Flowcharts & Sitemaps

• Integral part of the design process– Show all possible paths and the

various activies such as navigation, games, tests, transactions, video etc.

All flowcharts start and end with the terminator or terminal shape. This is a rounded rectangle and is shown below. You use this same shape for both the start and the end. You will see some charts with slightly different terminal shapes. This is because there is no golden standard

for flowcharting.

To read a flowchart, you follow the arrows from shape to shape.

The decision shape asks a question. 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.

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

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.

The Delay shape represents a waiting period where no activity is done.

A parallelogram is used to show input or output (such as receiving an email)

The rounded rectangle is sometimes used instead of the standard rectangle and can have the same meaning. However, it is also used as an alternate process. The lines associated with the alternate process are usually dashed.

A cylinder represents a data file or database. This shape can also represent the magnetic disc itself.

Most charts can be drawn with the first five shapes listed. The others are optional and often only confuse people.

>> Audit Charts>> Block Diagrams>> Cause-Effect (Fishbone) Diagrams>> Computer/Network Design>> Criminal Investigation Diagrams:>> Activity Flowcharts>> Commodity Flowcharts>> Database Definitions

>> Home Layout>> Office Layout>> Flowcharts>> Fluid Power Design>> Gantt Charts>> Genetic Pedigree Charts>> Industrial Diagrams>> Organization Charts

Org chart

Flow chart

Cause and effect chart

Criminal investigation chart

Project management

Software development

Software development

Software development