Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
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Quick answers
When should I pick Flowchart?
When the story is: decisions, loops and hand-offs in a procedure.
When should I avoid Flowchart?
Skip it in cases like: the structure is a hierarchy or a free brainstorm.
Who invented or popularised it?
Frank Gilbreth process charts, 1921; ANSI/ISO flowchart symbols later
What does it encode?
topology of labelled boxes and directed edges
Is it OK in ads?
Yes if one claim is visible at a glance in Meta, Google and retail print; otherwise link to a full figure.
Will a teacher accept it?
Yes for lab reports and poster boards if axes, units and a source line are present.
Flowchart encodes values as topology of labelled boxes and directed edges. Frank Gilbreth process charts, 1921; ANSI/ISO flowchart symbols later.
In reports, ads and assignments it fits decisions, loops and hand-offs in a procedure. Skip it when the structure is a hierarchy or a free brainstorm.
Parts
- Mark — The core mark of Flowchart is topology of labelled boxes and directed edges.
- Scale — The scale must show zero (or a declared break) and units.
- Axis — Axis titles name the variable, not a mood.
- Legend — A legend is weaker than a direct label. Write beside the mark when you can.
- Label — Numbers are optional. If comparison is the job, label the ends only.
- Grid — Keep the grid faint. Data should own the ink.
- Annotation — One annotation sentence. Date the source.
- Frame — A thin frame. Never a 3-D box.
Variants
- Process map — Variant 1 of Flowchart (Process map). Same encoding, different layout.
- ISO 5807 — Variant 2 of Flowchart (ISO 5807). Same encoding, different layout.
- Decision flow — Variant 3 of Flowchart (Decision flow). Same encoding, different layout.
- Flowchart 4 — Variant 4 of Flowchart (Flowchart 4). Same encoding, different layout.
Labels
- Axis — On Flowchart, make Mark readable.
- Legend — On Flowchart, make Scale readable.
- Label — On Flowchart, make Axis readable.
- Grid — On Flowchart, make Legend readable.
- Annotation — On Flowchart, make Label readable.
Flowchart: honour topology of labelled boxes and directed edges, and switch when the structure is a hierarchy or a free brainstorm.