Steps for Preparing DFD Level Zero Diagrams

1. Read narrative. If you need to write the narrative, interview the client.
2. In the narrative, identify the entities and activities.
3. Identify internal and external entities. (External entities do not perform
information processing activities that are included in the narrative at hand.)
4. Identify activities for each internal entity (look for verbs).
5. Make the table of entities and activities.
6. Number each activity consecutively.
7. Identify data flows in table of entities and activities. (Data flows are activities
that do not involve information processing—data are simply moved from one
process bubble to another, or from a process to an external entity. Sends,
receives, and transmits are examples of data flows.)
8. Draw the context diagram.
Draw one circle summarizing the entire process. Add a descriptive label.
Add the external entities. Draw and label data flows to and from external
entities.
9. Identify error routines in table of entities and activities. Remove from table.
10. Put activities that are left in chronological order.
11. Remove data flows and follow steps 9 and 10 to produce the second table of
entities and activities. Data flows will become the flow lines of the dfd.

12. Group activities into process bubbles.

A. Group activities if they occur in the same place and at the same time.
B. Group activities if they occur at the same time but in different places.
C. Group activities that seem to be logically related.
D. Use between 3 and 7 process bubbles.
E. None of the process bubbles should consist of only one activity.
F. Give each group a name that describes the logical activities included.

13. Draw the level zero dfd.

A. Draw external entities near edges of the diagram.
B. Draw and label flows to and from external entities (leave the center
blank).
C. Draw internal flows. Remember that each process bubble must have
input(s) and output(s). Also that the dfd flow must go from lower
numbered to higher numbered process bubbles.

DESIGN OF THE DFD EMPHASIZES:

1. LOGICAL RATHER THAN PHYSICAL DESIGN
2. ANALYSIS OF DATA FLOWS

ANSWERS TRADITIONAL CRITICISM OF FLOWCHARTS THAT

FLOWCHARTING SYMBOLS FOCUS ON DATA PROCESSING OPERATIONS
AND PHYSICAL MEDIA
EXPLOSION AND EXPANSION PROCESS-- OCCURS WHEN SUCCESSIVE
DIAGRAMS ARE USED TO ILLUSTRATE DETAILS OF THE PRECEDING
DIAGRAM

DFD CONCENTRATES ON STORES OF DATA AND DECISION LOGIC

THIS MAKES IT EASIER FOR THE SYSTEM ANALYST TO IDENTIFY STORES

OF DATA NEEDED FOR A PARTICULAR APPLICATION