Basic Flowchart Symbols and Meaning

Flowchart Symbols and Meaning, workflow diagram symbols, process flow diagram symbols

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 PRO 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 PRO. It is one of the main contender with the most similar features and capabilities.

How to Build a Flowchart

Design elements - IDEF0 diagram

The vector stencils library "IDEF0 diagrams" contains 18 symbols for drawing IDEF0 function modeling diagrams using the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software.
"The IDEF0 model ... is based on a simple syntax. Each activity is described by a verb-based label placed in a box. Inputs are shown as arrows entering the left side of the activity box while output are shown as exiting arrows on the right side of the box. Controls are displayed as arrows entering the top of the box and mechanisms are displayed as arrows entering from the bottom of the box. Inputs, Controls, Outputs, and Mechanisms are all referred to as concepts.
- Arrow : A directed line, composed of one or more arrow segments, that models an open channel or conduit conveying data or objects from source (no arrowhead) to use (with arrowhead). There are 4 arrow classes: Input Arrow, Output Arrow, Control Arrow, and Mechanism Arrow (includes Call Arrow). See Arrow Segment, Boundary Arrow, Internal Arrow.
- Box : A rectangle, containing a name and number, used to represent a function.
- Context : The immediate environment in which a function (or set of functions on a diagram) operates.
- Decomposition : The partitioning of a modeled function into its component functions.
- Fork : The junction at which an IDEF0 arrow segment (going from source to use) divides into two or more arrow segments. May denote unbundling of meaning.
- Function : An activity, process, or transformation (modeled by an IDEF0 box) identified by a verb or verb phrase that describes what must be accomplished.
- Join : The junction at which an IDEF0 arrow segment (going from source to use) merges with one or more other arrow segments to form a single arrow segment. May denote bundling of arrow segment meanings.
- Node : A box from which child boxes originate; a parent box. See Node Index, Node Tree, Node Number, Node Reference, Diagram Node Number." [IDEF0. Wikipedia]
The example "Design elements - IDEF0 diagram" is included in the IDEF0 Diagrams solution from the Software Development area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

IDEF0 symbols

Used Solutions

Software Development >

IDEF0 Diagrams

Sales Process Flowchart Symbols

The most easier way of creating the visually engaging and informative Sales Process Flowchart is to create the new ConceptDraw document and to use the predesigned vector symbols offered in 6 libraries of the Sales Flowchart Solution. There are more than six types of sales process flow diagrams, ConceptDraw PRO software is flowchart maker which include six collections of extended flowchart symbols for effective diagramming. There are main collections of color coded flowchart symbols: Sales Department, Sales Steps, Sales Workflow, Sales Symbols and special set of Sales Arrows and Sales Flowchart.

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 PRO 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.

IDEF0 standard with ConceptDraw PRO

The activity of any organization is more or less branchy network of processes. The description of these processes is a hard technical task which requires definite methodology and standards. According to the IDEF0 standard any process can be described in the form of a block (Activity Box) which has inputs and outputs. The process consists in transformation of inputs into outputs under the influence of the management and in the presence of necessary resources. Outputs of the given process later on can be either inputs for the next process or resources, or management means.

Cross Functional Flowchart Symbols

The excellent possibility to create attractive Cross Functional Flowcharts for step-by-step visualization the operations of a business process flow of any degree of detailing is offered by ConceptDraw’s Cross-Functional Flowcharts solution. The extensive selection of commonly used vector cross functional flowchart symbols allow you to demonstrate the document flow in organization, to represent each team member’s responsibilities and how processes get shared or transferred between different teams and departments.

Definition TQM Diagram

The Total Quality Management Diagram solution helps your organization visualize business and industrial processes. Create Total Quality Management diagrams for business process with ConceptDraw software.

Sales flowchart - Vector stencils library

The vector stencils library "Sales flowchart" contains 62 sales process flow chart symbols.
Use these flow chart icon set to draw your sales flowcharts, workflow diagrams and process charts with the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software.
The sales process flowchart symbols library "Sales flowchart" is included in the Sales Flowcharts solution from the Marketing area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

Annotation

Card

Check / audit (diamond)

Check / audit (square)

Collate

Comment / note symbol (brace)

Communication link

Compare (diamond)

Compare (square)

Completed form

Concurrency symbol (fork / join)

Conditional selector

Control transfer

Database

Data input / output

Decision

Decision indicator - No

Decision indicator - Yes

Delay

Direct access storage

Disk storage

Display

Divided process (table view)

Document

Entity (rounded)

Event

Extract

Flow line

Internal storage

Junction symbol

Lined document

Lined / shaded process

Loop limit

Manual file

Manual input

Manual operation

Merge

Multi document

Multi process

Off-page reference - arrow

Off-page reference - incoming

Off-page reference - outgoing

On-page reference/ Inspection point

Page

Paper tape

Predefined process

Prepare conditional

Process step

Reference point

Sequential access storage

Sort

Start (circle)

Start (ellipse)

Stickman pictogram

Stored data

Summary

Tagged document

Tagged process

Terminal point

Title block

Torso pictogram

Used Solutions

Marketing >

Sales Flowcharts

Flowchart

The Flowcharts are widespread in various fields and include the multitude of types. They are dedicated to representation the algorithms, processes, workflows of any complexity in a clear and intuitive format. The Flowcharts are commonly used in software development as a visual tool for illustration algorithms and logic of computer programs, in business for illustration business scenarios, in education, and so on. For drawing the Flowchart are used the special object blocks, among them rectangle or box used to represent an activity or step, rounded box or oval to depict Start / End, diamond to represent the decision point (involves the branching yes/no), circle used to represent the point of connection, parallelogram to represent the Input / Output, and some others. With ConceptDraw PRO including Flowcharts solution it is easy to create professional-looking Flowchart diagrams of any complexity and any degree of detailing. Succeed in drawing the Flowcharts using quick-start templates, predesigned samples and extensive libraries of ready-made flowchart symbols, blocks and icons.

Workflow Diagram Symbols

Workflow Diagram is an acknowledged method of drawing the processes and business processes, which uses the concerted set of symbols for depicting different kinds of steps or relations. Often it is named the Process Flow Diagram, but the real Process Flow Diagram uses different visual notations and different flowchart symbols. The professionally designed Workflow diagram also may be used for the same purpose as a Critical process flow diagram. Nevertheless, there are many cases when you may need to make your Workflow Diagram more bright and graphic. ConceptDraw PRO diagramming software extended with Workflow Diagrams solution from Business Processes area of ConceptDraw Solution Park possesses the powerful properties of software for Workflow diagram design. It delivers rich set of business process workflow diagram symbols, which help users to accurately diagram the workflow scenarios and to design great-looking and attractive Workflow Diagrams and Process Flow Diagrams better-suited for presentations, websites, reports, and other documents.

Yourdon and Coad Diagram

The vector stencils library Yourdon and Coad Notation from the solution OOAD contains specific symbols of the Yourdon and Coad notation such as data store symbol, data process symbol, loop symbol for ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software. The OOAD solution is contained in the Software Development area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

HelpDesk

How to Plan Projects Effectively Using Mind Maps and PM Easy Solution

The advanced data exchange capabilities of ConceptDraw MINDMAP and ConceptDraw PROJECT allows you to view your mind map as a Gantt chart. This way you are switching between views of the same file.

How To Create Emergency Plans and Fire Evacuation

Fire Emergency Evacuation Plan Example floorplan symbols

Fire emergency and Fire escape plans are used in hospitals, schools, kindergartens, universities, hotels, offices, business and shopping centers, homes, etc. They are obligatory according to the safety standards and instructions and effectively help people in cases of fires, natural disasters, hazardous leaks and other disaster events that can happen. How to create Emergency Plan or Fire Evacuation Plan fast and easy? The ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software recommends to use the specially developed Fire and Emergency Plans solution from the Building Plans area of ConceptDraw Solution Park, which is equipped with powerful drawing tools, collection of predesigned templates and samples of Emergency Plans, and also large set of specific vector design elements. Use them to design Evacuation plans, Emergency plans, Fire evacuation plans, Fire emergency plans, Fire safety diagrams, Home emergency plans, Office emergency plans, Business emergency plans and many other kinds of diagrams in minutes.

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 PRO is an alternative to MS Visio for Mac that provides powerful features and intuitive user interface for the same.

How to Simplify Flow Charting

DFD Flowchart Symbols

A Data Flow Diagram (DFD) is a graphical technique which allows effectively model and analyze the information processes and systems. The ability to fast and easy create the DFDs is made possible with Data Flow Diagrams solution from the Software Development area of ConceptDraw Solution Park. For designing the Data Flow Diagrams are used simple DFD flowchart symbols which are connected each other by arrows depicting the data flow from one step to another.

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