UDL University

Faculty of Exact Sciences Year : 2023/2024

  Computer Science Departement Bachelor's degree,
Information System Module Second year
 

PW Sheet No. 01: “DECISION TABLE”

 Creation  of  Decision  Tables  with  Visual  Paradigm  

1  Decision  tables  

In   order   to   develop   a   truly   functional   information   system,   the   functionalities   must   be  

designed   and   developed   according   to   the   professional   needs   of   users,   with   behaviors  
respecting   commercial   rules.   The   decision   table   is   a   compact   way   to   represent  
complicated  rules.  The  decision  table  looks  a  lot  like  the  tabular  form  of  an  if-­‐then-­‐else  
statement.   While   users   use   the   decision   table   to   document   business   rules,   system  
developers  study  a  decision  table  to  think  about  the  right  way  to  implement  those  rules.  
It  has  three  sections:  conditions,  actions  and  rules.  
—  The  condition  lines  list  the  factors  that  may  influence  the  final  decision.  
—  The  action  lines  list  the  possible  operations  to  perform.  
—Each  rule  column  represents  a  combination  of  condition(s)  and  action(s),  
 

2  Visual  Paradigm  software  

Using  decision  table  software  offers  many  advantages  over  paper-­‐based  methods.  First  
of  all,  it  makes  editing  and  re-­‐editing  easier.  Contemporary  decision  table  tools  can  also  
add  value  by  supporting  features  like  highlighting  conditions/actions/rules,  table  layout,  
reporting,  etc.  
And   of   course,   when   it   comes   to   working   with   software,   it   makes   sharing   tasks,  
discussing  and  managing  work  much  easier.  
In  this  lab,  we  will  work  with  Visual  Paradigm  software.  
Visual  Paradigm  is  an  all-­‐in-­‐one  diagramming  software  that  supports  a  wide  variety  of  
business  and  technical  diagrams.  
Main  features  of  VP.  
 
3  Creation  of  decision  tables  with  Visual  paradigm    (VP)  
 
Creating  a  decision  table  in  Visual  Paradigm  is  very  simple:  
—  You  do  not  need  to  draw  the  table  and  grid  lines  yourself.    
-­‐  You  don't  even  need  to  worry  about  using  the  editing  tool.  
-­‐  Just  focus  on  what's  important  to  you:  logic.  
—  Add  the  conditions,  actions  and  management  rules  to  the  decision  table,  all  with  a  
simple  click.  
Steps  for  creating  a  decision  table  
1.  Start  the  Visual  Paradigm  software.  
2.  Select  Diagram  >  New  from  the  application  toolbar.  
3.  In  the  New  Diagram  window,  select  Decision  Table.  

Mme  Dr  .BELHIA   1  

 UDL University
Faculty of Exact Sciences Year : 2023/2024
  Computer Science Departement Bachelor's degree,
Information System Module Second year
 
4.  Click  Next.  
5.  Enter  the  name  and  description  of  the  diagram.  The  Location  field  allows  you  to  
select  a  template  to  store  the  diagram.  
6.  Click  OK.  
 
 

Exercise  :    
 
 A   marketing   company   wishes   to   construct   a   decision   table   to   decide   how   to   treat  
clients  according  to  three  characteristics:  
 Gender,  City  Dweller,  and  age  group:    
A  (under  30),  B  (between  30  and  60),  C  (over  60).    
The   company   has   four   products   (W,   X,   Y   and   Z)   to   test   market.   Product   W   will   appeal   to  
female   city   dwellers.   Product   X   will   appeal   to   young   females.   Product   Y   will   appeal   to  
Male   middle   aged   shoppers   who   do   not   live   in   cities.   Product   Z   will   appeal   to   all   but  
older  females.  
1-­‐  Work  to  be  done  

-­‐
Using  Visual  Paradigm  create  a  decision  table  for  this  company  
 
 Exercise  2  :  

-­‐  Using  VP,  reconstruct  the  decision  tables  studied  in  DW  ‘  (see  the  DW01  series’  )  

Mme  Dr  .BELHIA   2