The Data Flow Model

CS451
Topic 6: DFD Tutorial

Every computer-based system is an

information transform ....

Yugi Lee
STB #555 computer
(816) 235-5932 input based output
system
leeyu@umkc.edu
www.sice.umkc.edu/~leeyu

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Data Flow Modeling Notation External Entity & Process

External Entity: A producer or consumer of data

external entity
•Data must always originate somewhere and must always
be sent to something e.g., a person, a device, a sensor,
process computer-based system

Process: A data transformer

data flow (changes input to output)
•Data must always be processed in some way to achieve
data store system function e.g., compute taxes, determine area,
format report, display graph
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Data Stores
Data Flow

Data is often stored for later use.

Data flows through a system, beginning
sensor #
as input and be transformed into output. sensor #, type,
look-up location, age
sensor
base report required data
compute type,
area
triangle location, age
area sensor number
height
sensor data

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 Constructing a DFD—I Constructing a DFD—II

• review ERD to isolate data objects and • write a narrative describing the transform
grammatical parse to determine “operations)
• parse to determine next level transforms
• determine external entities (producers and
consumers of data • “balance” the flow to maintain data flow
• create a level 0 DFD continuity
user
processing
request requested
• develop a level 1 DFD
video
digital
video signal – use a 1:5 (approx.) expansion ratio
monitor
processor
video
source NTSC
video signal

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The Data Flow Hierarchy Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs)

• Analysis tool
a b • System modeling
x P y level 0
• Excellent documentation tool
a c p2
f
• Data flow, aka, business process
p1

p4 b
• Provide a way to see the pattern
d 5
p3 e g – Systems Thinking
level 1
– Systems View
– Systems Approach

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Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs) Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs)

• Advantages for systems view, working with • Simple rule:
users: – left to right, top to bottom, basically (like English)
(1) External Entity
- source and
– Show all processes
destination of – data flows must start or end in a process
data
(2) Process – beware of black holes - every process and data store
must produce data
(3) Data Store – no “magic processes” - must enter all needed data to
get data out
(4) Data Flow

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 DFD Example DFD Example: Step 1

Bebop Records is a mail-order company that distributes CDs FIRST SENTENCE:

and tapes at discount price to record-club members. When an Bebop Records is a mail-order company that distributes CDs and
order processing clerk receives an order form, he or she tapes at discount price to record-club members.
verifies that the sender is a club member by checking the
Member file. If the sender is not a member, the clerk returns RESULT: initial title
the order along with a membership application form. If the
customer is a member, the clerk verifies the order item data
by checking the Item file. Then the clerk enters the order data Bebop Records
and saves it to the Daily Orders file. The clerk also prints an
invoice and shipping list for each order, which are forwarded
to Order Fulfillment.

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DFD Example: Step 2 DFD Example: Step 2 (cont)

SECOND SENTENCE: SECOND SENTENCE:

When an order processing clerk receives an order form, he or she When an order processing clerk receives an order form, he or she
verifies that the sender is a club member by checking the Member verifies that the sender is a club member by checking the Member
file. file.
RESULT:
Bebop Records Order Processing RULES FOLLOWED:
1
• left to right, top to bottom
EE-1
order Verify member
status
member
data
D-1 Member Master • data flows start or end in a process
Record Club
Member
OR Clerk

EE-2

Customer
(non-member)

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DFD Example: Step 3 DFD Example: Step 3 (cont)

THIRD SENTENCE: THIRD SENTENCE:

If the sender is not a member, the clerk returns the order along with a If the sender is not a member, the clerk returns the order along with a
membership application form. membership application form.

RESULT: RULES FOLLOWED:

Bebop Records Order Processing • shows all processes without conditions
1
EE-1
order Verify member member D - 1 Member Master
status data
Record Club
Member
OR Clerk

EE-2

Customer
(non-member) non-member order
and application form CS451 - Lecture 6 CS451 - Lecture 6
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 DFD Example: Step 4 DFD Example: Step 5
1
FOURTH SENTENCE: FIFTH SENTENCE: EE-1
order Verify member member D-1 Member Master
data

If the customer is a member, the clerk verifies the order item data by Then the clerk enters Record Club
Member
status
OR Clerk

checking the Item file. the order data and saves

RESULT: 1 it to the Daily Orders file. EE-2
member
order
EE-1
order Verify member member
Bebop Records Order Record Club status data
D - 1 Member Master Customer
(non-member) non-member order
Member
OR Clerk and application form
Processing RESULT: 2

Verify order item D-2 Item Master

member item data data
EE-2 order
OR Clerk
Customer
(non-member) verified
non-member order
and application form member
order
2
3
Verify order item
D-2 Item Master
item data data Enter order
order D-3 DailyOrdersDetail
into Daily
OR Clerk
Orders
OR Clerk
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DFD Example: EE-1

order Verify member member D-1 Member Master

DFD Example: Step 5 (cont) status data

Record Club
Member

Step 6 OR Clerk

FIFTH SENTENCE: SIXTH SENTENCE: EE-2

member
order

Customer
Then the clerk enters the order data and saves it to the Daily Orders The clerk also prints (non-member) non-member order
and application form
file. an invoice and shipping 2

list for each order, which Verify order

item data
item
data
D-2 Item Master

RULES FOLLOWED: are forwarded to OR Clerk

verified
• left to right, top to bottom Order Fulfillment. member
order

• data flows start or end in a process 3

Enter order
order D-3 DailyOrdersDetail
into Daily
Orders
OR Clerk

order
data

4
EE-3
Print invoice
invoice and
and
shipping list Order
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shipping list
Fulfillment
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DFD Example: Step 6 (cont)

SIXTH SENTENCE:
The clerk also prints an invoice and shipping list for each order,
which are forwarded to Order Fulfillment.

RULES FOLLOWED:
• left to right, top to bottom
• data flows start or end in a process
• shows all processes without conditions
• beware of black holes - every process and data store must produce
data

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