BMS 201
Computer
programming
STEPS IN PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
Generate program objectives/Problem Defn
Design program / Algorithm Development
Write the program Code/Coding
Compile the code
Execute or run the program
Test and debug the program
Maintenance and modification
Documentation of Software
FLOWCHART DEVELOPMENT
Flowcharts are Pictorial representation of the program
logic
They help analyze the problem in more effective way.
Program flowcharts serve as a good program
documentation.
Act as a guide during the systems analysis and program
development phase.
The flowchart helps in debugging process.
Provides means of communication with others about
the program
TYPES OF FLOW CHARTS
Document flowcharts: showing a document
flow through a system
Data flowcharts: showing data flows in a
system
System flowcharts: showing controls at a
physical or resource level
Program flowchart: showing the controls in a
program within a system
FLOWCHART SYMBOLS
Start/ Stop Symbol: this is depicted
using an elliptical or a rectangle with
rounded corners symbol. Shows the
beginning and end of the flowchart
Diagram
FLOWCHART SYMBOLS
Process / Computational Symbol:
This is represented using a
rectangular symbol; and the type of
the process or computation is written
inside the symbol
Diagram
FLOWCHART SYMBOLS
Input / Output Symbol: This is
depicted by a parallelogram-like
symbol as shown below. Captures
input and output into the flowchart
Diagram
FLOWCHART SYMBOLS
Decision Symbol: A decision –
making point is represented using a
diamond symbol. Used for making
selection or taking alternatives in
decision making
Diagram
FLOWCHART SYMBOLS
Connector Symbol: This is
represented with a circular symbol, in
which two parts of a program
flowchart join or connect.
Diagram
FLOWCHART SYMBOLS
Flow line: This is depicted by using
a straight line with an arrow at the
end. It shows the direction of flow in
a program.
Diagram
FLOWCHART SYMBOLS
Off – Page Connector: This symbol
enables a programmer to connect to a
flowchart that is continued into a
second or another page, and is shown
using a trapezium
Diagram
GUIDELINES FOR DRAWING A
FLOWCHART
In drawing a proper flowchart, all necessary
requirements should be listed out in logical
order.
The flowchart should be clear, neat and easy to
follow. There should not be any room for
ambiguity in understanding the flowchart.
The usual direction of the flow of a procedure
or system is from left to right or top to bottom.
GUIDELINES FOR DRAWING A FLOWCHART
Only one flow line should come out from a
process symbol
Only one flow line should enter a decision
symbol, but two or three flow lines, one for
each possible answer, should leave the
decision symbol.
Only one flow line is used in conjunction with
terminal symbol.
1. Start
2. Product = 1
3. Count = 0
4. Input number Num
5. Sum = Sum + Num
6. Count = Count + 1
7. If Count < 35 then
8. Go to step 4
9. Else
10. Print Sum
11. End if
12. End
GUIDELINES FOR DRAWING A FLOWCHART
Write within standard symbols briefly.
For complex flowchart use connector symbols to
reduce the number of flow lines.
Avoid the intersection of flow lines
Ensure that the flowchart has a logical start and end.
It is useful to test the validity of the flowchart by
passing through it with a simple test data. Dry Running
FLOWCHARTING EXAMPLES
Example 1
Write an algorithm that can be used in calculating and
outputting the sum of the first 35 natural numbers
Convert the algorithm mentioned in (a) above into a
flowchart
Draw a flowchart to find the largest of three numbers
A, B and C.
1. Start
2. Sum = 0
3. Count = 0
4. Input number Num
5. Sum = Sum + Num
6. Count = Count + 1
7. If Count < 3 then
8. Go to step 4
9. Else
10. Print sum
11. End if
12. End
LIMITATIONS OF USING FLOWCHARTS
Complex logic: The program logic can be
quite complicated making the flowchart
complex and clumsy.
Modifications: if alterations are required the
flowchart may require re-drawing completely.
Reliability: the essentials of what is done can
easily be lost in the technical details of how it
is done.
Flowchart Exercises
As a programmer, you are told to write a program for
computing the sum of the first 20 positive integers. The
program is supposed to output the sum after computing
Write an algorithm for performing the above task
Rewrite the above algorithm using the flowchart
method
ALGORITHM
1. Start
2. Num = 0
3. Sum = 0
4. Sum = sum + num
5. Num = num + 1
6. If num <= 20 then
7. Go to step 4
8. Else
9. Print sum
10. Stop
Flow Chart Exercises
A supermarket is planning to give discounts to its
customers based on the total costs of purchases made by
the customer. Discounts are given as follows:
Total sales exceeding 5000/=, discount is 8%
Sales greater than 3000/= and less than 5000/=, discount
is 5%
Sales greater than or equal to 1500/= and less than
3000/=, discount is 2%
Sales less than 1500/=, no discount
Required: Develop an algorithm and draw up a flowchart
for a program that can be used to control this process
ALGORITHM
1. Begin
2. Get Totsale (Total Sales)
3. If Totsale > 5000 then
4. Discount = 8% * Totsale
5. Elseif Totsale >=3000 and Totsale < 5000 then
6. Discount = 5% * Totsale
7. Elseif Totsale >=1500 and Totsale < 3000 then
8. Discount = 2% *Totsale
9. Else
10. Discount =0
11. Print Totsales
12. Print Discount
13. End
