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Lecture 6 DFD

The document provides an overview of Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs), which are graphical tools used to illustrate the flow of information within a system, highlighting data movement, processes, and storage. It emphasizes the importance of DFDs for visual communication, system analysis, error detection, and documentation, while also detailing the symbols and guidelines for constructing DFDs. Additionally, it includes exercises and examples to illustrate the application of DFDs in various systems.

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Thanushasree Vellaisamy
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15 views30 pages

Lecture 6 DFD

The document provides an overview of Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs), which are graphical tools used to illustrate the flow of information within a system, highlighting data movement, processes, and storage. It emphasizes the importance of DFDs for visual communication, system analysis, error detection, and documentation, while also detailing the symbols and guidelines for constructing DFDs. Additionally, it includes exercises and examples to illustrate the application of DFDs in various systems.

Uploaded by

Thanushasree Vellaisamy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Data and Process Modeling

DATA FLOW DIAGRAM (DFD)


Introduction to Data and
Process Modeling
•A critical aspect of systems analysis and design.

•Helps in understanding the movement,


transformation, and storage of data within a system.

•Provides insights into the data entities and their


relationships

•Focuses on the activities that manipulate data.


What is a Data Flow Diagram (DFD)
• A graphical tool used to depict the flow of information
within a system.

It shows:
• How data enters and leaves a system
• The processes that change or manipulate data
• The data stores that hold data
• The entities that interact with the system

Commonly used to represent the functional perspective


of a system, especially during the analysis phase of the
System Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
Importance of DFDs

•Visual Communication:
•Provide a clear and visual way to represent data
flow, making it easy for both technical and non-
technical stakeholders to understand.

•System Analysis:
•Helps analysts in identifying the system's
boundaries and how it interacts with external
entities.
Importance of DFDs

•Error Detection:
•Simplifies identifying redundant or missing
processes and data flows.

•Documentation:
•Serves as a documented blueprint for developers
to understand and implement the system.
DFD Symbols and Notation
The following symbols are typically used

•Process (Circle):
• Represents a function that transforms incoming
data flows into outgoing data flows.
• Labeled with a verb and a noun, e.g., Process
Order.

•Data Flow (Arrow):


• Shows the direction of data movement between
entities, processes, and data stores.
• Labeled with nouns, e.g., Order Details.
DFD Symbols and Notation

The following symbols are typically used

•Data Store (Open Rectangle):


• Represents storage locations for data within the
system.
• Labeled with nouns and numbers, e.g., D1:
Customer Database.

•External Entity (Square):


• Represents sources or destinations of data outside
the system.
• Labeled with nouns, e.g., Customer or Supplier.
DFD Symbols and Notation
Four basic symbols represent processes, data flows,
data stores, and entities
Guidelines for Constructing DFDs
• Identify Major Processes and Flows: Begin by
identifying primary processes, entities, data flows, and
data stores.

• Maintain Consistency: Keep labels consistent across


different levels of DFDs.

• Limit Complexity per Level: Each DFD level should not


have more than 7±2 processes to avoid clutter.

• Use Meaningful Names: Processes should use action-


oriented labels (verb + noun) for clarity.

• Verify and Validate: Review with stakeholders to ensure


accuracy and completeness.
Exercise: AIS DFD – Sales Order
Processing System
A small business receives customer orders through an
online system. The process is as follows:

1.A customer submits a sales order via an online form.


2.The sales department reviews the order and checks
the product inventory to confirm availability.
3.If the items are in stock, the system creates a sales
invoice and stores the order in the sales order file.
4.The accounts department receives the invoice and
updates the accounts receivable ledger.
5.The warehouse prepares and ships the product to
the customer and updates the inventory records.
Exercise: AIS DFD – Sales Order
Processing System
No. Entity Name Description

No. Process Name Description


1
2
3
4

No.Data Store Name Purpose


D1
D2
D3
Exercise: AIS DFD – Sales Order
Processing System –Data flow
To Data
No. From (Entity/Process)
(Process/Store) Description

5
Levels of DFDs
Context Diagram (Level 0 DFD):

•A high-level overview that represents the


entire system as a single process.

•Shows system boundaries, major external


entities, and data flows between them and
the system.
Context diagram DFD – Food
Ordering Systems
Discussion

•Describe the ‘who’, ‘what’, ‘where’ and ‘how’


of the Food ordering system
Context DFD Exercises
Exercise 1:
Draw a context DFD for an Inventory
Management System within an AIS that
interacts with the following entities:

• Warehouse: Provides stock data and receives


inventory updates.
• Suppliers: Send shipment data and receive
purchase orders.
• Management: Receives stock level reports.
Context DFD Exercises
Exercise 2:
Identify at least three data flows for an
Accounts Payable System. The system
interacts with Vendors and Management.

Exercise 3:
•In an Expense Tracking System within an
AIS:
•List the potential external entities.
•Draw the data flows that would occur
between these entities and the system.
Levels of DFDs
Level 0 DFD:

•Expands the context diagram by


decomposing the single process into major
sub-processes.

•Provides more detail about the main


processes within the system.
Level 0 DFD - Food ordering
systems
Discussion

•Describe the ‘who’, ‘what’, ‘where’ and ‘how’


of the Food ordering system
Level 1 DFD Exercises
Consider a Sales Order Processing System that receives
orders from customers, checks inventory, prepares the
shipment, and updates the sales records. The system has the
following components:
1.Customer: Submits an order.
2.Inventory System: Provides inventory data and receives
inventory updates.
3.Shipping Department: Prepares and ships orders.
4.Sales Database: Receives updated sales records.
• Tasks:
1.Draw a Level 0 DFD for the Sales Order Processing
System.
2.Identify each sub-process within the system.
3.Label the data flows clearly.
Level 1 DFD Exercises
An Online Bookstore System processes customer
orders, manages inventory, and handles payments.
The system interacts with:
1.Customer: Places an order.
2.Payment Processor: Processes payments.
3.Warehouse: Updates stock and ships the order.
Tasks:
1.Develop a Level 0 DFD showing the main processes
involved in the Online Bookstore System.
2.Identify and label the sub-processes within the
system.
3.Show all relevant data flows between processes,
external entities, and data stores.
Data Flow Diagram Symbols

Examples of correct uses of external entities in a


data flow diagram.
Data Flow Diagram Symbols

Examples of incorrect uses of external entities.


An external entity must be connected by a data flow to a
process, and not directly to a data store or to another
external entity.
Data Flow Diagram Symbols
•Data flow
symbols - Line
with a single or
double arrowhead
Data Flow Diagram Symbols
•Data flow and process combinations that must
be avoided
• Spontaneous generation
• Black holes
• Gray holes
Data Flow Diagram Symbols
Concept of Balancing

•When two data flow diagrams have equivalent


external data flows, they are said to be
balanced.

•Only balanced sets of data flow diagrams are


correct
Example of Balancing
A
External
entity
Customer
1.0
Process
A C

2.0
Process
D
Context
Database
process

B
External External
entity entity
How is playing the piano like
drawing DFDs?

•You can’t learn to do it by just


watching someone else.
•You can’t learn to do it by just looking
at examples.
•Your first attempts are clumsy.
•Practice leads to improvement and
maybe even perfection.

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