Introduction To Flowcharting

Todays Topics
Flowchart Symbols Structures Sequence Selection Repetition

Flowchart: Represents an algorithm in graphical symbols

Flowchart Symbols

Terminal: Used to indicates the start and end of a flowchart. Single flow line. Only one Start and Stop terminal for each program. The end terminal for function/subroutine must use Return instead of Stop. Process: Used whenever data is being manipulated. One flow line enters and one flow line exits. Input/Output: Used whenever data is entered (input) or displayed (output). One flow line enters and one flow line exits.

Flowchart Symbols

Decision: Used to represent operations in which there are two possible selections. One flow line enters and two flow lines (labeled as Yes and No) exit.
Function / Subroutine: Used to identify an operation in a separate flowchart segment (module). One flow line enters and one flow line exits. On-page Connector: Used to connect remote flowchart portion on the same page. One flow line enters and one flow line exits. Off-page Connector: Used to connect remote flowchart portion on different pages. One flow line enters and one flow line exits. Comment: Used to add descriptions or clarification. Flow line: Used to indicate the direction of flow of control.

Comments or description

Start

Read N, M

N = The number of students M = The number of subjects

Yes

No

Stop

Connectors on the same page

Start

1- connection on the same flowchart portion 2- connection on the different flowchart portion
Stop
1

Connectors on a different page

Page 1 Page 2

Start
2

Stop

Yes

No

The detail of how the function works is put in another flowchart.

Function
Page 1
Start

This is known as Function-Definition Start terminal for a Function is different. Do not use Start Page 2

AVRG ( result,n1, n2,n3)

Read n1, n2 , n3

sum = n1+ n2+n3

AVRG (result, n1, n2,n3)

Body of a function is the same with normal flowchart

result = sum/3

At this point, we only focus on what to do. How to do it, it comes later. This part is known as Function-Call

Print result

Return

Stop

End terminal must be a Return This flowchart calculates the average of three numbers

The main flowcharting structures

1.Sequence
2.Selection

3.Repetition
A flowchart expressing the solution to an involved problem may have: 1. the main program flowchart on one page 2. with subprograms continuing the problem solution on subsequent pages.

Each of the five acceptable structures can be built from the basic elements as shown below.

Each of the five acceptable structures can be built from the basic elements as shown below.

Each of the five acceptable structures can be built from the basic elements as shown below.

Sequence
In a computer program or an algorithm, sequence involves simple steps which are to be executed one after the other. The steps are executed in the same order in which they are written.
In a flowchart, sequence is expressed as: In pseudocode, sequence is expressed as: process 1 process 2 process n

An Example Using Sequence

Sequence
Flowchart

Problem: Write a set of instructions that describe how to make a pot of tea. Pseudocode BEGIN fill a kettle with water boil the water in the kettle put the tea leaves in the pot pour boiling water in the pot END

Selection is used in a computer program or algorithm to determine which particular step or set of steps is to be executed
Binary Selection
In pseudocode, binary selection is expressed in the following ways: Binary Selection In flowcharts, binary selection is expressed in the following ways:

1.

IF condition THEN process 1 ENDIF

2.

IF condition THEN process 1 ELSE process 2 ENDIF

Selection
Binary (structure)
Binary Selection
In pseudocode, binary selection is expressed in the following ways: Binary Selection In flowcharts, binary selection is expressed in the following ways:

1.

IF condition THEN process 1 ENDIF

2.

IF condition THEN process 1 ELSE process 2 ENDIF

Selection
Binary (flowchart structure)
Note: In a flowchart it is most important to indicate 1. which path is to be followed when the condition is true, and 2. which path to follow when the condition is false. Without these indications the flowchart is open to more than one interpretation. Note: There are two acceptable ways to represent a decision in all of the structures. Either method is acceptable. For consistency, the method 1 is used throughout this document. 1. The condition is expressed as a 2. The condition is expressed as a
statement and the two possible outcomes are indicated by True False question and the two possible outcomes are indicated by Yes No

Selection
Binary (examples)
Examples Using Binary Selection Problem 1: Write a set of instructions to describe when to answer the phone. Binary Selection Flowchart

Binary Selection
Pseudocode IF the telephone is ringing THEN answer the telephone ENDIF

Selection
Binary (examples) Examples Using Binary Selection Problem 2: Write a set of instructions to follow when approaching a set of traffic control lights. Binary Selection
Flowchart

Binary Selection
Pseudocode

IF the signal is green THEN proceed through the intersection ELSE stop the vehicle ENDIF

Selection
Multi-way (structure)
Multi-way Selection
In pseudocode, multiple selection is expressed as: CASEWHERE expression evaluates to choice a : process a choice b : process b . . . . . . OTHERWISE : default process ENDCASE Note: As the flowchart version of the multi-way selection indicates, only one process on each pass is executed as a result of the implementation of the

Multi-way Selection

In flowcharts, multi-way selection is expressed as:

Selection
Multi-way (examples)
Example Using Multi-way Selection Problem: Write a set of instructions that describes how to: respond to all possible signals at a set of traffic control lights.

Multi-way Selection
Pseudocode CASEWHERE signal is red : stop the vehicle amber : stop the vehicle green : proceed through the intersection OTHERWISE : proceed with caution ENDCASE

Multi-way Selection Flowchart

Repetition
Repetition allows for a portion of an algorithm or computer program to be done any number of times dependent on some condition being met. An occurrence of repetition is usually known as a loop. An essential feature of repetition is that each loop has a termination condition to stop the repetition, or the obvious outcome is that the loop never completes execution (an infinite loop). The termination condition can be checked or tested 1. at the beginning and is known as a pre-test loop or 2. at the end of the loop and is known as a post-test loop.

Repetition Pre-test (structure)

Repetition: Pre-Test A pre-tested loop is so named because the condition has to be met at the very beginning of the loop or the body of the loop is not executed. This construct is often called a guarded loop. The body of the loop is executed repeatedly while the termination condition is true. Repetition

Repetition
In pseudocode, pre-test repetition is expressed as: WHILE condition is true process(es) ENDWHILE

In flowcharting pre-test repetition is expressed as:

Repetition Post-test (structure)

Repetition: Post-Test A post-tested loop executes the body of the loop before testing the termination condition. This construct is often referred to as an unguarded loop. The body of the loop is repeatedly executed until the termination condition is true. An important difference between a pre-test and post-test loop is that the statements of a post-test loop are executed at least once even if the condition is originally true, whereas the body of the pre-test loop may never be executed if the termination condition is originally true. A close look at the representations of the two loop types makes this point apparent.

Repetition

Repetition
In pseudocode, post-test repetition is expressed as:

In a flowchart post-test repetition is expressed as:

REPEAT process UNTIL condition is true

Repetition Pre-test (example)

An Example Using Pre-Test Repetition Problem: Determine a safety procedure for travelling in a carriage on a moving train.

Pre-test Repetition Flowchart

Pre-test Repetition
Pseudocode WHILE the train is moving keep wholly within the carriage ENDWHILE

Repetition Post-test (example)

An Example Using Post-Test Repetition Problem: Determine a procedure to beat egg whites until fluffy.

Post-test Repetition Flowchart

Post-test Repetition
Pseudocode REPEAT beat the egg whites UNTIL fluffy

Example:
Start

Read Length, Width

Input: Length <- 5 Width <- 3

Calculate Area Area=Length * Width

Process: Area = 5 * 3 = 15

Calculate Perimeter Perimeter= 2 * (Width+Length)

Process:
Perimeter = 2* (5+3) = 16

Output
Area: 15 Perimeter: 16

Print Area, Perimeter

Stop

Example:
What is the output of the following flowchart when the input Num= 10
Start

Enter a Number >> 10

Input: Num <- 10 Num = 10 10 > 0 ? => YES

Category A

Read Num

Num>0?

No Print "Category B"

Yes

Print "Category A"

Output: Category A

Stop

Example:
What is the output of the following flowchart when the input is Num= 0
Start

Enter a Number >> 0

Read Num
Input: Num <- 0
Output: Category B

Category B Category A

Num = 0 0 > 0 ? => NO

Num>0?

No Print "Category B"

Yes

Print "Category A"

Output: Category A

Stop

Example:
What is the output of the following flowchart when the input is Num= 4
Start

Variables (in memory): Variables (in memory): Variables (in memory):

Input: Num <- 4

Read Num

Num [ 4 ] Num Num [ 4 ] [ 4 ] Result [ 4 ] 4 + 3 9 Result [ 0 ] 07 + 42 Result [ 7 ] 9 + 1 10] Count [ 3 ] 3 - 1 1 Count [ 2 ] 1 0 Count [ 4 ] 42 -- 11

Initialize Result=0 Count=Num

Enter a Number => 4

Print Count Count == 3 Count 4 Count 1 Count = = 2 0 43>> 0? ? => YES => YES 0 > 0 ? => YES 1 2 > 0 ?=> YES 0 NO

Result=Result + Count Count>0? Yes Count=Count - 1

No

Count: 4 Count: 3 Count: 2 Count: 1 Count: 0 Result: 10

Print Result

Stop

Example:
What is the output of the following flowchart when the input is N = 6
10
Page 1
Start

average

Page 2

5 N=6

AVRG ( result,n1, n2,n3)

Read N

Sum = 10 + 5 + 6
sum = n1+ n2+n3

AVRG (average, 10, 5, N)

average = 21/3
result = sum/3

Print average

Output: Average: 7
Return

Stop

T. O. L

Quiz
1. What is a flowchart?
2. It is used to connect remote flowchart

portion on the same page. One flow line enters and one flow line exits. 3-5. Control Structures of Flowchart.