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Flow Chart Editor
Hierarchical Flow Charts
Note
You cannot create a loop by connecting an output directly to the input of a previous
object on the flow chart since this could create unreachable nodes. Use a start and end
loop as described in “Adding a Loop” on page 338.
Adding an End Point
You can add an end point to a flow chart using the
button, F8 or C shortcut keys or by
choosing End Point from the Add menu. There must be at least one end point on a flow chart.
The default name for a start point can be changed by setting a preference.
Adding Other Objects on a Flow Chart
You can also add other objects such as a title block, comment text, comment graphics and
panels on a flow chart.
Hierarchical Flow Charts
A large flow chart can be decomposed into a hierarchy of smaller more manageable hierarchical
flow charts which are embedded below hierarchical action boxes in their parent flow chart. The
child chart is connected to the hierarchical action box in the parent flow chart by its start point
and end point.
You can open down into a child flow chart by double-clicking on a hierarchical action box or by
choosing Open Down from the Open cascade of the File menu (or popup menu) to explicitly
open the selected hierarchical action box.
The child flow chart is opened for in the existing window. A new child flow chart comprises a
start point, a single action box and an end point connected by flows. You can edit a hierarchical
chart in the same way as any other flow chart including more hierarchical action boxes as well
as any other flow chart objects.
You can choose Open Up from the File menu or select the name of the parent diagram in the
diagram browser to open the parent of the currently active flow chart.
Child flow charts are saved as part of the parent flow chart and named after the parent
hierarchical action box by adding the name of the parent hierarchical action box to the
concurrent flow chart name.
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Graphical Editors User Manual, V2008.1
September 18, 2008