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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 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
How to Build a Flowchart

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 PRO diagram software with numerous predesigned flow chart symbols grouped in libraries of Flowcharts solution from ConceptDraw Solution Park.

Flowchart design. Flowchart symbols, shapes, stencils and icons

A flowchart is a type of diagram which represents an algorithm, process or workflow, displays the steps as boxes of various kinds and depicts their order by connecting them with arrows. Any business graphic document will be more colorful and understandable if will use professional-looking and visual diagrams and flowcharts. Flowchart design gives versatile presenting and explaining of the process. ConceptDraw PRO flowchart software enhanced with Flowcharts solution helps effectively make Flowchart Design. Use of predesigned flowchart symbols and bright color palette offers a fresh view and favorably distinguishes the flowcharts designed in ConceptDraw PRO from the black and white flowcharts on a paper. Preferably to use no more than three or four colors and apply identical for the same shape types. The best flowchart design can be achieved by starting with Flowchart template, or any of suitable ready examples or samples offered in ConceptDraw STORE, open one of them and enter the proper text into each Flowchart shape. Each symbol of the flowchart has a definition that can't be changed. This means that all flowcharts shapes can be grouped in according to their meaning. Users with ConceptDraw PRO flowchart software can style groups of symbols with close definitions by color sets chosen from complementary palette. Almost all workflows can be depicted as a flowchart. Colored diagrams are more light for perception of the certain information, this is part of flowchart design. Bright colors need to be used in the key points of Decision symbols, to focus attention on their importance for whole process flow.
Business Process Modeling with ConceptDraw
Business Process Modeling with ConceptDraw "Business Process Diagrams" Solution

Process Flowchart

The main reason of using Process Flowchart or PFD is to show relations between major parts of the system. Process Flowcharts are used in process engineering and chemical industry where there is a requirement of depicting relationships between major components only and not include minor parts. Process Flowcharts for single unit or multiple units differ in their structure and implementation. ConceptDraw PRO is Professional business process mapping software for making Process flowcharts, Process flow diagram, Workflow diagram, flowcharts and technical illustrations for business documents and also comprehensive visio for mac application. Easier define and document basic work and data flows, financial, production and quality management processes to increase efficiency of your business with ConcepDraw PRO. Business process mapping software with Flowchart Maker ConceptDraw PRO includes extensive drawing tools, rich examples and templates, process flowchart symbols and shape libraries, smart connectors that allow you create the flowcharts of complex processes, process flow diagrams, procedures and information exchange. Process Flowchart Solution is project management workflow tools which is part ConceptDraw Project marketing project management software. Drawing charts, diagrams, and network layouts has long been the monopoly of Microsoft Visio, making Mac users to struggle when needing such visio alternative like visio for mac, it requires only to view features, make a minor edit to, or print a diagram or chart. Thankfully to MS Visio alternative like ConceptDraw PRO software, this is cross-platform charting and business process management tool, now visio alternative for making sort of visio diagram is not a problem anymore however many people still name it business process visio tools.
How To Create a Process Flow Chart (business process modelling techniques)
How To Create a Process Flow Chart (business process modelling techniques)
"The general definition of an audit is a planned and documented activity performed by qualified personnel to determine by investigation, examination, or evaluation of objective evidence, the adequacy and compliance with established procedures, or applicable documents, and the effectiveness of implementation. The term may refer to audits in accounting, internal controls, quality management, project management, water management, and energy conservation.
Auditing is defined as a systematic and independent examination of data, statements, records, operations and performances (financial or otherwise) of an enterprise for a stated purpose. In any auditing the auditor perceives and recognizes the propositions before him for examination, collects evidence, evaluates the same and on this basis formulates his judgment which is communicated through his audit report. The purpose is then to give an opinion on the adequacy of controls (financial and otherwise) within an environment they audit, to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes." [Audit. Wikipedia]
The audit flowchart example "Audit process flowchart" was created using the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with the Audit Flowcharts solution from the Finance and Accounting area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.
Audit Process Flowchart
Audit Process Flowchart, terminator, tagged process, tagged document, off-page reference,
Section 1
Section 1, tagged process, off-page reference, document, decision,
Section 2
Section 2, terminator, process, off-page reference, document,
"Audit planning is a vital area of the audit primarily conducted at the beginning of audit process to ensure that appropriate attention is devoted to important areas, potential problems are promptly identified, work is completed expeditiously and work is properly coordinated. "Audit planning" means developing a general strategy and a detailed approach for the expected nature, timing and extent of the audit. The auditor plans to perform the audit in an efficient and timely manner. ...
An Audit plan is the specific guideline to be followed when conducting an audit. It helps the auditor obtain sufficient appropriate evidence for the circumstances, helps keep audit costs at a reasonable level, and helps avoid misunderstandings with the client.
It addresses the specifics of what, where, who, when and how:
What are the audit objectives?
Where will the audit be done? (i.e. scope)
When will the audit(s) occur? (how long?)
Who are the auditors?
How will the audit be done?" [Audit plan. Wikipedia]
The audit planning flowchart example was created using the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with the Audit Flowcharts solution from the Finance and Accounting area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.
www.conceptdraw.com/ solution-park/ finance-audit-flowcharts
Flowchart 1
Flowchart 1, terminator, tagged process, tagged document, off-page reference, event, decision,
Flowchart 2
Flowchart 2, terminator, process, off-page reference, document, decision,

What is Gantt Chart (historical reference)

Historical reference about the Gantt chart.

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 PRO software.
HelpDesk

How to Create Flowchart Using Standard Flowchart Symbols

Flowcharts are used to display an algorithm for consistent execution of certain steps. Flowchart is probably the easiest way to make a graphical representation of any process. Flowcharts use the set of standard geometric symbols and arrows to define relationships. ConceptDraw PRO allows you to create professional flowchart quickly and easily. The ability to create flowcharts is contained in the Flowcharts solution. The solution provides a set of special tools for creating flowcharts.
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
Annotation, annotation,
Card
Card, card,
Check / audit (diamond)
Check / audit (diamond), check, audit,
Check / audit (square)
Check / audit (square), check, audit,
Collate
Collate, collate,
Comment / note symbol (brace)
Comment / note symbol (brace), brace callout, comment, note,
Communication link
Communication link, communication link,
Compare (diamond)
Compare (diamond), compare,
Compare (square)
Compare (square), compare,
Completed form
Completed form, completed form, document,
Concurrency symbol (fork / join)
Concurrency symbol (fork / join), concurrency symbol,
Conditional selector
Conditional selector, conditional selector,
Control transfer
Control transfer, control transfer,
Database
Database, database,
Data input / output
Data input / output, data input, data output,
Decision
Decision, decision,
Decision indicator - No
Decision indicator - No, decision indicator, no,
Decision indicator - Yes
Decision indicator - Yes, decision indicator, yes,
Delay
Delay, delay,
Direct access storage
Direct access storage, direct access storage,
Disk storage
Disk storage, disk storage,
Display
Display, display,
Divided process (table view)
Divided process (table view), divided process,
Document
Document, document,
Entity (rounded)
Entity (rounded), entity,
Event
Event, event,
Extract
Extract, extract, part, device,
Flow line
Flow line, flow line, arrow, connector,
Internal storage
Internal storage, internal storage,
Junction symbol
Junction symbol, junction symbol,
Lined document
Lined document, lined document,
Lined / shaded process
Lined / shaded process, lined process, shaded process,
Loop limit
Loop limit, loop limit,
Manual file
Manual file, manual file,
Manual input
Manual input, manual input,
Manual operation
Manual operation, manual operation,
Merge
Merge, merge,
Multi document
Multi document, multi document,
Multi process
Multi process, multi process,
Off-page reference - arrow
Off-page reference - arrow, off-page reference,
Off-page reference - incoming
Off-page reference - incoming, off-page reference,
Off-page reference - outgoing
Off-page reference - outgoing, off-page reference,
On-page reference/ Inspection point
On-page reference/ Inspection point, on-page reference, inspection point,
Or
Or, or,
Page
Page, page,
Paper tape
Paper tape, paper tape,
Predefined process
Predefined process, subroutine, predefined process,
Prepare conditional
Prepare conditional, preparation, prepare conditional,
Process step
Process step, process step,
Reference point
Reference point, reference point,
Sequential access storage
Sequential access storage, sequential access storage,
Sort
Sort, sort,
Start (circle)
Start (circle), start,
Start (ellipse)
Start (ellipse), start,
Stickman pictogram
Stickman pictogram, stickman pictogram,
Stored data
Stored data, stored data,
Summary
Summary, summary,
Tagged document
Tagged document, tagged document, document,
Tagged process
Tagged process, tagged process,
Terminal point
Terminal point, terminal point,
Title block
Title block, title block,
Torso pictogram
Torso pictogram, torso pictogram,