Using Data Flow Diagrams

5
Kendall & Kendall, Systems Analysis and Design, 9e
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Learning Objectives
▪ Comprehend the importance of using logical and physical data flow
diagrams (DFDs) to graphically depict movement for humans and
systems in an organization.
▪ Create, use, and explode logical DFDs to capture and analyze the
current system through parent and child levels.
▪ Develop and explode logical DFDs that illustrate the proposed
system.
▪ Produce physical DFDs based on logical DFDs you have developed.
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▪ Graphically characterize data processes and flows

in a business system

Data Flow ▪ Depict:

▪ System inputs
Diagrams ▪ Processes
▪ Outputs
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▪ Data flow diagram symbols

▪ Data flow diagram levels
Major Topics ▪ Creating data flow diagrams
▪ Physical and logical data flow diagrams
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▪ Freedom from committing to the technical

implementation too early
Advantages of
▪ Understanding of the interrelatedness of systems and
the Data Flow subsystems
Approach ▪ Communicating current system knowledge to users
▪ Analysis of the proposed system
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▪ A double square for an external entity

▪ An arrow for movement of data from one point to
another
Basic Symbols ▪ A rectangle with rounded corners for the occurrence
of a transforming process
▪ An open-ended rectangle for a data store
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The Four Basic Symbols

Used in Data Flow
Diagrams, Their Meanings,
and Examples
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▪ Represent another department, a business, a

person, or a machine

External Entities ▪ A source or destination of data, outside the

boundaries of the system
▪ Should be named with a noun
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▪ Shows movement of data from one point to another

▪ Described with a noun
Data Flow ▪ Arrowhead indicates the flow direction
▪ Represents data about a person, place, or thing
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▪ Denotes a change in or transformation of data

▪ Represents work being performed in the system
▪ Naming convention:
Process ▪ Assign the name of the whole system when naming a
high-level process
▪ To name a major subsystem attach the word subsystem to
the name
▪ Use the form verb-adjective-noun for detailed processes
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▪ A depository for data that allows examination,

addition, and retrieval of data
▪ Named with a noun, describing the data
▪ Data stores are usually given a unique reference
Data Store number, such as D1, D2, D3
▪ Represents a:
▪ Database
▪ Computerized file
▪ Filing cabinet
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Steps in Developing
Data Flow Diagrams
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Creating the Context Diagram

Contains only All external

The highest The process is
one process, entities, as well
level in a data given the
representing the as major data
flow diagram number 0
entire system flows are shown
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▪ The data flow diagram must have one process

▪ Must not be any freestanding objects
▪ A process must have both an input and output data
flow
Basic Rules ▪ A data store must be connected to at least one
process
▪ External entities should not be connected to one
another
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Context Diagram
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Drawing Diagram 0

Major data
The explosion of May include up
Each process is stores and all
the context to nine
numbered external entities
diagram processes
are included
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▪ Start with the data flow from an entity on the input side
Drawing ▪ Work backward from an output data flow
Diagram 0 ▪ Examine the data flow to or from a data store

(continued) ▪ Analyze a well-defined process

▪ Take note of any fuzzy areas
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Note Greater Detail

in Diagram 0
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Data Flow Diagram Levels

Data flow diagrams are built in layers

The top level is the context level

Each process may explode to a lower level

The lower level diagram number is the same as the parent process number

Processes that do not create a child diagram are called primitive

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▪ Each process on diagram 0 may be exploded to

create a child diagram
▪ A child diagram cannot produce output or receive
Creating Child input that the parent process does not also produce

Diagrams or receive
▪ The child process is given the same number as the
parent process
▪ Process 3 would explode to Diagram 3
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▪ Entities are usually not shown on the child diagrams

below Diagram 0
Creating Child ▪ If the parent process has data flow connecting to a
Diagrams data store, the child diagram may include the data
store as well
(continued) ▪ When a process is not exploded, it is called a
primitive process
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▪ A complete example can be found on this link:

https://www.w3computing.com/systemsanalysis/data-
Example flow-diagram-dfd-example/
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Differences between
the Parent Diagram
(above) and the Child
Diagram (below)
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Data Flow Diagrams Error Summary

Forgetting to include a data flow or pointing an arrow in the

wrong direction

Connecting data stores and external entities directly to each

other

Incorrectly labeling processes or data flow

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Data Flow Diagrams Error Summary (continued)

Including more than nine processes on a data flow diagram

Omitting data flow

Creating unbalanced decomposition (or explosion) in child

diagrams
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Checking the
Diagrams for
Errors

▪ Forgetting to include a data flow or pointing an arrow in

the wrong direction
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Checking the
Diagrams for
Errors (continued
Figure 7.5)

▪ Connecting data stores and external entities directly to

each other
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Typical Errors that Can

Occur in a Data Flow
Diagram (Payroll Example)
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▪ Logical
▪ Focuses on the business and how the business operates
Logical and ▪ Not concerned with how the system will be constructed
▪ Describes the business events that take place and the
Physical Data data required and produced by each event

Flow Diagrams ▪ Physical

▪ Shows how the system will be implemented
▪ Depicts the system
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Features Common of
Logical and Physical
Data Flow Diagrams
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The Progression of
Models from Logical
to Physical
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Logical Data Flow Diagram Example

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Physical Data Flow Diagram Example

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▪ Better communication with users

Developing ▪ More stable systems

▪ Better understanding of the business by analysts
Logical Data ▪ Flexibility and maintenance
Flow Diagrams ▪ Elimination of redundancy and easier creation of the
physical model
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▪ Clarifying which processes are performed by humans

and which are automated
▪ Describing processes in more detail
Developing ▪ Sequencing processes that have to be done in a
Physical Data particular order
▪ Identifying temporary data stores
Flow Diagrams
▪ Specifying actual names of files and printouts
▪ Adding controls to ensure the processes are done
properly
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▪ Each use case defines one activity and its trigger,

Use Cases and input, and output
Data Flow ▪ Allows the analyst to work with users to understand
Diagrams the nature of the processes and activities and then
create a single data flow diagram fragment
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▪ Data flow diagrams

▪ Structured analysis and design
tools that allow the analyst to
comprehend the system and
subsystems visually as a set of
interrelated data flows
Summary ▪ DFD symbols
▪ Rounded rectangle
▪ Double square
▪ An arrow
▪ Open-ended rectangle
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▪ Creating the logical DFD

▪ Context-level data flow diagram
▪ Level 0 logical data flow diagram
▪ Child diagrams
Summary
▪ Creating the physical DFD
(continued)
▪ Create from the logical data flow
diagram
▪ Partitioned to facilitate
programming
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