ABC FlowCharter
Software Review by Peter J. McNamee

Many moons ago, armed with a concept of where to go in life, a plastic template and a pencil I decided to plot my future on a piece of paper. After hours of thought and tedious drawing, a review of my handiwork uncovered mistakes in the middle of the many attempts. Crumpled papers flew across the room and generally missed the wastepaper basket. It was always back to the square one.

Things sure have changed. Since those early days two different computerized flow charting programs entered my life but seemed to be difficult to master or provide a rapid means of developing charts. Now comes ABC FlowCharter.

Purpose: Micrografx's ABC FlowCharter is a program for diagramming, modeling, analyzing, and auditing many personal and business processes. With the analysis tools you can create flowcharts for modeling existing processes, graphically portray present job flows, and facilitate improvement through cause - effect diagrams. The inclusion of the ABC Data-Analyzer lets the FlowCharter generate statistical quality charts.

ABC SnapGraphics provides an easy process for designing graphics for presentations or inclusions in special documents. The OLE feature permits accessing databases allows the interactive display a project or process status. All of these features are part of ABC FlowCharter versions 4 & 6.

With this package you can customize your analysis tools or use the built in templates to create flowcharts, process charts, cause - effect diagrams, organization charts and deployment charts. In addition, when installing ABC FlowCharter 6.0 using the CD-ROM increases the available symbols to the thousands in a format designed to resemble Microsoft Office products.

Program Package:

ABC FlowCharter includes versions for Windows 3.1, 95, and NT. Version 4.0 can be installed using six 3.5-inch high density (1.4MB) floppy disk or on a CD-ROM. The CD-ROM also contains version 6.0. Each version includes sample tutorial and help files. The programs included in this package include:

ABC FlowCharter is used for quick and easy flowcharts;
ABC Data Analyzer generates reports and statistics (meets TQM needs);
ABC SnapGraphics 2 used to create instant diagrams.
ABC Viewer allows others to see your charts and diagrams: and
ABC OLE automation facilitates linking and embedding with other programs

The 596 page ABC FlowCharter User's Guide, Version 4.0, contains tutorials and extensive information about ABC FlowCharter's tools, buttons, commands, and other features. This is supplemented with a 184 page Version 6.0 User's Guide and a plastic Quick Reference guide with simplified instructions and some short cuts for working with shapes, lines, text, objects, views, colors, data fields, diagrams, and charts. Contained in the guide, as well as various places in the program, Micrografx's licensing agreement stipulates that the licensed person can use one copy of this software on any single computer provided the software is in use on only one computer at a time. This seems to be a popular software restriction.

Research:

The review started with a scan the User's Guide indexes (see below) then a reading of 80 pages within select sections (i.e. Getting Started, Designing Flowcharts, and Working With Palettes). Although the instructions were easy to read and put into practice there was some initial problems because ABC FlowCharter, ABC Data Analyzer, and ABC SnapGraphics 2 are all under the same cover without means of identifying where one section ends and another starts. Each program had a separate Table of Contents and Index which caused some initial research frustration. However, a few swipes of a magic marker strategically placed on the edge of the pages and this problem was solved.

The minimum requirements for running the Version 4.0 package are a 386/25 or faster processor running computer running Windows 3.1 or higher with 4MB RAM in Windows 3.1 (recommends 8MB RAM), and 10 MB of free disk space (21 MB for maximum install). Also, a VGA or higher monitor with 256 minimum colors, a CD ROM or 3.5" disk drive, and a pointing device.

The minimum requirements for running the Version 6.0 package are a 486DX or faster processing computer running Microsoft Windows 95 or NT3.51 with 8MB RAM (recommends 16MB RAM), and 13 MB of free disk space (95 MB for maximum install). Also, a VGA or higher monitor with 256 minimum colors, a CD ROM or 3.5" disk drive, and a pointing device. The extra space requirements are due to the increased shapes (read graphics) and fonts available with version 6.0.

Test Platform: The equipment used to test this program consisted of a Dell 486DX66 w/40MB RAM with DOS 6.22 and Windows 3.1, a standard mouse, SVGA monitor, and 93 MB of free hard disk space. Due to current equipment limitations the test was only conducted for version 4.0. However, the install portions of both versions were tested.

Installation Process:

The complete installation process took from 10 to 12 minutes per version. Initially, Version 4.0 was installed using the CD-ROM under the Windows 3.1 Program Manager File directory. After typing "a:\ABC\INSTALL" in the Run area the process resembled many normal installation start procedures used on most computers. Also opted to load the 30-day trial versions of the Designer 4.1 and Picture Publisher 5.0 programs. Removed the program using a utility program, then reinstalled Version 4.0 using the packaged 3.5-floppies under the Windows 3.1 by typing "a:\INSTALL" in the "Run" box.

Each process resembled the normal installation start procedures used for installing most popular programs. Each installation process started with a search through the directories to discover if certain other programs were located on the hard disk. In my case, this search resulted in inquiries as to whether or not it was desirable to install program links between ABC FlowChart and my Microsoft Office applications. For version 6.0 separate steps were needed to install the FONTS to the same drive where Windows is located. This is required even if ABC FlowCharter is located on a different drive.

Let The Test Begin:

A few minutes after putting the guide aside the first chart was opened and symbols were placed here and there with lines connecting various figures. Two aborted charts later the line drawing figure was figured out and an Alamo PC program review flowchart started to take shape (no pun intended). Designing this simple flowchart required only 10 of the more than 400 available shapes and 3 (audit, networks, and organization) of the 26 available palettes.

The ABC font collection consisted of 245 different styles - - from Ad Lib BT to Zurich Ultra Black. Even after many self-induced mistakes, the flowchart was completed, amended, edited, and printed within a few hours. Future endeavors will see drastic reductions in the time spent going from a mental picture to a finished chart. Considering this first endeavor, a little practice switching between the multiple shapes, fonts, connections, and embroidery should reduce the initiation to completion time while improving the end product results.

The program operates within a drag and drop environment so mouse users will have an advantage of keyboard attics. The strong mix of ready to use tools not only provides for simple use but will also lead to more creative and effective diagrams. This program also grabbed data from an Excel program and provide a good graphical display of item relationships.

Positives:

ABC FlowCharter is designed for use by the artistically challanged (such as myself) up to the business professional. The ease by which a newbie can dive into this package and come up with passable charts is definitely a plus. Someone with little to no flowcharting experience could glean enough knowledge from the User's Guide to design a useable, practical product. Each segment of the guide provides the reasons for having that area in this program. Many segments of the book and help menu explanations were tutorial in nature. Another nice thing for us world travelers was that ABC FlowCharter 6 supports double-byte character sets so it can use it on non-English character sets.

Limitations:

For me, the main limitation was the lack of a "Uninstall ABC FlowCharter" program. You have to rely on an outside utility if you want to effectively remove ABC FlowCharter from your hard disk. Although it did not cause me any problems this time other program removals have resulted in leaving my machine with peripheral problems. Could not locate an email address for problem resolution or additional information. However, did locate an ABC FlowCharter's User Group, www.carros.com.

Warning:

The box should carry this warning --Program Sampling May Be Contagious. With just a little exposure you may find the program growing on you. Some off-the-wall uses that have run through my mind were to create flowcharts/diagrams for video recording, web browser reviews, setting up computer peripherals, packing for trips, etc.

Availability/Price:

There was no suggested retail price with the package. However, a review of Micrografx's web site co-sponsor, Carros, lists the ABC FlowCharter cost as $199 plus shipping and tax. Texas tax is 8.25 percent. Calls to local software shops revealed that CompUSA carried a version 6.0 upgrade for $99.95 and a 7.0 upgrade for $139.95. Best Buy carries ABC FlowCharter but has not had any for over six months and did not have any price listed. None of the other retailers had ABC FlowCharter.

Should you desire to look into ABC FlowCharter some more you can visit the user web site, www.carros.com, email them at Carras@onramp.net, or write to Micrografx Customer Sales and Service, 1303 Arapaho Rd, Richardson TX 75081 or telephone (214) 234-1769.

ABC FlowCharter Software Review by Peter J. McNamee