Basic FlowChartX item types are Box, Table and Arrow. Combined and linked together they can represent complex data structures such as process or entity-relationship diagrams, class hierarchies, etc. Items' many features can be customized programmatically through numerous methods and properties. FlowChartX also offers to users intuitive interface for creating and modifying diagram items interactively.

Boxes

Boxes can represent classes in class-hierarchies, flowchart elements, icons in network diagrams, etc. They can hold both graphics and text in different fonts, sizes and colors. There are 87 predefined box shapes, and additionally FlowChartX offers an easy way to define custom shapes. Boxes whose Style is set to bsShape can be rotated, either interactively using the round selection handle drawn above them, or programmatically using the RotationAngle property. Box outlook can be customized further using several types of custom painting. The first type gives you full control over the painting. With the second one your painting code is performed additionally to the basic painting. The third one performs standard drawing of boxes and custom drawing of their shadows.

Tables

Tables can be used to represent table schemas in database diagrams or classes in class-hierarchies. A table contains cells arranged in a  grid, and every cell can display text with optional image or a checkbox, as set via the CellType indexed property. Cells can span several rows and columns as set in the CellRowSpan and CellColumnSpan properties. Cells, columns and rows can be customized in various ways - there are properties available for setting their extents, style, image and text alignment. Tables' dimensions can be programmatically changed; inserting, appending or deleting rows and columns can be done via a single method call. Tables can also display background images and graphics. The image formats supported are BMP, GIF, JPEG, ICO and WMF (same applies for boxes).

Decorations

Decorations are lightweight objects that can be used for drawing background graphics such as frames, lane divider lines, etc. Decorations do not participate in graph or parent-child relationships with other objects in the flowchart. The only decoration type available at this time is DecorationLine.

Arrows

Arrows are used to represent various types of connections and relations in diagrams. FlowChartX offers three basic arrow-types:

• poly-line arrows composed of straight-line segments;
• curved arrows composed of Bezier or spline segments;
• arrows composed of horizontal and vertical segments, alternating their orientation so that every segment is perpendicular to its neighbor.

Each arrow has to be connected to a box or a table object. You can use transparent boxes on any side of an arrow to make it appear as 'hanging'. Some customizable arrow's properties are: tip styles, colors, text, pen width and style, modification behavior and number of segments.