Preparation symbol (the flowchart hexagon)
The preparation symbol is a flattened hexagon. It marks a setup step: something done to get ready for the work that follows, rather than the work itself. In program flowcharts it sets a counter or a variable before a loop; in business processes it is the step that prepares the ground, such as setting up a workstation or creating an account before onboarding starts.
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Create Your Flowchart FreeWhat the hexagon means
ISO 5807 defines the hexagon as a modification of an instruction or group of instructions that changes what the program does next. In practice it means setup: initializing values before a loop, loading settings, setting a switch.
In a business process flowchart the same idea carries over: a step whose purpose is to make the next steps possible. "Create the employee's accounts", "Prepare the inspection kit", "Set up the project folder".
When the hexagon helps, and when it doesn't
Use it when you want setup work to stand apart from the core flow, for example to show how much preparation a process needs before anything useful happens. If the distinction does not matter to your reader, a rectangle is clearer, because far more people know what a rectangle means.
- Program flowcharts: initializing a counter before a loop.
- Business processes: setup done once before the main steps.
- Not for decisions: a hexagon holds no question and has one way out.
Preparation in ProcessFlowchart.app
Set a row's Shape column to Preparation and the hexagon is drawn in place and connected for you.
Frequently asked questions
What does a hexagon mean in a flowchart?
Preparation: a setup step that gets things ready for the steps after it, such as initializing a counter before a loop or setting up equipment.
Is the hexagon a decision symbol?
No. Decisions are diamonds. The hexagon has a single way out and holds no question. Some notations draw a loop's condition in a hexagon, but in standard flowcharts it means preparation.
Can I use a rectangle instead of the preparation symbol?
Yes. A rectangle labeled "Set up the workstation" is clear to every reader. Use the hexagon only when separating setup from the main work matters.
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