The easiest way to create stunning charts and diagrams
Flowcharts
Corporate Charts
Systems Design
Training Materials
Procedures
12777 Jones Road, Suite 445
Houston, Texas 77070
Kaetron Sales (713) 890-3434
Kaetron Support (713) 890-6171
or FAX (713) 890-6767
Take a look and see how other Kaetron customers are putting TopDown® to great use:
• Documenting work steps to ensure uniform implementation of tasks by all employees.
— Director of Personnel
• Doing a “mind dump” of everything that he knows about the company’s operations and his job responsibilities.
— Retiring Executive
• Understanding pieces of existing code and how they fit together.
— Database Designer
• Developing a requirements definition in cooperation with the user to iron out the details and flaws before starting to program.
— Programmer
• Showing clients relationships to their subsidiaries.
— Attorney
About TopDown
TopDown is the Macintosh drawing program designed exclusively for creating organization charts, flowcharts, documentation sheets, procedures, and training materials more easily than ever before. It is one of the top-rated programs in its class with a rating of 41/2 mice from MacUser Magazine.
Follow the steps in this demo manual to get a glimpse of TopDown’s many powerful features.
System Requirements
TopDown runs on Macintosh Plus and newer models. A hard disk is recommended. TopDown supports printing on Mac compatible printers, dot matrix printers, and plotters. It is MultiFinder compatible and supports color. System 6.02 or later is required.
Getting Ready
Your Macintosh should be plugged in, turned on and ready to go. If not, refer to your Macintosh Owner’s Guide and follow the instructions there.
You may copy and distribute this demonstration package, but you may not charge for it.
Installing TopDown
To install TopDown onto your hard disk:
1. Insert the TopDown diskette into the floppy drive.
2. Select the TopDown®, TopDown® .Pref, TopDown® .Help and Example of TD icons on the demo disk and drag them to the hard disk. They must reside in the same folder on the hard disk. Store the original diskette for safekeeping.
TopDown’s Structure
A TopDown document is a collection of drawings which make up your overall design.
Each drawing can be thought of as an expandable sheet of paper. It may be as large as 48 pages and contain up to 32,000 symbols.
Every symbol can have an associated lower level drawing where you can show additional details. To make an associated drawing appear, simply double-click on the parent symbol.
For even more detailed information, a Notecard of up to 32,000 characters can be added to any symbol.
TopDown Examples
Take a look at what TopDown can do:
There are example files on the demo disk that show you just a few of the ways you can use TopDown. Take a moment and browse through them.
Examples include:
• Engineering Template
• Data Flow Diagram
• Network Diagram
• Organization Chart
• Structure Chart
• Flowchart
• Operating Procedure
• General Graphics
To view the examples, simply:
• Double click on any example icon
• Click in the Close Box in the upper left corner to close the example
• Select “Quit” from the File menu when you are finished
Now that you have an idea of what TopDown can do, follow the step-by-step instructions on the next page to create a drawing of your own.
Creating a Sample Chart
Here is an overview of the steps you will follow to create your first TopDown drawing.
Steps for the creation of a TopDown drawing
Setting the Defaults
The fastest way to create a chart or diagram is to select your basic settings before you begin. TopDown allows you to quickly define many of the settings that you will want for your drawing.
Start TopDown by double-clicking on the TopDown application icon.
For the purpose of this sample drawing, select the following settings:
Text
• Under the Text menu, select “Geneva” from the Font menu, “12” as the Size, “Plain” from the Style menu, and “Center” from the Justification menu.
• Under the Layout menu, choose Grid & Rulers and select “Turn Grid On.”
Connecting Lines
• Under the Lines menu, select the “right arrow” routing.
Symbols
• Under the Symbols menu, choose “Set Standard Size” and drag the lower right handle to the left until the symbol is 1 inch high and 11/2 inch wide and click “Set”. This will allow you to create all of your symbols at the same size.
• Under the Special menu, choose “Change Mode” and click the “Standard” size for Symbols. Then Click “OK”.
Creating Your Chart
We will create a simple drawing that looks like the one below. It details the steps and decisions involved in deciding how to spend the day. Follow the steps below.
Your first flowchart
Place Your Symbols
1. Select the rectangle tool from the TopDown Palette.
2. Position the crosshairs cursor where you want the upper left corner of the symbol and click the mouse.
3. Your symbol will display automatically in blinking text insertion mode.
4. Type, “What will we do today?” and notice that it is formatted in the font and point size that you previously selected. Your text will remain vertically centered as you type.
5. Select the diamond tool from the TopDown Palette. Click the mouse to the right of the rectangle you just created. Type, “Is it raining?”
6. Create another rectangle to the right of the diamond and type, “We will go to the beach.”
7. Create the last rectangle beneath the diamond and type, “We will go to the movies.”
Add Connecting Lines
1. Select the connecting line tool from the TopDown Palette.
2. Click on the rectangle you created which says, “What will we do today?” It will highlight. Then click on the diamond. A connecting line now appears.
3. Click on the diamond and then click on the rectangle which says, “We will go to the beach.” A connecting line is drawn automatically.
4. Now click on the diamond and then click on the rectangle which says, “We will go to the movies.”
5. Click on the diamond and then click on the rectangle which says, “We will go to the beach.” Notice the new line connection.
Add Captions
1. Now you can create the caption text which answers the question about whether or not it is raining.
2. To create this text, select the Text tool from the TopDown Palette. Click on the drawing to create a text block ready to accept your text.
3. Type in the word “Yes” and press the Enter key.
4. Now select the line between the diamond and the rectangle which says, “We will go to the movies.”
5. Press the Command key and click in the handle at the endpoint closest to the diamond. The hollow handle will turn into a solid black circle. Release the Command key and click on the word “Yes”.
6. This word is now bound to the connecting line and will move with the line anytime the symbol is moved or resized.
7. Repeat this process for the word “No” and bind it to the endpoint closest to the diamond between the diamond and the rectangle which says, “We will go to the beach.”
Create a Notecard
Notecard for your flowchart
1. Now we will create a Notecard which will tell us what to take with us to the beach.
2. Click on the symbol which says “We will go to the beach.”
3. Select “Create Notecard” from the Symbols menu. Type a title for your Notecard and click “OK”.
4. The window displayed is now ready to accept your text. Type in the following list: “towels, suntan lotion, drinks, sandwiches and beach ball”.
5. Click in the Close Box and notice that the symbol number for that symbol is now displayed in bold text. This indicates that this symbol has a Notecard associated with it.
Name Your Drawing
1. Now we will name your drawing. Under the Special menu, choose “Change Drawing Title” and type in a name for your first drawing and click “OK”.
2. Choose “Save” from the File menu. Name your document and click Save.
3. Your drawing should look like the sample on page 6 when you choose “Print Drawing” from the File menu.
Now that you are familiar with TopDown, try creating some charts and diagrams of your own.
To get your full working copy of TopDown simply use the order form at the back of this booklet.
TopDown Specifications
Applications
• Flowcharts
• Organization charts
• Systems design
• Training materials
• On-screen presentations
• Graphic outlines
• Business plan documentation
• Corporate structure diagrams
• Procedure documentation
Easy to Use
• Familiar click and drag method of drawing
• Revolving palette keeps workspace uncluttered
• Easy to navigate around design
• Details remain hidden until needed
• Extensive On-Line Help
Time Saving Features
• ANSI and Custom Symbols
• Full control over line placement
• Auto line re-routing when symbols are moved or resized
• Structure Chart Symbols
• Text binding to connecting lines
• Connection of caption text to other symbols
• 32,000 character Notecards
• Standard and variable size symbols
• Full pattern support
• Color
Exports
• Drawings as PICTs
• Notecards as TEXT
• Outline, cross reference and error reports as TEXT
Navigation
• Pop-up menus to move between drawings
• Anchor points on each drawing which act like bookmarks
• Vertical and horizontal screen splitters
• OffPage connectors to connect symbols on different drawings
• Text search
Get TopDown for Yourself
If you have any questions about TopDown, or using this package, call our technical support hotline at (713) 890-6171. We’ll be happy to give you any help you need. For sales information please call (713) 890-3434 or fax us at (713) 890-6767.
You can see what a powerful charting and diagramming tool you can have with TopDown. TopDown retails for $345.00 but is yours for only $50.00 through this offer. Use the order form (TopDown Order Form in the Examples Folder) to order your copy of TopDown today!
