Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs)

Data flow diagram (DFD) is a picture of the movement of data between

external entities and the processes and data stores within a system.
Data-flow models are an intuitive way of showing how data is processed
by a system.
Data-flow models are used to show how data flows through a sequence
of processing steps. For example, a processing step could be to filter
duplicate records in a customer database
system system data DFD
system process data data store

DFD Symbols (Gane & Sarson):

Process:
process

 Work or actions performed on data (inside the system)

Labels should be verb phrases
Receives input data and produces output
verb process system actions process
output data process

Rule 1: Process:

Can have more than one outgoing data flow or more than one incoming
data flow
output process

Rule 2: Process:
Can connect to any other symbol (including another process symbol)
process input output

Data Store:

D1

Students

Is used in a DFD to represent data that the system stores

Labels should be noun phrases

Rule: Data Store:

Must have at least one incoming and one outgoing data flow
system data store

Source/Sink (External Entity):

External entity that is origin or destination of data (outside the system)

Is the singular form of a department, outside organization, other IS, or
person
Labels should be noun phrases
Source Entity that supplies data to the system
Sink Entity that receives data from the system

system data person organization external entity

data system sink system source

Rule: Source/Sink:

Must be connected to a process by a data flow

system abstract context levels DFD

external systems

The context of an ATM system:

Security
sy stem
Branch
accounting
sy stem

Account
da tabase
Auto-teller
sy stem

Branch
counter
sy stem

Usage
database
Maintenance
sy stem

Equipment procurement process:

 level processes system connected

data process

Input

Output

Order processing DFD:

Output

level process DFD process

input output level 2
Input

Insulin pump DFD:

Rules for Using DFD Symbols:

Data Flow That Connects

Exercise:
Precision Tools sells a line of high-quality woodworking tools. When
customers place orders on the companys Web site, the system checks to see
if the items are in stock, issues a status message to the customer, and
generates a shipping order to the warehouse, which fills the order. When the
order is shipped, the customer is billed. The system also produces various
reports.
Draw a context diagram for the order system
Draw DFD diagram for the order system

Identify Entities, Process, and Data Stores & Data Flow:

data flow data store process entities

 Entities
Customer
Warehouse
Accounting
Processes
1.0 Check Status
2.0 Issue Status Messages
3.0 Generate Shipping Order
4.0 Manage Accounts Receivable
5.0 Produce Reports
Data Stores
D1 Pending Orders
D2 Accounts Receivable

1- Context Diagram of Order System

Order
CUSTOMER

In-Stock
Request

Payment

Status
Message

Invoice

Order
System

Inventory
Reports

ACCOUNTING

WAREHOUSE

Shipping
Order

Shipping Confirmation

2- DFD of Order System

Order

In-Stock Request

CUSTOMER

WAREHOUSE
1.0

Status
Message
Status Data

Order
Data

2.0
Shipping
Confirmation

Shipping
Order

Check
Status

D1

Issue
Status
Messages

3.0

Pending
Orders

Generate
Shipping
Order

Order Data
Payment

4.0
Order Data

Invoice
Manage
Accounts
Receivable

5.0
Accounting Data

D2

Accounts Receivable Data

Produce
Reports

Accounts
Receivable
Inventory
Reports

ACCOUNTING

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