INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE TRENDS IN ENGINEERING (IJITE) ISSN: 2395-2946 VOLUME-07, NUMBER-01, 2015 A Comparative Study: Reverse Engineering Flowcharting Tools Nivedita Tiwari1, Lalji Prasad2 1PG Student, Truba College of Engineering & Technology, 2Professor, Truba College of Engineering & Technology Abstract - The paper describes the Reverse Engineering research effort focuses on a selection of these tools that will methodology used to produce from source code a hierarchy of be useful in maintaining the consistency of design document Flow Charts at different levels of trance and ensure consistency with its code and for understanding large systems. with code. Reverse engineering is the process of analyzing, maintaining and evolving legacy systems to understand the system The remainder of this paper is organized as follows. In the through analysis of its code structure, function and operation by section 2 we describe the works that are previously done as program discernment. The Flowchart is an approach for specifying, constructing and visualizing the system graphically literature survey. In the section 3 brief introduction to and has been in practical use on a very wide basis but still lacks structural analysis is given; focus on the use of flow charts. formal and precise understanding. By Reverse Engineering it is The main part of this paper is section 4 which will present useful in maintenance and restructuring activities during the the feature analysis of supporting tools that generate the flow development of software systems. This paper illustrates several chart through source code. Reverse engineering tools and functionality of such tools varies according to their features and capabilities. We identified benefits 2. LITERATURE SURVEY and shortcomings of these tools and assessed their applicability for software systems, their usability, and their extensibility as a There are various Reverse Engineering tools that generate case study. flow charts through source code. It is not possible to study each and every tool [12]. According to Carlisle M, Wilson T, Keywords - Reverse Engineering, Tool Evaluation, Flow Charts structure. Humphries, J and Hadfield, M [7] Raptor is a tool for flow chart based visual programming Environments. It is an MS 1. INTRODUCTION Windows based application that generates and perform black and white flowcharts by dragging and dropping complete Reverse engineering provides a new approach for structures onto the flowchart instead of individual notations requirement specification of a system [1]. Reverse and arrows. Code visual to flowchart [5] can be used to Engineering tools are very useful, but not widely used introduce its flowcharts to Microsoft Office application because that tool is not integrated and lack of many including Visio. This tool shows how the flowchart and the necessary features and capabilities [2]. In addition, a Reverse code relate to one another and is a useful indicator. Engineering process threatens many of the assets of the rejuvenate and modernize approach. This approach is always Westphal et al [8] define that without the use of diagrams or and viable if the source code for a system exists. The code flow charts, it is difficult for beginners, even with pseudo generation indicates that a generator reads the code or code to communicate the flow of a program. While flow documents related to the graphic model and generates a high- charts are not well suited for large and complex programs. level language program, just like C, C + +, Java, Perl, Ruby, Flowchart plays an important role in system analysis, Python and HTML and so on [3]. A UML tool can convert preparatory design of algorithm and system maintenance UML graphics into a specific language to predict the aspects.. So, automatic generation of a flowchart from performance of system [4]. specific language code will be a very important practical significance, it allows the designer to design the system from In this paper, we compare the various tools on the basis of high-level functions without concerning for complicated their capabilities and features that captures the functionality code [11]. According to the Andrew Scott [6], the use of the of the system and the design at an abstraction level that tool focuses on using flowcharts to develop visual solutions removes the need of language implementation. Our current to basic programming problems from which syntactically 34 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE TRENDS IN ENGINEERING (IJITE) ISSN: 2395-2946 VOLUME-07, NUMBER-01, 2015 correct program code is generated. The animation features Arrow/ the direction and interaction between the visual and code representations Connector that the reinforce student understanding of both the visual solution process and program statement flow. flows. Represents 3. STRUCTURED ANALYSIS the start Terminator points, end Structured Analysis defines the structural elements points. specifically designed to describe and understand the system. Represents a It offers following building blocks to represent flow charts: question or branch in A. Symbols Used Decision the process flow. A flowchart is a formalized graphic representation of a logic Connects sequence, work or manufacturing process, organization chart, separate or similar formalized structure. The purpose of a flow chart elements is to provide people with a common language or reference Connector across one point when dealing with a project or process. A flow chart is page. the visualization of a system or process consisting of five Connects basic objects: separate Branching elements • Process / Operation Symbols Off-page and across • Branching and Control of Flow Symbols Connector Control of multiple • File and Information Storage Symbols Flow pages. • Input and Output Symbols Symbols Combines • Data Processing Symbols Merge multiple paths. Table-1: Flow Chart Symbols Represents when Category Symbol Name Function multiple Represents a Summing branches process, Junction converge Process action, or into a single function. process. Represents Represents Series of data that are Predefined process flow Data(I/O) available for /Subroutine steps that input or Process are formally output. defined Process/ Represents elsewhere. Operation the input or Represents a Symbols Input and Document output of a process flow Preparation Output document. step. Symbols Represents Represents a multiple step that Multi- documents Manual must be Document or reports. Operation done manually. Represents Manual the manual FlowLine/ Represents 35 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE TRENDS IN ENGINEERING (IJITE) ISSN: 2395-2946 VOLUME-07, NUMBER-01, 2015 Input input of data 3. Identify the Sub processes that are included in the defined into a Processes. computer, through a 4. List the Steps and Connect in order in which they relate to keyboard. each other. Represents data housed 5. Examine and Assign a flowchart symbol for each step. File and Stored Data in a storage Informatio device. 6. Review and title the flowchart. n Storage Represents 7. Improve the flow chart (work back to the first step). Symbols Internal data stored Storage in RAM. Represents a process step that requires organizing data, information, or materials Collate according into a Data standard Processin format or g Symbols arrangement . Represents the sorting of data, information, Sort materials Fig.1. Basic Flow Chart Structure into some pre-defined C. Types and Uses of Flow Charts order. B. Construction of a Flow Chart Flow Charts are used in analyzing, designing, documenting and managing a process or program in various fields. Some Flowcharting is a tool developed in the various fields, for of the common uses of flowcharts include: showing the refined form of any process. A flowchart is a diagram made up of boxes, diamonds and other shapes, Table-2: Types and Uses connected by arrows. Flowcharting combines symbols and flow lines, to show figuratively the operation of an Category Types Uses algorithm. • Showing Basic Flow Chart controls over a Following are the steps for developing a Basic Flowchart: document-flow Document Flow through a system. 1. Define the Process and Purpose of the Flowcharting. Charts Swim lane flow • Planning a new chart project. 2. Establish the Process Boundaries (Starting and End • Documenting a points). process Data Flow Data Flow •Showing controls 36 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE TRENDS IN ENGINEERING (IJITE) ISSN: 2395-2946 VOLUME-07, NUMBER-01, 2015 Charts Diagram over a data-flow -B# is a classic reverse engineering tool provides the feature in a system. for flow chart construction in an efficient way. •Data management We investigated the capabilities of the above reverse engineering tools. Our main focus on the tool features that EPC diagram • Showing controls at a generate flow charts. physical or System Flow resource level. A. Code Visual to Flowchart Charts Workflow •Modeling a Diagram business process. Code to Flow chart generator is an automatic flow chart •Managing generator software. It can reverse engineering a program, workflow. create programming flowchart from code. With the aim of aiding programmers understand and document source code, • Showing the CVF converts program codes into flowcharts. The flowchart Basic Flow Chart controls in a view auto up-dates representing the program visually as each program within a line of code is entered into CVF text editor [3]. CVF presents system.. SDL Diagram its flowcharts and code side by side which are synchronized •Planning a new via highlighting.