TFLOW Software – Quick Guide

TFLOW is an educational flowchart-based programming language.

The software was developed in 1994 for the DOS environment, and includes a graphical interface based on Zinc, which was adapted to Hebrew as part of the development. The language also  supported  I/O kits developed by the company, and even included a compiler for flowcharts to an 8051 microcontroller-based system - similar to Scratch with Microbit.

The software was developed at the company "Ted - Technologocal Educational Developments" by Zeev Kotzer under the guidance of Daniel Wishnia, who developed the previous generation of Ted's flowchart language. The company, owned by entrepreneur and educator Dr. Avi Schwartz, ceased operations before the software was released, leaving only an unfinished beta software.

TFLOW, allows writing and running simple programs that include all the basic programming features:

• Input/Output - including a textual console, mouse, keyboard, and speaker (sending sound frequencies)
• Variables of various types, including multi-dimensional arrays
• Expression evaluation
• Conditions
• GOTO and Labels – GOTO, LABEL
• `For` loops - FOR
• Multiple condition (Switch) – CASE
• Procedures with local variables, passing parameters by value and by reference – By value, By Reference

The Language at a Glance

• Variables are predefined; you can mix variable types, and conversions will be performed automatically.
• You can write expressions including parentheses, order of operations, etc.
• Support exists for various arithmetic and mathematical functions, including (int, sin, cos, rnd).
• The variable Speed changes the program's execution speed (in seconds per command).
• Clicking on 'Main Program' or the top block of a procedure, allows management of variable definitions and procedure parameters.

Usage Instructions

• The software has two modes – Edit Mode and Run Mode, switched between using the Run button:
  
  

  You can control the execution speed by assigning a delay time in seconds (e.g., 0.5) to the variable 'מהירות' (Speed).

• In Edit Mode:
  • First, open the main program by double-clicking the main program icon: 
    
  • You can move the flowchart using the keyboard arrows, and zoom in/out with + and –.
  • Adding commands is done by clicking the command button and then clicking again where you want to place it.
    

    Do not try to Drag-and-Drop - instead, click on the desired command block and then click above the destination
    

  • To create a new procedure (procedure), minimize the main program using: , click the procedure button, and click again in the empty area around the main program icon.
• In Run Mode:
  • You can run step-by-step:
    
  • Or continuous and fast execution:
    

The status bar (at the bottom of the screen) provides an explanation or details about the command or button the cursor is hovering over.

Language Commands

Icon	Description
	Assignment to a variable.
	Input / Output
	Condition – IF
	Direct condition on input
	GOTO and Label. The first click creates a GOTO command, the second click creates a label or selects an existing one.
	For loop... (FOR)
	Multiple check of variable values (CASE / Switch)
	Wait (in seconds)
	Add procedure (when the main program is minimized) or Call procedure

Known Limitations

• The user interface is primitive – it does not include drag-and-drop, right-click actions, etc.
• The console only allows input in English.
• Hebrew support is VISUAL (display order) and right-to-left only, including when typing numbers.
• Switching between Hebrew and English is only possible via the buttons:
• The following buttons are non-functional / meaningless:
• After CUT, the software enters a complicated and not recommended CUT&PASTE mode. You need to click PASTE to exit this mode.
• When working in VMWARE, the mouse might occasionally stop responding. Pressing the keyboard arrows can resolve the issue.
• When run under emulation, the software might freeze after moderate use or when building a large flowchart.
  
• There are no help screens.

Flowgorithm - TFlow reborn

Flowgorithm is a very similar flowcharts based programming language for Windows. In 2021, Zeev contributed Hebrew
translation to Flowgorithm, and Devin even added a TFlow inspired color scheme to Flowgorithm.

Here is TFlow:

And here is Flowgorithm (with TFlow skin):

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