Data Flow Diagram

Written Date: December 4, 2006
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Data flow diagram is a well known approach to visualize the data processing in business analysis field. A data flow diagram is strong in illustrating the relationship of processes, data stores and external entities in business information system.

Creating Data Flow Diagram

There are two possible ways to start the Shape Editor.
1. To create a Data Flow Diagram, right-click on the Data Flow Diagram node from the Diagram Navigator and select New Data Flow Diagram from the popup menu.
2. Alternatively, click on the New Data Flow Diagram button on the toolbar.

Drawing Data Flow Diagram

Process
•  To create a Process, click once on the Process button on the palette and then click on the diagram.
•  To provide the Process a name, double-click on it and enter the name.
•  To specify the location of the process, right-click on the Process and select Open Specification... from the popup menu. In the Process Specification, enter the Location.
•  You can also enter an ID for the process
•  Click OK to confirm the change. You will see the Process shape is updated to show the location and ID.
External Entity
•  To create an External Entity, click once on the External Entity button on the palette and then click on the diagram.
•  To provide the Process a name, double-click on it and enter the name.
Data Store
•  To create a Data Source, click once on the Data Source button on the palette and then click on the diagram.
•  To provide the Data Source a name, double-click on it and enter the name.
•  By default, the type of the Data Store is Computerized data. There are several other types such as Manual, Transient data file and Transient manual. To set the type, right-click on the Data Store and select Open Specification... from the popup menu. In the Data Store Specification, select the Type from the drop-down menu.
•  Click OK to confirm the change. The selection of type will affects the appearance of the Data Store shape. The result of selecting different types are shown below:
Data Flow
•  To create a Data Flow, click once on the Data Flow button on the palette and then click and drag from the source element to the target element.

Downloads

• Project file
create_shipment_dfd.zip (15 KB)

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