Flowcharting is one method of pictorially representing a procedural (step-by- step) solution to a problem before you actually start to write the computer instructions required to produce the desired results. Flowcharts use different shaped symbols connected by one-way arrows to represent operations, data, flow, equipment, and so forth.

There are two types of flowcharts, system (data) flowcharts and programming flowcharts. A system (data) flowchart defines the major phases of the processing, as well as the various data media used. It shows the rela-tionship of numerous jobs that makeup an entire system. In the system (data) flowchart, an entire program run or phase is always represented by a single processing symbol, together with the input/output symbols showing the path of data through a problem solution. For example:

System Flowchart

The second type of flowchart, and the one well use in this manual is the programming flowchart. It is constructed by the programmer to represent the sequence of operations the computer is to perform to solve a specific problem. It graphically describes what is to take place in the program. It displays specific operations and decisions, and their sequence within the pro-gram. For example:

Programming Flowchart