D

F
D
DFD
Data Flow Diagram
BY
AJAY WADHWA

What is DFD ?
A data flow diagram (DFD) is a
graphical representation of the "flow" of
data through an information system.
DFDs can also be used for the
visualization of data processing
(structured design).
It views a system as a function that
transform the input into desired output .

DFD is not a flow chart

Flow chart shows flow of Control .
DFD shows flow of Data
The flowchart describes boxes that describe
computations, decisions, interactions &
loops.
It is important to keep in mind that data flow
diagrams are not flowcharts and should not
include control elements .

Diff B/W DFD and Flow chart

Processes on DFDs can operate in parallel (at-thesame-time)
o Processes on flowcharts execute one at a time
DFDs show the flow of data through a system
o Flowcharts show the flow of control (sequence and
transfer of control)
Processes on a DFD can have dramatically different
timing (daily, weekly, on demand)
o Processes on flowcharts are part of a single program
with consistent timing

Creating Data Flow Diagrams

Steps:
1. Create a list of activities
2. Construct Context Level DFD
(identifies external entities and processes)
3. Construct Level 0 DFD
(identifies manageable sub process )
4. Construct Level 1- n DFD
(identifies actual data flows and data stores )
5. Check against rules of DFD

SYMBOLS

Creating Data Flow Diagrams

Lemonade Stand Example

Creating Data Flow Diagrams

Example
The operations of a simple
lemonade stand will be used
to demonstrate the creation
of dataflow diagrams.

Steps:
1. Create a list of activities
2. Construct Context Level DFD
(identifies sources and sink)
3. Construct Level 0 DFD
(identifies manageable sub processes )
4. Construct Level 1- n DFD
(identifies actual data flows and data stores )

Creating Data Flow Diagrams

Example

1. Create a list of activities

Think through the activities

that take place at a
lemonade stand.
Customer Order
Serve Product
Collect Payment
Produce Product
Store Product

Creating Data Flow Diagrams

Example

1. Create a list of activities

Also think of the additional

activities needed to support
the basic activities.
Customer Order
Serve Product
Collect Payment
Produce Product
Store Product
Order Raw Materials
Pay for Raw Materials
Pay for Labor

Creating Data Flow Diagrams

Example

1. Create a list of activities

Group these activities in

some logical fashion,
possibly functional areas.
Customer Order
Serve Product
Collect Payment
Produce Product
Store Product
Order Raw Materials
Pay for Raw Materials
Pay for Labor

Creating Data Flow Diagrams

Example
Create a context level
diagram identifying the
sources and sinks (users).

2. Construct Context Level DFD

(identifies sources and sink)

Context Level DFD

Order

Customer Order
Serve Product
Collect Payment
Produce Product
Store Product
Order Raw Materials
Pay for Raw Materials
Pay for Labor

CUSTOMER

Sales Forecast
0.0
Lemonade Production Schedule EMPLOYEE
System
Pay

Product Served
Payment
Received Goods
Payment

VENDOR

Time Worked
Purchase Order

Creating Data Flow Diagrams

Example
Create a level 0 diagram
identifying the logical
subsystems that may exist.

3. Construct Level 0 DFD

(identifies manageable sub processes )

Level 0 DFD
1.0
Sale

Customer Order
Serve Product
Collect Payment

Product Ordered
Payment
CUSTOMER

Produce Product
Store Product
Order Raw Materials
Pay for Raw Materials
Pay for Labor

Sales Forecast

Customer Order

Product Served
Received Goods

VENDOR

Purchase Order

Production
Schedule

2.0
Production

EMPLOYEE

Inventory
3.0
Procurement

Payment

Order
Decisions
Pay

4.0
Payroll

Time Worked

Creating Data Flow Diagrams

Example
Create a level 1
decomposing the processes
in level 0 and identifying
data stores.

4. Construct Level 1- n DFD

(identifies actual data flows and data stores )

Level 1 DFD
CUSTOMER

Customer Order

Customer Order
Serve Product
Collect Payment
Produce Product
Store Product
Order Raw Materials
Pay for Raw Materials
Pay for Labor

ORDER
1.1
Record
Order

Severed Order
Payment
1.2
Receive
Payment

PAYMENT

Request for Forecast

1.3
Produce
Sales
Forecast

Sales Forecast

Creating Data Flow Diagrams

Example
Create a level 1
decomposing the processes
in level 0 and identifying
data stores.

4. Construct Level 1 (continued)

Level 1 DFD
Product Order
ORDER

Customer Order
Serve Product
Collect Payment
Produce Product
Store Product
Order Raw Materials
Pay for Raw Materials
Pay for Labor

2.1
Serve
Product

Quantity Severed
RAW
MATERIALS

Production
Schedule
2.2
Produce
Product

Production Data
2.3
Store
Product

Quantity Used
INVENTORTY

Quantity Produced &

Location Stored

Creating Data Flow Diagrams

Example
Create a level 1
decomposing the processes
in level 0 and identifying
data stores.
Customer Order
Serve Product
Collect Payment

4. Construct Level 1 (continued)

Level 1 DFD
Order Decision
3.1
Produce
Purchase
Order

Quantity On-Hand
Quantity
Received

Received
Goods
3.2
Receive
Items

Produce Product
Store Product
Order Raw Materials
Pay for Raw Materials

PURCHASE
ORDER

Payment Approval
3.3
Pay
Vendor

Pay for Labor

Payment

RAW
MATERIALS

RECEIVED
ITEMS

VENDOR

Creating Data Flow Diagrams

Example
Create a level 1
decomposing the processes
in level 0 and identifying
data stores.
Customer Order
Serve Product
Collect Payment

4. Construct Level 1 (continued)

Level 1 DFD

Time Worked
4.1
Record
Time
Worked

TIME CARDS

Employee ID
EMPLOYEE

Payroll Request
4.2
Calculate
Payroll

Produce Product
Store Product

Unpaid time cards

PAYROLL

Payment Approval

Order Raw Materials

Pay for Raw Materials

4.3
Pay
Employe
e

Pay for Labor

Payment

PAYMENTS

Process Decomposition

0.0
Lemonade
System

Context Level

1.0
Sale

1.1
Record
Order

1.2
Receive
Payment

2.0
Production

2.1
Serve
Product

2.2
Produce
Product

2.3
Store
Product

3.0
Procurement

3.1
Produce
Purchase
Order

3.2
Receive
Items

3.3
Pay
Vendor

4.0
Payroll

4.1
Record
Time
Worked

4.2
Calculate
Payroll

4.3
Pay
Employe
e

Level 0

Level 1