Structured Systems Analysis and Design Method (SSADM) with ConceptDraw PRO

Structured Systems Analysis and Design Method (abbr. SSADM) is a method developed in Great Britain and accepted in 1993 as a national standard for information systems development and analysis. SSADM is based on Data Flow Diagrams and is characterized with presence of clear sequence of steps at projecting, analysis, and documenting of information system. It involves 6 main stages: analysis of existing system or estimation of practicability, requirements definition, determination of technical requirements and equipment cost, development of logical data model, projecting of logical requirements and specification them, physical projecting. Each of them is also divided into several steps defining the tasks that should be fulfilled at a given stage. The most important SSADM elements are flows modeling with help of DFD, data logic modeling with help of LDS (Logical Data Structure) and description of entities behavior. Applying of SSADM is easy with ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software and Data Flow Diagram solution.

Data Flow Diagram Process

Data Flow Diagram (DFD) is a hierarchy of functional processes, connected by data flows. The purpose of this presentation is to show how each process converts its inputs into outputs and to identify relationships between these processes. DFD is convenient way of modeling and construction the information processes, it step-by-step illustrates the flow of information in a process. For construction a DFD traditionally are used two different notations, which appropriate to the methods of Yourdon-Coad and Gane-Sarson. These notations slightly different from each other by graphical representation of symbols for processes, data stores, data flow, external entities. When designing a DFD it is required to decompose the system into the components (sub-systems), for explaining a complex system you may need represent numerous levels. The Data Flow Diagrams solution from ConceptDraw Solution Park contains numerous predesigned DFD symbols for both notations, which help easy and effectively design professional-looking Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs) and DFD Process Diagrams.

Data Flow Diagram

Data Flow Diagram (DFD) is the part of the Structured Systems Analysis and Design Methodology (SSADM), which is intended for information systems projection and analysis. Data Flow Diagrams allow graphically represent the data flows in information system and analyze the data processing during the structural projection. This type of diagrams lets visually show a work of information system and results of this work, it is often used in connection with human processes and can be displayed as Workflow diagram. Data Flow Diagram visualizes processes and functions, external entities, data depositories, and data flows connecting these elements and indicating direction and data character. Each of these elements used for DFD has its own graphical notation. There are two notations to draw DFDs - Yourdon & Coad and Gane & Sarson. ConceptDraw PRO extended with Data Flow Diagrams (DFD) solution from Software Developmant area is ideal for designing professional looking DFDs, which can be then easily exported in various formats.

Software and Database Design with ConceptDraw PRO

Unified Modeling Language (abbr. UML) is a modeling language used by software developers and software engineers for developing diagrams, expressive modeling, visualization, construction, specification, and documentation an information about software-intensive systems. There are used many types of UML diagrams, joined in main groups, each of them has its own functional abilities and applications: Behaviour diagrams illustrate the functionality of software systems, Structuring diagrams depict a structure of objects at the systems, Interaction diagrams show the flow of control and data among the things in a modeling system. UML has a lot of practical applications in varied areas, among them software development, hardware design, banking and financial services, telecommunication, science, research, enterprise information system, distributed Web-based services, user interfaces for web applications, medical electronics, patient healthcare systems, etc. ConceptDraw PRO extended with Rapid UML solution is a perfect tool for UML diagramming.

Data Flow Diagram Examples

Data flow diagrams (DFDs) are effective to reveal relationships among the various components in a program or system. This type of diagrams is an important and useful technique for modeling an information system, its process aspects, for showing a system as a single high-level process. DFD lets illustrate the flow of data, how the input data are transformed to output results across the sequence of functional transformations. DFD consists of four major components: entities, processes, data stores, data flows. When you need to draw a Data Flow Diagram the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with Data Flow Diagrams solution will be helpful for you. Providing numerous collection of Data Flow Diagram examples, samples, templates and ready-to-use vector DFD symbols, Data Flow Diagrams solution ensures you with all needed tools for easy designing DFDs according to Gane-Sarson or Yourdon-Coad notation on your choice. Any from offered predesigned DFD examples can become a perfect base for your own diagram.

UML Use Case Diagram Example Social Networking Sites Project

UML Diagrams Social Networking Sites Project. This sample was created in ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software using the UML Use Case Diagram library of the Rapid UML Solution from the Software Development area of ConceptDraw Solution Park. This sample shows the Facebook Socio-health system and is used at the projection and creating of the social networking sites.

Basic Flowchart Symbols and Meaning

Flowcharts are the best for visually representation the business processes and the flow of a custom-order process through various departments within an organization. ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with Flowcharts solution offers the full set of predesigned basic flowchart symbols which are gathered at two libraries: Flowchart and Flowcharts Rapid Draw. Among them are: process, terminator, decision, data, document, display, manual loop, and many other specific symbols. The meaning for each symbol offered by ConceptDraw gives the presentation about their proposed use in professional Flowcharts for business and technical processes, software algorithms, well-developed structures of web sites, Workflow diagrams, Process flow diagram and correlation in developing on-line instructional projects or business process system. Use of ready flow chart symbols in diagrams is incredibly useful - you need simply drag desired from the libraries to your document and arrange them in required order. There are a few serious alternatives to Visio for Mac, one of them is ConceptDraw PRO. It is one of the main contender with the most similar features and capabilities.

Example of DFD for Online Store (Data Flow Diagram) DFD Example

Data Flow Diagram (DFD) is a methodology of graphical structural analysis and information systems design, which describes the sources external in respect to the system, recipients of data, logical functions, data flows and data stores that are accessed. DFDs allow to identify relationships between various system's components and are effectively used in business analysis and information systems analysis. They are useful for system’s high-level details modeling, to show how the input data are transformed to output results via the sequence of functional transformations. For description of DFD diagrams are uses two notations — Yourdon and Gane-Sarson, which differ in syntax. Online Store DFD example illustrates the Data Flow Diagram for online store, the interactions between Customers, Visitors, Sellers, depicts User databases and the flows of Website Information. ConceptDraw PRO enhanced with Data Flow Diagrams solution lets you to draw clear and simple example of DFD for Online Store using special libraries of predesigned DFD symbols.

SSADM Diagram

The vector stencils library SSADM from the solution Systems engineering contains specific symbols of SSADM diagrams for ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software. The Systems engineering solution is contained in Software Development area of ConceptDraw Solution Park. The example below illustrates the waterfall model used in SSADM. This model involves 5 stages of developing a product such as requirements specification and its' analysis, design, coding and testing.

Gane Sarson Diagram

The Gane-Sarson methodology uses the graphical techniques for building the logical models for the systems. It is helpful for analysts and designers to make common and clear picture of the system, to depict all its processes and how they transform the data. The Gane-Sarson methodology lets represent all this information in a way understandable for the users and other interested people, and gives the possibility to see instantly how the system's parts serve together to meet their needs. This methodology supposes the building of a system top-down. First you need create an overall system data flow, then determine the details of the data structures, the process logic and design the modular structures. ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software offers the Data Flow Diagrams solution with Gane-Sarson Notation library rich for the specific symbols of the Gane-Sarson notation. All they are vector and fully ready-to-use for drawing the Data Flow Diagrams, which will be then successfully used in presentations, websites, and various business documents.

Diagramming Software for UML Composite Structure Diagrams

UML Composite Structure Diagram shows the internal structure of a class and the possible interactions at this structure.

Software Diagrams

Modern software development begins with designing different software diagrams and also uses a large amount of diagrams in project management and creation graphic documentation. Very popular diagrams that depict a work of applications in various cuts and notations, describe databases and prototype Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs). Software engineering specialists and software designers prefer to use special technical and business graphics tools and applications for easy creation diagrams. One of the most popular is ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software. ConceptDraw PRO offers the possibility of drawing with use of wide range of pre-drawn shapes and smart connectors, which allow to focus not on the process of drawing, but on the task's essence. It is a perfect application for design and document development, planning tasks, visualization of data, design the databases, object-oriented design, creation flowcharts of algorithms, modeling business processes, project management, automation of management and development processes, and for many other tasks.

How To Create a Workflow Diagram

A workflow diagram is less general notation than a process flow diagram. Workflow as a term can apply to organizational process which involves people, resources, documents, sort of data, for instance; whereas a process is general collection of steps occuring in any sort of activity. That is why process flow diagram can be used as workflow diagram to describe business process, data flow or department interactions. The fastest way to create a workflow diagram is using pre-designed workflow template. ConceptDraw PRO with the Workflow Diagrams solution delivers rich set of workflow diagram templates you may start from.

ERD Symbols and Meanings

Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD) is a popular software engineering tool for database modeling and illustration the logical structure of databases, which uses one of two notations - Chen's or Crow’s Foot. Crow's foot notation is effective when used in software engineering, information engineering, structured systems analysis and design. Each of these notations applies its own set of ERD symbols. Crow's foot diagrams use boxes to represent entities and lines between these boxes to show relationships. Varied shapes at the ends of lines depict the cardinality of a given relationship. Chen's ERD notation is more detailed way to represent entities and relationships. ConceptDraw PRO application enhanced with all-inclusive Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) solution allows design professional ER diagrams with Chen's or Crow’s Foot notation on your choice. It contains the full set of ready-to-use standardized ERD symbols and meanings helpful for quickly drawing, collection of predesigned ERD samples, examples and templates. ConceptDraw Pro is a great alternative to Visio for Mac users as it offers more features and can easily handle the most demanding professional needs.