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Data Flow Diagram 3

A Data Flow Diagram (DFD) is a graphical representation of the flow of data through an information system. It shows the processes, external entities, data stores, and flows of data between these components. There are two types of DFDs - logical DFDs describe the system independently of implementation, while physical DFDs describe the actual entities involved in the current system. PowerDesigner software provides tools and features to help model and design DFDs, including support for different DFD notations, automatic numbering, validation rules, and a DFD-specific toolbox.

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123 views3 pages

Data Flow Diagram 3

A Data Flow Diagram (DFD) is a graphical representation of the flow of data through an information system. It shows the processes, external entities, data stores, and flows of data between these components. There are two types of DFDs - logical DFDs describe the system independently of implementation, while physical DFDs describe the actual entities involved in the current system. PowerDesigner software provides tools and features to help model and design DFDs, including support for different DFD notations, automatic numbering, validation rules, and a DFD-specific toolbox.

Uploaded by

Haco Chinedu Obasi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Data Flow Diagram (DFD)

The Data Flow Diagram (DFD) is a graphical representation of the flow of data through an
information system. It enables you to represent the processes in your information system from
the viewpoint of data. The DFD lets you visualize how the system operates, what the system
accomplishes and how it will be implemented, when it is refined with further specification.

Data flow diagrams are used by systems analysts to design information-processing systems but
also as a way to model whole organizations. You build a DFD at the very beginning of your
business process modeling in order to model the functions your system has to carry out and the
interaction between those functions together with focusing on data exchanges between processes.
You can associate data with conceptual, logical, and physical data models and object-oriented
models.

There are two types of DFDs, both of which support a top-down approach to systems analysis,
whereby analysts begin by developing a general understanding of the system and gradually break
components out into greater detail:

Logical data flow diagrams - are implementation-independent and describe the system,
rather than how activities are accomplished.

Physical data flow diagrams - are implementation-dependent and describe the actual
entities (devices, department, people, etc.) involved in the current system.

DFDs can also be grouped together to represent a sub-system of the system being analyzed.

A data flow diagram can look as follows:

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PowerDesigner support for DFD includes:

Support for the Gane & Sarson and Yourdon notations, which you choose between by
selecting Tools > Model Options.

Automatic processes and data stores numbering (see Process and Data Store Numbering).

Data flow diagram balancing (see Data Flow Diagram Balancing).

Data Flow Diagram specific validation rules (F4) - PowerDesigner may perform
automatic corrections to your model or output errors and warnings that you will have to
correct manually.

In addition to PowerDesigner's standard Toolbox, a Data Flow Diagram toolbox is available to


let you rapidly create objects specific to the diagram type:

Concept Tool Gane & Sarson Yourdon Description

Process Location where data is


transformed. See Process.

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Concept Tool Gane & Sarson Yourdon Description

Flow Oriented link between


objects, which conveys data.
See Flow.

Data store Repository of data. See Data


store.

External entity Source or destination of


data. See External entity.

Split/Merge Splits a flow into several


flows or merges flows from
different sources into one
flow. See Split/merge.

This chapter outlines the specifics of PowerDesigner's support for data flow diagrams, and
should be read in conjunction with Business Process Diagrams.

Creating a Data Flow Diagram


You create a data flow diagram from the business process diagram with the Data Flow
Diagram process language attached.

Designing for Data Flow Diagram


This section explains the DFD's objects and how to design each object in the
PowerDesigner Business Process Model.

Parent topic: Process Language Definition Reference

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