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Basic flowcharting

These are the basics of flowcharting.

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For more information, on why you’d want to flowchart and what it will do for you, read the 7 reasons to document what you do, and the Quick and Easy Guide to Documenting what you do

There are two types of symbols

  • a square/rectangle (for an action)
  • a diamond (for a decision)

Arrows join the symbols together

  • squares may have only one arrow coming out of them
  • diamonds always have exactly two arrows coming out of them – a “yes” and a “no”
  • there can be as many arrows coming into a symbol as necessary

The flowchart can go across or down the page

Some practical tips

  • using post-it notes makes it easier to relocate symbols as you develop the flowchart
  • once you are sure of how the flowchart goes, there are software packages available to chart them. Try ABC Flowcharter, Visio or PowerPoint or ask AI to fix it for you.

Flowcharts are also called

  • process maps
  • work flow diagrams
  • process charts
  • process flows
  • work flows

Read some more articles.

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