Basic Flowchart Symbols and Meaning

Flowcharts are the best for visually representation the business processes and the flow of a custom-order process through various departments within an organization. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software extended with Flowcharts solution offers the full set of predesigned basic flowchart symbols which are gathered at two libraries: Flowchart and Flowcharts Rapid Draw. Among them are: process, terminator, decision, data, document, display, manual loop, and many other specific symbols. The meaning for each symbol offered by ConceptDraw gives the presentation about their proposed use in professional Flowcharts for business and technical processes, software algorithms, well-developed structures of web sites, Workflow diagrams, Process flow diagram and correlation in developing on-line instructional projects or business process system. Use of ready flow chart symbols in diagrams is incredibly useful - you need simply drag desired from the libraries to your document and arrange them in required order. There are a few serious alternatives to Visio for Mac, one of them is ConceptDraw DIAGRAM. It is one of the main contender with the most similar features and capabilities.

Flow Chart Symbols

The Flowcharts are incredibly useful and popular tool used in science, business, software development, analytics, engineering, marketing, manufacturing, administration, architecture, government, politics, and many other fields thanks to a variety of existing types of flowcharts. A Flowchart is a visual graphical representation of the process, algorithm, or the set of steps taken for problem's solution. Widely used for designing, visualizing and documenting simple and complex processes and programs, they effectively help to understand the process and to find easier the flaws if they are. Each flowchart type supposes the use of its own set of notations for drawing corresponding diagram, which includes the symbols of process, decision, data, document, data base, termination, initiation processes, processing loops, conditions, etc. It is easily design a Flowchart using the special professional flowchart maker - ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagram software with numerous predesigned flow chart symbols grouped in libraries of Flowcharts solution from ConceptDraw Solution Park.

Data Flow Diagram Process

Data Flow Diagram (DFD) is a hierarchy of functional processes, connected by data flows. The purpose of this presentation is to show how each process converts its inputs into outputs and to identify relationships between these processes. DFD is convenient way of modeling and construction the information processes, it step-by-step illustrates the flow of information in a process. For construction a DFD traditionally are used two different notations, which appropriate to the methods of Yourdon-Coad and Gane-Sarson. These notations slightly different from each other by graphical representation of symbols for processes, data stores, data flow, external entities. When designing a DFD it is required to decompose the system into the components (sub-systems), for explaining a complex system you may need represent numerous levels. The Data Flow Diagrams solution from ConceptDraw Solution Park contains numerous predesigned DFD symbols for both notations, which help easy and effectively design professional-looking Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs) and DFD Process Diagrams.

Business Process Flowchart Symbols

Business process modeling is known in the corporate world as an excellent tool which can speak. Business process flowcharts, diagrams and maps are used to define the business processes in terms of inputs and outputs, to visually represent and effectively explain complex business processes of an enterprise, and also showcase decisions on a single piece of paper. The process of business process mapping supposes the use of special business process flowchart symbols predefined by Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) and taking their roots from the data processing diagrams and programming flow charts. In other words the BPMN standard notation is a common language used for business process design and implementation, that guarantees a clarity of designed Business Process Flowcharts for all business analysts, technical developers and business managers. The ability to create professionally-looking Business Process flowcharts, maps and diagrams, is provided by powerful ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software and the Business Process Mapping solution included to ConceptDraw Solution Park.

Technical Flow Chart

Flow chart is a diagrammatic representation of an algorithm and essential part of planning the system. Flow charts are widely used in technical analysis and programming for easy writing programs and explaining them to others. So, one of the most popular type of flow charts is Technical Flow Chart. Technical Flow Chart can be drawn by pencil on the paper, but it will be easier to use for designing a special software. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software extended with Flowcharts Solution from the "Diagrams" Area of ConceptDraw Solution Park will be useful for this goal.

Scatter Chart Examples

The Line Graphs solution from Graphs and Charts area of ConceptDraw Solution Park contains a set of examples, templates and design elements library of scatter charts. Use it to draw scatter graphs using ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software for illustrating your documents, presentations and websites.

Cross-Functional Flowchart (Swim Lanes)

Cross-Functional Flowchart is a type of chart which shows the series of process steps connected by the arrows to depict their order and applies the swim lanes to provide an extra dimension with means of assigning each process step to certain category. Often the category or the functional unit is a stakeholder (department, person, role), resource, project, phase, or any other attribute. Cross-Functional Flowcharts visually illustrate relationships between the business processes and the functional units responsible for this processes. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM is a powerful diagramming and vector drawing software for professional design Cross-Functional Flowcharts using the common notation of shapes and swim lanes. Cross-Functional Flowcharts solution included to the Business Processes area of ConceptDraw Solution Park provides numerous well-designed vector objects and connector tools for quick, easy and effective organizing information, representing process flows and relationships, and drawing Cross-Functional Flowcharts for business, science, education, technology, etc.

Process Flow Chart

A Process Flow Chart is a type of flowchart which is mostly used in industrial, chemical and process engineering for illustrating high-level processes, major plant processes and not shows minor details. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software extended with Flowcharts Solution from the "Diagrams" Area of ConceptDraw Solution Park is the best way to create Process Flow Chart and other types of flowcharts.

Data Flow Diagram

Data Flow Diagram (DFD) is the part of the Structured Systems Analysis and Design Methodology (SSADM), which is intended for information systems projection and analysis. Data Flow Diagrams allow graphically represent the data flows in information system and analyze the data processing during the structural projection. This type of diagrams lets visually show a work of information system and results of this work, it is often used in connection with human processes and can be displayed as Workflow diagram. Data Flow Diagram visualizes processes and functions, external entities, data depositories, and data flows connecting these elements and indicating direction and data character. Each of these elements used for DFD has its own graphical notation. There are two notations to draw DFDs - Yourdon & Coad and Gane & Sarson. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM extended with Data Flow Diagrams (DFD) solution from Software Developmant area is ideal for designing professional looking DFDs, which can be then easily exported in various formats.

Design Data Flow. DFD Library

Data flow diagram or DFD is a type of diagrams used for graphical representation the "flow" of data through an information system, for effective modeling its process aspects and for visualization the data processing. They are one of the best tools for clearly making an overview of the system that will be developed, for depiction in details what kinds of information will be inputted to the system and outputted from it, where they will be stored, and other details. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software with Data Flow Diagrams solution from Software Development area of ConceptDraw Solution Park is powerful in a field of designing the DFDs. Three libraries containing 49 vector DFD shapes and symbols are offered by Data Flow Diagrams (DFD) solution. Use them to design data flow diagrams, information flow diagrams, data flowcharts, data process diagrams, structured analysis diagrams, to create the data-oriented models or process-oriented models, and so on. Pay also attention for the included collection of DFD samples, examples and built-in templates at ConceptDraw STORE.

How to Build a Flowchart

The ConceptDraw DIAGRAM is a professional software for quick creating great looking flowcharts. The vector stencils from object libraries allows you to use RapidDraw technology. By the clicking on direction arrows one can add new object to flowcharts. This technology gives to users the ability to fast creating visualization for the structural data. Learn the basics of flowcharting and see how to build create a flowchart using ConceptDraw automatic drawing tools.

Flowchart Software

Flowchart is a simple diagram, map or graphical schematic representation the sequence of actions within a process. It is ideal for displaying how a process currently flows or can function ideally. The Flowcharts let define the steps and boundaries of a process, uncover problems or miscommunications. The Flowcharts are widely used in education, software development, business, economics, thanks to their visuality they are ideal for presentations, reports, for using on conferences to help the audience comprehend the content better, or easy find flaws in a process flow diagrams. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM is professional flowcharts software and feature-rich flowchart maker, which supports Mac OS X and Windows. It contains at ConceptDraw Solution Park a rich set of stencils and professional flowchart symbols for design. It lets create simply professional-looking Flowcharts based on thousand free flowchart templates, colored symbols and examples. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM is a 3 times cheaper alternative to MS Visio available for both Mac and PC. It’s is another full featured business and technical diagramming application that can easily take care of Visio files within OS X. Another bonus with ConceptDraw DIAGRAM – it's cross-platform. You can work on a document in both OS X and Windows, skipping Visio entirely.

Accounting Flowchart Symbols

Accounting is a well known and popular tool used for gaining full quantitative information about the finances. The accounting process includes extensive set of activities that begins with transactions and ends with closing of books. It contains all financial information for a given organization, the data about incomes, expenditures, purchases, sales, return, payroll, and many other numerical information. The excellent possibility to create great-looking Accounting Flowcharts is offered by professional ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software. It includes the Accounting Flowcharts solution containing wide variety of predesigned accounting flowchart symbols. All symbols are easy recognizable, commonly used, vector and professionally designed, so are capable effectively save your time and efforts when representing all stages of accounting work process, the flow of data in an organization, accounting procedures and processes, documents, tasks, responsible people, users, components and authorizations.

Swim Lane Flowchart Symbols

Use the set of special professionally developed swim lane flowchart symbols - single, multiple, vertical and horizontal lanes from the Swimlanes and Swimlanes BPMN 1.2 libraries from the Business Process Diagram solution, the Swim Lanes library from the Business Process Mapping solution as the perfect basis for your Swim Lane Flowcharts of processes, algorithms and procedures.

Types of Flowcharts

A Flowchart is a graphical representation of process, algorithm, workflow or step-by-step solution of the problem. It shows the steps as boxes of various kinds and connects them by arrows in a defined order depicting a flow. There are twelve main Flowchart types: Basic Flowchart, Business Process Modeling Diagram (BPMN), Cross Functional Flowchart, Data Flow Diagram (DFD), IDEF (Integrated DEFinition) Flowchart, Event-driven Process Chain (EPC) Diagram, Influence Diagram (ID), Swimlane Flowchart, Process Flow Diagram (PFD), Specification and Description Language (SDL) Diagram, Value Stream Mapping, Workflow Diagram. Using the Flowcharts solution from the Diagrams area of ConceptDraw Solution Park you can easy and quickly design a Flowchart of any of these types. This solution offers a lot of special predesigned vector symbols for each of these widely used notations. They will make the drawing process of Flowcharts much easier than ever. Pay also attention for the included collection of ready Flowchart examples, samples and quick-start templates. This is business process improvement tools. If you are looking for MS Visio for your Mac, then you are out of luck, because it hasn't been released yet. However, you can use Visio alternatives that can successfully replace its functions. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM is an alternative to MS Visio for Mac that provides powerful features and intuitive user interface for the same.

ERD Symbols and Meanings

Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD) is a popular software engineering tool for database modeling and illustration the logical structure of databases, which uses one of two notations - Chen's or Crow’s Foot. Crow's foot notation is effective when used in software engineering, information engineering, structured systems analysis and design. Each of these notations applies its own set of ERD symbols. Crow's foot diagrams use boxes to represent entities and lines between these boxes to show relationships. Varied shapes at the ends of lines depict the cardinality of a given relationship. Chen's ERD notation is more detailed way to represent entities and relationships. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM application enhanced with all-inclusive Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) solution allows design professional ER diagrams with Chen's or Crow’s Foot notation on your choice. It contains the full set of ready-to-use standardized ERD symbols and meanings helpful for quickly drawing, collection of predesigned ERD samples, examples and templates. ConceptDraw Pro is a great alternative to Visio for Mac users as it offers more features and can easily handle the most demanding professional needs.

Bar Chart Software

The best bar chart software ever is ConceptDraw. ConceptDraw bar chart software provides an interactive bar charting tool and complete set of predesigned bar chart objects.

How to Draw a Flowchart

A good Flowchart is incredibly helpful for representing and understanding the system and systematic flow of information in the system. That's why its creation requires attention, accuracy, caution and expertise. There are many standardized symbols which can be used in Flowcharts to represent different kinds of steps. The basic flowchart's element is a simple action, which is represented as a box containing description of the action. The flow is shown with arrows between sequential action boxes. The decision is shown as a diamond that contains a simple question to which the answer is 'yes' or 'no' Are you confused on how to draw a Flowchart? ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software will help you in flowchart drawing due to the included templates, samples and vector objects libraries which are offered in great quantity by Flowcharts solution from Diagrams area. Besides you need clearly and accurately define the process boundaries with starting and ending points, and each step in the process, identify time lags and non-value-adding steps.

Entity Relationship Diagram Symbols

The semantic modeling method nowadays is successfully applied in database structure design. It is effective method of modeling the data structures, which is based on the meaning of these data. As a tool of semantic modeling, there are used different types of Entity-Relationship Diagrams. Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD) is applied to visually and clearly represent a structure of a business database. The main components of ERDs are: entity, relation and attributes. An entity is a class of similar objects in the model, each entity is depicted in the form of rectangle and has the name expressed by a noun. Relation is shown in the form of non-directional line that connects two entities. There are several notation styles used for ERDs: information engineering style, Chen style, Bachman style, Martin Style. The Entity Relationship Diagram symbols used for professional ERD drawing are predesigned by professionals and collected in the libraries of the Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) solution for ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software.

Work Flow Diagram

ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software offers the Workflow Diagrams solution from the Business Processes area of ConceptDraw Solution Park with powerful tools to help you draw any Work Flow Diagram fast and easy.