PROGRAM DESIGN TOOL - FLOWCHARTS

• A flowchart is a symbolic representation of the step by step solution of a given problem.
• It indicates the flow of the entire process, the sequence of data input, operations, computations, decisions, results and other relevant information pertaining to a particular problem.
• helpful in understanding the logic of complicated and lengthy problems.
• Once the flowchart is drawn, it becomes easy to write the program in any high level language.
• There are 2 types of flowcharts
• System flowcharts - showing controls at a physical or resource level
• Program flowchart - showing the controls in a program within a system

FLOWCHART SYMBOLS

ADVANTAGES OF A FLOWCHART

• Communication - Flowcharts are better way of communicating the logic of a system to all concerned or involved.
• Effective analysis - With the help of flowchart, problem can be analysed in more effective way therefore reducing cost and wastage of time.
• Proper documentation - Program flowcharts serve as a good program documentation, which is needed for various purposes, making things more efficient.
• Efficient Coding - The flowcharts act as a guide or blueprint during the systems analysis and program development phase.
• Proper Debugging - The flowchart helps in debugging process.
• Efficient Program Maintenance - The maintenance of operating program becomes easy with the help of flowchart. It helps the programmer to put efforts more efficiently on that part

DISADVANTAGES OF A FLOWCHART

• Complex logic - Sometimes, the program logic is quite complicated. In that case, flowchart becomes complex and clumsy. This will become a pain for the user, resulting in a waste of time and money trying to correct the problem
• Alterations and Modifications - If alterations are required the flowchart may require re-drawing completely. This will usually waste valuable time.
• Reproduction - As the flowchart symbols cannot be typed, reproduction of flowchart becomes a problem.

Practice with flowcharts.