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Data-flow Diagrams
Chapter 17
Elements of data-flow diagrams
There are four basic elements of data flow
diagrams:
Data Transforms: where data is filtered, formatted or
synthesized.
Information sources and sinks: essentially inputs and
outputs to the system.
Information stores: where information is kept for the
duration of system activity.
Information Flows: data that is passed into and out of
transforms, information stores.
Information flows
Information flows represent the information
being passed into or out of a transform,
source, sink or store. It is represented as a
labeled arrow:
Taxable Income
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Data transforms
Data transforms labeled circles with one or
more incoming and outgoing information
flows:
Calculate
Tax
Taxable
Income
Tax Tables
Tax owed
Information sources and sinks
Information sources and sinks are
information that come into the system, or
leave the system, and are represented by
squares:
Rate
Hours
Pay
Check
Pay
Stub
Payroll
System
Information stores
Information Stores represent locations
where information can be store for the
duration of the system activity:
Total Payroll Expense
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Refining DFDs
DFDs are refined (decomposed) to the point that
they are contain only primitive transforms.
They are refined by drawing another DFD as if
they were a system in themselves!
A primitive transform has only one input flow
or only one output flow (note that it can have
multiple input flows or multiple output flows, but
not both!)
Heritage numbers
Refinement of DFDs leads to a problem in larger
systems: we have a large number of diagrams!
When we look at a diagram by itself the only way
we can tell what it represents is by looking at the
parent diagram.
Heritage numbers allow this. A data transform
numbered 2.4.3 is the child of DFD number 2.4
which is the child of DFD 2 in the level 1 DFD
diagram.
The data dictionary
As the data is defined in the DFD (the flows),
definitions should be entered in the data
dictionary.
The data dictionary is a reference that allows us
to determine the type of the named data (int, float,
struct, whatever.)
This will be essential during the programming
phase, when knowing what variable names to use.
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Checking DFDs - CASE tools
Since DFDs are a formal method, tools have
been developed that allow automated
drawing of the DFDs, and management of
refined DFDs.
Since this can be automated, checking
DFDs can also be automated (such as
Process Analyst).
Structure charts
Translation of a DFD to a structure chart is a
mechanical procedure (see the book.)
The procedure involves isolating the central
transform area, which is independent of the format
transforms and the validation transforms.
Structure charts also provide a schematic showing
the flow of the data in a control diagram!
Now we have a complete picture: DFDs show
how the data flows, and structure charts show how
control is passed!
Implementing a DFD
Once we have a structure chart, the actual
implementation also becomes mechanical.
An essential pre-defined form becomes
apparent for implementing structure charts.
An example using C is available in the
book.