Component

A component is a device which is controlled by a Flowcode program. It can consist of two parts:

• a physical part;
• attached electronic devices.

Overview

A component can sit on the System Panel or the Dashboard Panel. The System Panel allows a three-dimensional view, whereas the Dashboard Panel is two-dimensional, and is usually used to hold input devices such as switches, so that they are always accessible, even when the component is rotated in the System Panel.

Electronic devices are located in the Components toolbox. It is divided into sections such as ‘Inputs’, ‘Outputs’, ‘Storage’ etc.

To load a device:

• locate the device that you need;
• move the cursor over it - a down-arrow appears;
• this allows you to add the device to either the System Panel or the Dashboard Panel. Click on the one you want.

Next, you need to configure its properties, such as appearance, position and electrical connections, using the Properties Panel.

To load a physical element:

• ‘click and drag’ with the mouse.

Once the element is added, its properties, such as size, position, colour, shadow etc. can be configured using the Properties Panel.

Exercises

• Exercise 2.1 - Create a mounted LED component
• Exercise 2.2 - Create flowchart 1 to make the LED component flash on and off
• Exercise 2.3 - Simulate flowchart 1.
• Exercise 2.4 - Create a traffic light component using the LED component
• Exercise 2.5 - Create flowchart 2 to control the traffic light