An example on DFD :

Draw the DFD for a distance education university. The enrolment process works
as follows:
DFD ExampleStudents send in an application form containing their personal

details, and their desired course The university checks that the course is
• actions/doing words/verbs => Processes (P)
available and that the student has necessary academic qualifications.
If the course is
• available the student isofenrolled
movement/exchange in the course,
information/data andexternal
between the university
entities to process
DFD Example and processes to processes => data flows (DF)
confirms the enrolment by sending a confirmation letter to the student. If the
course is unavailable
• the student
store/record is sent a rejection
information/data letter.
=> data stores(DS)
DFD Example

2. It often helps to walk through the system in its logical sequence; eg starting with an external en
(source), add data flows, processes and data stores as the data provided by the entity is manipulate
• actions/doing words/verbs => Processes (P)
the system.

! A student movement/exchange
• (EE) of form
sends in an application information/data
(DF) containingbetween external
their personal entities
details, to proce
and their desi
course and processes to processes => data flows (DF)
DFD Example

! The university checks (P) that the course is available.

! If the course
• is available information/data
store/record the student is enrolled (P)stores(DS)
=> data in the course, and the university confirms (P)
enrolment by sending a confirmation letter (DF) that they are registered for the course to the stud
! Or if the course is unavailable the student is sent a rejection letter (DF).
2. It often helps to walk through the system in its logical sequence; eg starting with an external
(source), add data flows, processes and data stores as the data provided by the entity is manipul
Note:
the The university, or more specifically the administration section, is the system being modelle
system.
is not an EE.
! A student (EE) sends in an application form (DF) containing their personal details, and their de
System/Level 0 DFD
course
External entity
! The -university
Student checks (P) that the course is available.
Processes! If the- Check
courseavailable, Enrol
is available the student,
student isConfirm
enrolledRegistration
(P) in the course, and the university confirms (
Context diagram
Data Flows enrolment
- Application Form, Course Details, Course Enrolment Details, Student Details,
by sending a confirmation letter (DF) that they are registered for the course to the s
Confirmation/Rejection Letter
! Or if the course is unavailable the student is sent a rejection letter (DF).
Data Stores
• Highest level DFD.
- Courses, Students.
• Has data flows, external entities, one process (system in focus) and no data stores.
Note: The university, or more specifically the administration section, is the system being mod
• Shows
is notthe
an system
EE. boundary and interactions with external entities.

In this case: 0 DFD

System/Level
External entity - Student
External entity - Student
Process - Student Administration process application
Processes - Check available, Enrol student, Confirm Registration
Data Flows diagram
Context - Application Form, Confirmation/Rejection Letter
Data Flows - Application Form, Course Details, Course Enrolment Details, Student Details,
Confirmation/Rejection Letter
Data Stores
• Highest level DFD.
- Courses, Students.
• Has data flows, external entities, one process (system in focus) and no data stores.
• Shows the system boundary and interactions with external entities.

In this case:
External entity - Student
Process - Student Administration process application
Data Flows - Application Form, Confirmation/Rejection Letter
level 0 :

DFDDFD Example
Example

DFD Example
DFD Example

System/Level 0 DFD
System/Level
ThisExternal entity00 DFD
System/Level - Student
DFD raises some questions:
External entity
This System/Level
Processes 0 DFD - Student
raises available,
- Check some questions:
Enrol student, Confirm Registration
Q.Processes
Data
The Flows
Data - Check
Store Courses available,
- Application
has dataEnrol
onlyForm, flows student,
Course
entering it,Confirm
Details, Course
how doesRegistration
Enrolment
the Details,
data get stored in Student Details,
the first place?
Q. A.Data
TheThis Flows
Data
DFDStore
is part - Application
of has only
a larger,
Confirmation/Rejection
Courses Form,
data
higher
LetterlevelCourse
flows
DFD Details,
entering
that it, how
models Course
does
more Enrolment
the
than data
just get
the Details,
stored
enrolment Student
inprocess. Details,
the first place?
There
A. must
ThisConfirmation/Rejection
DFD is partDFD
be another
Data Stores of a -larger,
that higher
stores
Courses, leveldetails,
course
Letter
Students.DFD that models
eg the more than
university’s justdevelopment
course the enrolment process. There
process.
mustData
be another
StoresDFD -that stores course
Courses, details, eg the university’s course development process.
Students.
Q. The process Enrol Student has many different data flows entering into and leaving it, how can we model
Q. this
Theprocess
processinEnrol
moreStudent
detail? has many different data flows entering into and leaving it, how can we model
thisA.process
Developinamore
more detail?
detail, lower level DFD for this process, that shows the processes that make up this
A. process
Develop a more detail, lower level DFD for this process, that shows the processes that make up this
process

You are here: InfoCom Homepage -> Courses -> spr2000 -> 95169 -> Extra Examples -> DFD Example
You are here: InfoCom Homepage -> Courses -> spr2000 -> 95169 -> Extra Examples -> DFD Example
Edit Last Modified: Tue Nov 21 10:30:12 2000 by webmaster. Contact Details
Disclaimers
Edit © 2000
Last Modified: TueCQU
NovInfocom
21 10:30:12 2000 by webmaster. Contact Details
Disclaimers © 2000 CQU Infocom

file:///D|/PSI/CMS_Materi/5DFD.htm (6 of 6)8/2/2005 3:49:16 AM

file:///D|/PSI/CMS_Materi/5DFD.htm (6 of 6)8/2/2005 3:49:16 AM

 Textbook Inventory System DFD
Given the following narrative description, draw a context DFD for the portion of
the activities described.
The purpose of the TEXTBOOK INVENTORY SYSTEM at a campus bookstore is
to supply textbooks to students for classes at a local university. The university’s
Textbook Inventory System DFD
academic departments submit initial data about courses, instructors, textbooks and
Given the following narrative description, draw a context DFD for the portion of the
projected activities
enrollments to the bookstore on a TEXTBOOK MASTER LIST. The
described.

bookstoreThe
generates
purpose ofathe
PURCHASE ORDER,SYSTEM
TEXTBOOK INVENTORY which atisasent tobookstore
campus publishing
is to company’s
supply textbooks to students for classes at a local university. The university’s academic
supplyingdepartments
textbooks. Book
submit orders
initial arrive
data about at instructors,
courses, the bookstore accompanied
textbooks and projected by a
PACKINGenrollments to the bookstore on a TEXTBOOK MASTER LIST. The bookstore generates
SLIP, which is checked and verified by the receiving department. Students
a PURCHASE ORDER, which is sent to publishing company’s supplying textbooks.
Book orders
fill out a BOOK arrive at the bookstore
REQUEST accompanied
that includes by a PACKING
course SLIP, which
information. When is checked
they pay for their
and verified by the receiving department. Students fill out a BOOK REQUEST that
books theincludes
students areinformation.
course given a SALES
When they RECEIPT.
pay for their books the students are given a
SALES RECEIPT.

Book Request
ACADEMIC
STUDENTS
DEPARTMENTS

Sales Receipt

TEXTBOOK
INVENTORY Textbook master list
SYSTEM
Purchase
Orders

Packing slip
(accompanying order)
PUBLISHING
COMPANIES
Suggest a context diagram and level-0 diagram
Using the example of a retail clothing store in a mall, list relevant data flows, data
stores, processes, and sources/sinks. Observe several sales transactions. Draw a
context diagram and a level-0 diagram that represent the selling system at the store.
Explain why you chose certain elements as processes versus sources/sinks.