Practical No.

11

Objective: To get familiar with Data flow diagram.

Description:
Data flow diagram is graphical representation of flow of data in an information system. It is
capable of depicting incoming data flow, outgoing data flow and stored data. The DFD does not
mention anything about how data flows through the system. It is a traditional visual
representation of the information flows within a system. A neat and clear DFD can depict the
right amount of the system requirement graphically. It shows how data enters and leaves the
system, what changes the information, and where data is stored.
There is a prominent difference between DFD and flow chart. The flow chart depicts flow of
control in program modules. DFDs depict flow of data in the system at various levels. DFD does
not contain any control or branch elements.
Required tool: Microsoft visio or any diagramming tool.
Methodology
Components of DFD (Sysmbols and Notations)
DFD can represent source, destination, storage and flow of data using the following set of
components:
 External Entity: External entities are source and destination of information data. These
entities are represented by a rectangle with their respective names. They are also known
as terminators, sources and sinks or actors. They are typically drawn on the edges of the
diagram.
 Process: Process represents activities and action taken on the data are represented by
circle or round-edged rectangles. Any process that changes the data, produce an output. It
might perform computations, or sort data based on logic, or direct the data flow based on
business rules.
 Data Store: Data store represents files or repositories that hold information for later use,
such as a database table or a membership form. There are two variants of data storage- it
can either be represented as a rectangle with absence of both smaller sides or as an open-
sided rectangle with only one side missing.
  Data Flow: Data flow represents the route that data takes between the external entities,
processes and data stores. Movement of data is shown by pointed arrows. Data movement
is shown from the base of arrow as its source towards head of the arrow as destination.
There are two common systems of symbols to represent different components of DFDs. One is
Gane and Sarson, and another is Yourdon and Coad. Both of the systems of symbols are
represented below.

Levels of DFD
The DFD may be used to perform a system or software at any level of abstraction. Infact, DFDs
may be partitioned into levels that represent increasing information flow and functional detail.
Levels in DFDs are numbered 0, 1, 2 or beyond. Here we will see primarily three levels in the
data flow diagram which are 0-level DFD, 1-level DFD and 2-level DFD.
 Level 0: Highest abstraction level DFD is known as Level 0 DFD, which depicts the
entire information system as one diagram concealing all the underlying details. It is also
known as fundamental system model, or context diagram represents the entire software
requirement as a single bubble with input and output data denoted by incoming and
outgoing arrows. An example of Level 0 DFD of ATM System is shown below.
 Level 1: In Level 1 DFD, a context diagram is decomposed into multiple
bubbles/processes. In this level, we highlight the main objectives of the system and
breakdown the high-level process of 0-level DFD into sub processes. An example of
Level 1 DFD of ATM system is shown below:

 Level 2: At this level, DFD shows how data flows inside the modules mentioned in Level
1. Higher level DFDs can be transformed into more specific lower level DFDs with
deeper level of understanding unless the desired level of specification is achieved. An
example of Level 2 DFD of ATM System is shown below.
Lab Tasks:
Write scenario of a real world application and then draw DFD level 0, level 1 and level 2 DFD of
that application based on scenario.
 1.0

Cancellation Up/Down flight info

AIRLINE
passenger Reservation Reserve/cancel info
RESERVATION Admin
Ticket Info Passenger Info

0 level DFD

Scneraio:

 0-level DFD: In zero level diagram there are two external entities,a
passenger
 An Admin, including process that is Airline reservation.In this level 0
diagram the passenger can book the seats and also have an option for
cancellation the reservation seats
 while the process hands the ticket information as in response. An admin
give response for flight’s up/down schedule and retrieve detail
information about the passenger through the process.
 1.1
Reservation storage
Tickets
Generation
Process

Information 1.0 command to generates tickets

Passenger Reservation
process reserved info

1.2
2.0 Report
To
Enquiry Admin
Seats reservation info

Down storage up storage

1 level DFD

Scneraio:

 1-level DFD: In level one diagram there are two additional processes which
is ticket generation process and enquiry process.
 Reservation process launchs command to ticket generation process to
generates the tickets for passenger’s request.
 while enquiry process gives the data to passengers for seats reservation(how
many seats in a left).
 Enquiry process has two data storage,Down storage and Up storage. Up
storage indicates the ticket is available and can be booked or reserved and
The down storage indicates the ticket is not available for booking or
reservation. This could be because all available seats for a particular flight
are already booked or reserved.
 Reservation storage Reservation

Report
data data

1.4
1.3
Query
generate process 1.5
Report for timing, searching
Reservation confirmation
,passenger
process

Passenger info 1.0

Passenger Reservation
process
1.7
\
1.6
Waiting
Cancellation process
passenger data as3.0 inform process

Inquiry 1.2
verify data
Airline
Department

1.1
Report Tickets
generate Generation
Cancel inform process

2-level DFD
Lab Rubrics Generate
Ticket
Course: Software Design & Architecture Course Code: SW205
Student Name: Inam lashari Student Roll No.: 21sw30
nd nd
Semester, Year: 2 Semester, 2 Year Date: 25-10-2023

Level of Achievement
SN Components Proficient Acceptable Unacceptable Marks Achieved
0.25 0.15 0
Students have Student Student don’t
carefully read and understands understand
Problem
understood the problems and problem.
1 Understanding and
problem. Students analysis in an
Analysis
gives the idea to acceptable way
solve problem
Student Student
demonstrated an demonstrated
Student was familiar ability to use the little or no ability
with the software/hardware to perform
Ability to use software/hardware but required experiment and
2
software/hardware and required minimal assistance from required
help from the the instructor unreasonable
instructor to perform amount of
the experiment assistance from
instructor
The lab /tasks are The lab The lab in its
complete and completion is just current state is
Completeness and
3 accurate in the acceptable not
accuracy
context of implementable
implementation
Able to explain Able to explain Unable to
design/program/simul some explain
4 Q &A ation/fundamental design/program/si design/program/s
concepts correctly mulation/fundame imulation/funda
ntal concepts mental Concepts
Total (1)

Name & Signature of Teacher: ______________________________ Date: _________________