Design notation and
specification
Structured Design Methodology
Program Structure and Structure Charts
Every program has a structure
Structure Chart - graphic representation of structure
SC represents modules and interconnections
Each module is represented by a box
If A invokes B, an arrow is drawn from A to B
Arrows are labeled by data items
Different types of modules in a SC
Input, output, transform and coordinate modules
A module may be a composite
SC shows the static structure, not the logic
Different from flow charts
Major decisions and loops can be shown
Structure is decided during design
Implementation does not change structure
Structure effects maintainability
SDM aims to control the structure
SC of a Sort Program
Diff types of modules
Iteration and decision
Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs)
The DFD (also known as the bubble chart) is a simple graphical
formalism that can be used to represent a system in terms of
1. the input
2. data to the system,
3. various processing carried out on those data, and
4. the output data generated by the system.
Starting with a set of high-level functions that a system
performs, a DFD model represents the sub-functions performed
by the functions using a hierarchy of diagrams
In a hierarchical model, starting with a very abstract model of a
system, various details of the system are slowly introduced
through different levels of the hierarchy.
We now elaborate the different concepts associated with
building a DFD model of a system.
Primitive symbols used for
constructing DFDs
There are essentially five different types of symbols used for
constructing DFDs. These primitive symbols are depicted in
following Figure:
Function symbol: A function is represented using a circle. This
symbol is called a process or a bubble.
External entity symbol: Represented by a rectangle. Essentially
those physical entities external to the software system which
interact with the system by inputting data to the system or by
consuming the data produced by the system.
In addition to the human users, they can be used to represent
external hardware and software such as another application
software that would interact with the software being modelled.
Data flow symbol: A directed arc (or an arrow) is used as a data
flow symbol.
A data flow symbol represents the data flow occurring between
two processes or between an external entity and a process in the
direction of the data flow arrow.
Data store symbol: A data store is represented using two parallel
lines.
It represents a logical file. That is, a data store symbol can
represent either a data structure or a physical file on disk.
Each data store is connected to a process by means of a data
flow symbol.
The direction of the data flow arrow shows whether data is
being read from or written into a data store.
Output symbol: The output symbol is used when a hard copy is
produced.
Data Flow Model of a Car
Assembly Unit
Engine Store Door Store
Partly
Assembled
Car
Fit Fit Fit Paint and
Engine Doors Wheels Test
Chassis Assembled
with Engine Car Car
Chassis Store Wheel Store