Flowgorithm Tutorial
Flowgorithm is a free flowchart software that lets you create runnable flowcharts. Flowgorithm is a visual programming language designed for beginners and students to learn programming skills. The flowchart tool is implemented using the Microsoft C# and is based on .NET 4 Framework.
Origin of the Name
Flowgorithm = Flowchart + Algorithm
The name is the fusion of two English words: “Flowchart” and “Algorithm”. Flowgorithm can interactively create source code for the flowchart in many supported programming languages.
Author
The author of Flowgorithm software is: Devin Cook
Versions
The major versions of the flowchart software are as follows:
- 2.x
- 3.x
Overview
A flowchart represents a visual or graphical modeling language to represent the flow of control, execution of the algorithm, and instructions. Introduction To Flowchart Tools
Download & Install
Flowgorithm uses Windows Installer and also supports silent installation. Steps to install the software on Windows operating system: Flowgorithm Download & Install On Windows
Flowgorithm Features
Software programs are written using a text editor or IDE ( Integrated Development Environment). Depending on the programming language, this can be easy or very difficult for a beginner. Flowgorithm is a visual programming language. It allows the programmer to visually add flowchart symbols to the flowchart and then execute them to verify the output. Flowgorithm supports many i18n languages. We can create flowcharts in the localized language.
Tool Components
Sample Flowchart
Sample Flowgorithm flowchart with an output symbol:
Toolbar Icons
Flowgorithm Menu and the Toolbar icons:
Flowchart Symbols
The Flowgorithm flowchart allows us to describe an algorithm in a visual or graphic way. The operations to be performed, are represented by Flowchart symbols. These symbols are represented by conventional shapes like rectangles, rhombuses, parallelograms, diamond symbols, etc.
Flowgorithm uses symbols to represent the different actions that we want the program to perform. Each shape has a precise logical meaning. The shape contains a textual indication that describes the activity to be performed. The sequence in which the operations must be performed is shown with connecting arrows.
Flowgorithm Data Types
Flowgorithm supports the following data types:
| Flowgorithm Data Type | Description |
| Integer | An Integer variable stores an integer number |
| Real | A Real variable stores a real number |
| String | A String variable is used to store a group of characters; for example text data |
| Boolean | Boolean variable stores either True or False |
| Array | An Array is a data structure. It can hold many values of the same data type. |
To know more information: Flowgorithm Data Types
Flowgorithm Source File
The Flowgorithm source files have an XML(Extensible Markup Language) structure. XML is a standard way of encoding data for processing and exchange across applications on the Web. Flowgorithm source files have *.fprg file extensions. We can edit the *.fprg source file directly with text editors.
Flowgorithm Source File Format
Comment Statement
Flowchart Comments are for other programmers, students, and instructors. They allow others to understand your program and logic.
Input/Output Statement
Basic flowchart input and output statements:
Execute Flowchart
Students can run and execute the flowcharts using the Flowgorithm software. The flowchart execution starts with the “Main” function. The main function has no parameters. The execution is from the top to the bottom symbol. The flowchart execution starts with the Main flowchart symbol and ends with the End symbol.
Hello World Flowchart
A common way to learn something new is to create a simple “Hello World” program with the programming language or tools we are learning. “Hello World” Flowgorithm flowchart prints the “Hello World” message on the output console window.
Hello World Flowgorithm Flowchart
Identifiers
Declare Statement
Assign Statement
Variables
Create Variables In Flowgorithm Flowchart
Layout Windows
Take User Input
User Input To Flowgorithm Flowchart
If Control
Make Decisions In Flowgorithm Flowchart
Loops
Loops allow the repetition of statements in the flowchart. Consider the simple example of printing a hundred numbers. Without loops, we need to add hundred Output statements to the flowchart to print the numbers. This will make the flowchart too big and look cumbersome.
Loop structures allow the repetition of statements. So, with a loop, we can add a single Output statement and iterate the loop a hundred times.
While Loop
For Loop
Do While Loop
Nested For Loop
We can nest loop statements inside another loop statement.
Functions
A function is a sequence of instructions designed to perform a specific well-defined task. Tasks that need to be repeated over and over again can be designed as functions. Flowgorithm functions can be broadly divided into two groups:
- Intrinsic or Built-in Functions
- User-defined Functions
Built-in Functions
The flowchart software already predefines built-in functions. Flowgorithm supports over 20 predefined functions.
Built-in Functions In Flowgorithm
User-defined Functions
User-defined functions are defined by the programmer. The programmer can design their own functions and invoke them in the flowchart. We can define the function once and reuse the function.
User-defined Functions in Flowgorithm
Call Statement
The Call statement allows the programmer to invoke functions.
Function Parameters
The programmer can pass information to the functions using the parameters.
Recursion
Flowgorithm supports recursion. A recursive function is a function that calls itself.
Recursion In Flowgorithm Flowchart
Generate Code
We can run programs directly in Flowgorithm. Alternatively, Flowgorithm can also convert the flowchart into many high-level popular language source codes. These include:
- C #
- C ++
- Java
- JavaScript
- Lua
- Perl
- Python
- QBasic
- Ruby
- Visual Basic, etc
Flowgorithm Source Code Viewer
Arrays
An array is a data structure that contains a collection of items. The items should be of the same data type, like an Integer, String, etc. Using Arrays we can store, search, sort, or retrieve data easily.
Arrays In Flowgorithm Flowchart
Flowgorithm Turtle Graphics
Flowgorithm 3.0 introduces a new feature and capability to draw Turtle graphics.
Turtle Graphics Example
Flowgorithm Turtle Graphics Flowchart
File I/O
Flowgorithm 3.0 introduces file capabilities like reading and writing text files from the flowchart.
File Symbols
Read Text File
Write Test File
Export Flowchart
We can export the Floworithm flowchart to an image file. Flowgorithm supports export to PNG(Portable Network Graphics) and SVG(Scalable Vector Graphics) image files.
Update Flowgorithm
The latest version is Flowgorithm 3.0. To update the flowchart tool from an older version:
The below steps update the tool from 2.x -> 3.x
Update Flowgorithm To Latest Version
Official Website
For more information on the tool visit the official website::