Context and Data Flow Diagrams Activity presented by Coral Shand March 2012
Scenario The Car Club has many enthusiastic members. Prospective members can join the club by sending in a membership form along with $10. A planning committee decides on new activities for the coming month and these are passed on to members in a monthly newsletter. Information about all activities past and present are stored for future use. Members also receive reminder letters when their membership is due for renewal.
CONTEXT DIAGRAM Prospective Member The Car Club Planning Committee Member
Information in the scenario Name the data flows Membership form New member details Planned activities Planned activities Monthly newsletter Newsletter Membership renewal Renewal reminder
External Entity Data flow IN (into the system) Data flow OUT (out of the system) Prospective member New member details Member Newsletter Renewal reminder Planning committee Planned activities
CONTEXT DIAGRAM Prospective Member Planning Committee New member details The Car Club Planned activities Newsletter Renewal Reminder Member
Data flow arrows in Context Diagram Processes for Data Flow Diagram New member details Add new member Newsletter Add planned activities Renewal Reminder Create newsletter Planned Activities Create renewal reminder
DATA FLOW DIAGRAM Prospective Member Planning Member Committee Create newsletter Add new member Create renewal reminder Add planned activities Planning Committee Member
Members Activities
Prospective Member DATA FLOW DIAGRAM Activities Members Planning Create newsletter Add new member Activities Members Create renewal reminder Add planned activities Planning Committee Member
Prospective Member DATA FLOW DIAGRAM Activities Members Planning Create newsletter Add new member New member details Member details Activities Members Create renewal reminder Add planned activities Member details Renewal reminder Planning Committee Member
DATA FLOW DIAGRAM Prospective Member Activities Members Planning Create newsletter Member details Updated activities Add new member New member details Activities Updated activities Member details Members Add planned activities Create renewal reminder Member details Planned activities Renewal reminder Newsletter Planning Committee Member
TEN RULES An external entity must be an intelligence. Data flows are labelled with adjective-noun. Processes are named with a verb-noun. A data flow arrow coming from a process cannot have the same name as a data flow arrow going into that process. Processes and data stores must have at least one data flow arrow in and one out.
A data store cannot link directly to another data store A data store cannot link directly to another data store. An external entity cannot link directly to another external entity. Data flows from external entity may keep the same name. Data flowing to and from a data store must have the same name. Events at same time are one event. Data flow arrows should not cross each other. Do not use words ‘data’ or ‘process’ in label names.