Structured English

From user-speak to programming User Structured English Analyst Programs Programmer Plain English Pseudocode

Modeling Logic with Structured English Modified form of English used to specify the logic of information processes Modified form of English used to specify the logic of information processes Uses a subset of English Uses a subset of English Action verbs Action verbs Noun phrases Noun phrases No adjectives or adverbs No adjectives or adverbs It should read like English It should read like English No specific standards exist No specific standards exist

Keep the language tight and precise, but clear enough to be readable by the user Blocks indicate general steps; indent for structure Sequence is important Identify areas of decision- making (conditions) and repetition See Figure 9-3 on the right Structured English

Writing Structured English File Names File Names Separate words with hyphens Separate words with hyphens Use Title Case, e.g. Invoice-Record Use Title Case, e.g. Invoice-Record Common verbs Common verbs READ, ACCEPT, GET, WRITE, PRINT, SORT, MOVE, MERGE, ADD, SUBTRACT, MULTIPLY, DIVIDE READ, ACCEPT, GET, WRITE, PRINT, SORT, MOVE, MERGE, ADD, SUBTRACT, MULTIPLY, DIVIDE Common nouns: Common nouns: Variable names, attributes, data flow inputs and outputs Variable names, attributes, data flow inputs and outputs Focus on how the process converts the inputs to outputs Focus on how the process converts the inputs to outputs

Writing Structured English Repetition DO DO statements … statements … UNTIL end-condition UNTIL end-conditionor DO WHILE DO WHILE statements … statements … END DO END DO Conditions BEGIN IF BEGIN IF IF … THEN … IF … THEN … statements … statements … ELSE ELSE statements … statements … END IF END IFor SELECT SELECT CASE 1 (conditions) CASE 1 (conditions) statements … statements … CASE 2 … CASE 2 … statements … statements … END SELECT END SELECT

P&E 9.1 Represent the logic in this table as Structured English Represent the logic in this table as Structured English

P&E 9.1 Payroll System Structured English Representation BEGINEND

P&E 9.2 See Figure 8-16, process 5.0. See Figure 8-16, process 5.0. Write Structured English for this process. See text on page 256 for more information. Write Structured English for this process. See text on page 256 for more information.