2. Pick up phone if it rings <-- Rectangle
3. Is someone on the other line? <-- Diamond
4. If yes - Ask, May I please have your name? <-- Rectangle
5. If no - Hang up <-- Rectangle


Typically the link line between each node will be titled with the options of each response after a diamond node where an answer is needed. This would be the "yes" path or "no" path in the above example.

[derder]

Jul 22, 2011 11:13:39 GMT -5 Miles said:

Your basic flow chart is going to have three shapes, the circle, rectangle, and diamond. These are used for a distinct reason.

First, circles are used to identify the start and finish of a work flow.

Rectangles are used to identify instructions or actions.

And Diamonds indicate a decision to be made.

Example:
1. Start Process of Answering the phone <-- Circle
2. Pick up phone if it rings <-- Rectangle
3. Is someone on the other line? <-- Diamond
4. If yes - Ask, May I please have your name? <-- Rectangle
5. If no - Hang up <-- Rectangle


Typically the link line between each node will be titled with the options of each response after a diamond node where an answer is needed. This would be the "yes" path or "no" path in the above example.