- Meaning of flowchart shapes

The large number of shapes can be confusing. Most charts can be drawn with the first five basic
flowchart shapes listed. The others are optional and often only confuse people. See also:

Terminal or This shape tells you where the flowchart begins and ends. It shows the entry point of your
Terminator Shape flowchart and the exit point. To designate the start of your flowchart, you would fill this shape with
words like Start or Begin. The words you use are up to you.

To designate the ending point of the chart, this shape is filled with words like End, Exit, or
Return.

Usually a flowchart has one starting point. However, a flowchart can have as many ending points
as needed. Sometimes you see this shape drawn as an oval as shown below. That is fine.

Lines with Arrows

You read a flowchart by following the lines with arrows from shape to shape. The lines with arrows
determine the flow through the chart. Flowcharts are usually drawn from top to bottom or left to
right.

If two lines cross, you ignore the perpendicular line and continue following the line to the next
shape. The crossover or bridge will be inserted automatically.by adding crossover or bridge
Rectangle

In most flowcharts, the rectangle is the most common shape. It is used to show a process, task,
action, or operation. It shows something that has to be done or an action that has to be taken.
The text in the rectangle almost always includes a verb.

Decision

A decision asks a question. The answer to the question determines which arrow you follow out of
the decision shape. For example, in the shape below, if it is cloudy, you follow the arrow down
near the word Yes. If it is not cloudy, you follow the arrow to the right near the word No.

The arrows flowing from the decision shape are usually labeled with Yes, No or True, False. But
you can label them any way you want as long as the meaning is clear. This shape has one input
arrow. It is usually at the top, but can be on any corner. The decision shape can have two or three
exit points. If you need more than 3 exit points, then you can use either of the methods shown
below.
 Circle If you need to connect to another page or another section of the chart, and can't draw a line, you
can use a circle. You draw the line to the circle and label the circle with a letter. Then you place a
copy of the circle where you want the flow to continue. This should be avoided, but sometimes is
necessary. Originally the circle was used only to reference another part of the chart and the off
page connector, shown later, was used to go to another page. However, the circle is now often
used for both.

Input/output A parallelogram is used to show input or output. Examples of input are receiving a report, getting
an e-mail, getting an order, receiving data in some format, etc. Examples of output are generating

a report, sending an e-mail, etc.

 Document A rectangle with a curved bottom represents a document or report. The curve on the bottom is
sometimes drawn differently as shown in the Alternate Document below. Now you may ask, "What
if the document is an output. Which shape do I use?" Flowcharting is not like mathematics. There
are no standards that everyone agrees upon. So your group should set your own standards.

Most charts can be drawn with the following four basic flowchart shapes

The following is quick review for four basic flowchart shapes

All flowcharts start and end with the terminator or terminal shape

Terminator
 To read a flowchart, you follow the arrows from shape to shape. It is faster to place all your shapes first and
then draw all the lines at once.

Decision The decision shape asks a question. "Are you under 65 years of age?" If you are less than 65 years old, you
follow the arrow going down out of the decision shape. If you are 65 or older, you follow the arrow to the
right.

Process The rectangle is used for activities or action steps. These are things that must be done.

Circle A circle containing a letter or number means that this chart connects to another chart on a different page.
The same circle and number are then the entry point on the new page. It is best not to use these, but

sometimes they are necessary.

Title It is good to have a title on your chart. Just click on the word "Text" in the stencil and use a larger font size.
 Example

By using four basic flowchart shapes listed above in chart shown below

putting it The chart shown below could be part of the 2006 US Federal Income Tax return instructions. You start at
all together the top and follow the arrows from shape to shape. Flowcharts usually go from top to bottom or left to right,
but you can do whatever you want. The circle with the letter B refers to a chart on a different page. You
would find that page and look for a B in a circle. Almost all flowchart can be done with only these four
shapes.

Level of Usually it is best to start specifying only general steps and leaving the details for later. Whatever you do,
Detail the level of detail should be consistent throughout the chart. For example, if you are flowcharting editing a
Microsoft Word document, you might have a rectangle with the words "Print Document." A detailed chart
might split this rectangle into several rectangles that show each step of clicking on the Print button in Word,
selecting the appropriate printer, etc. Make sure you are not wasting time by specifying at too detailed a
level.

Almost all flowchart can be done with only these four shapes.