IDEF3 Standard

This IDEF3 diagram example was redesigned from the Wikimedia Commons file: 2-02 Example of a Transition Schematic.jpg.
[commons.wikimedia.org/ wiki/ File:2-02_ Example_ of_ a_ Transition_ Schematic.jpg]
"The schematic in Figure 2-2 represents an Object Schematic for the Order Material scenario derived from the business owner’s description. This example happens to illustrate a Transition Schematic since it characterizes the nature and structure of object state transitions for occurrences of the Order Material scenario. A key document in this process is the Purchase Request form. This form is eventually transformed into a Purchase Order (PO) via the Order Material process. A circle containing the name of an object represents an object of a certain kind (e.g., Purchase Request, Account Manager, Project). These labeled circles are known as kind symbols. A certain kind of object being in a certain state is represented by a circle with a label that captures both the kind itself and a corresponding state, thereby representing the type (or class) of objects that are in that state (within a given process). ... One of the first steps to develop an Object Schematic is to identify the possible states in which the object can exist. Though a real-world object often evolves through a continuum of states, an Object Schematic focuses on those distinguished states of particular interest to the domain expert. The transition arcs (arrows with triangular, filled-in heads) connecting the circles symbolize a state transition, the activity of changing from one state to another. The conditions that establish when an object is in a given state, how it exists a state, how it can transition between states, and how it can enter a new state are recorded on a special form. The banded boxes linked to the arrows (called referents) are aids to describe the relationships between objects states and UOBs, scenarios, or other Transition Schematics that participate in a scenario occurrence. ... The transition junctions containing an “X” (for exclusive or) indicate the choice of exactly one path among several possible paths in an occurrence." [IDEF3 Process Description Capture Method Report AL-TR-1995-XXXX. idef.com/ pdf/ Idef3_ fn.pdf]
The diagram "Transition schematic - IDEF3 diagram example" was created using the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with the solution "IDEF Business Process Diagrams" from the area "Business Processes" of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

This IDEF3 diagram example was redesigned from the Wikimedia Commons file: 5-21 Completed Transition Schematic.jpg.
[commons.wikimedia.org/ wiki/ File:5-21_ Completed_ Transition_ Schematic.jpg]
"As with the Process Schematic, the correctness of the Object Schematic and
associated elaborations are confirmed through validation with the domain expert. After reviewing the Transition Schematic, the domain expert observes that the allowable state transitions displayed in the schematic do not include those representative of a failed request. ...
The domain expert also identified transitions through which the identity of the object was preserved and transitions where the object was actually transformed into an entirely different object. The domain expert’s comments to the analyst yield the schematic
depicted in Figure 5-21." [IDEF3 Process Description Capture Method Report AL-TR-1995-XXXX. idef.com/ pdf/ Idef3_ fn.pdf]
The sample "Completed transition schematic - IDEF3 diagram" was created using the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with the solution "IDEF Business Process Diagrams" from the area "Business Processes" of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

The vector stencils library "IDEF3 process schematic symbols" contains 12 shapes: unit of behavior (UOB), links, junctions, .
Use it to design your IDEF3 process schematic diagrams.
"Process schematics tend to be the most familiar and broadly used component of the IDEF3 method. These schematics provide a visualization mechanism for processcentered descriptions of a scenario. The graphical elements that comprise process schematics include Unit of Behavior (UOB) boxes, precedence links, junctions, referents, and notes. The building blocks here are:
- Unit of Behavior (UOB) boxes.
- Links: Links are the glue that connect UOB boxes to form representations of dynamic processes.
- Simple Precedence Links: Precedence links express temporal precedence relations between instances of one UOB and those of another.
- Activation Plots: Activation plots are used to represent activations.
- Dashed Links: Dashed links carry no predefined semantics.
- Link Numbers: All links have an elaboration and unique link numbers.
Activation Semantics for Nonbranching Process Schematics.
- Junctions: Junctions in IDEF3 provide a mechanism to specify the logic of process branching.
- UOB Decompositions: Elaborations capture and structure detailed knowledge about processes.
- UOB Reference Numbering Scheme: A UOB box number is assigned to each UOB box in an IDEF3 Process Description.
- Partial Descriptions: UOB boxes are joined together by links. Because of the description capture focus of IDEF3, it is possible to conceive of UOBs without links to other parts of an IDEF3 schematic.
- Referents: Referents enhance understanding, provide additional meaning, and simplify the construction (i.e., minimize clutter) of both process schematics and object schematics." [IDEF3. Wikipedia]
The shapes example "Design elements - IDEF3 process schematic symbols" was created using the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with the solution "IDEF Business Process Diagrams" from the area "Business Processes" of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

This IDEF3 diagram example was redesigned from the Wikimedia Commons file: 2-03 Example of an Enhanced Transition Schematic.jpg.
[en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ File:2-03_ Example_ of_ an_ Enhanced_ Transition_ Schematic.jpg]
"IDEF3 descriptions are developed from two different perspectives: process-centered and object-centered. Because these approaches are not mutually exclusive, IDEF3 allows cross-referencing between them to represent complex process descriptions." [IDEF3. Wikipedia]
The IDEF3 diagram example "Enhanced transition schematic" was created using the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with the solution "IDEF Business Process Diagrams" from the area "Business Processes" of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

This IDEF3 diagram example was redesigned from the Wikimedia Commons file: 6-4 Example IDEF3 Object State Transition Schematic.jpg.
[commons.wikimedia.org/ wiki/ File:6-4_ Example_ IDEF3_ Object_ State_ Transition_ Schematic.jpg]
"Quick Reading of IDEF3 Process Descriptions: An Example.
An example approach for reading a schematic is described in the following steps. This outline for reading a schematic would be repeated, with few modifications, for all decompositions, whether found in a Process Schematic or an Object Schematic. In general, decompositions are read after the parent schematic has been read and understood.
The Big Picture.
A crucial step in the description-reading process is to understand the big picture
relevant to the real-life situation described. This big picture can be gained by reading and understanding the statement of purpose, statement of scope, objective of the scenario being described, and viewpoint of the IDEF3 Process Description. ...
Scan the Schematic.
Readers should become familiar with the scenario by scanning the schematic from left to right. This involves becoming familiar with the individual elements (e.g., UOBs, links, and junctions) displayed in the schematic. This is not an in-depth study of the schematic; rather, it provides readers with a general impression of the process being described and an overall understanding of the logic flow in the scenario.
Understand the Description.
In this step, readers gain a detailed understanding of the schematic associated with a scenario, object, or a decomposition of a schematic element. This is the part of the communication process that is most individualized and requires the most time. It is helpful to partition the schematic into understandable pieces." [IDEF3 Process Description Capture Method Report AL-TR-1995-XXXX. idef.com/ pdf/ Idef3_ fn.pdf]
The diagram sample "IDEF3 object state transition schematic" was created using the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with the solution "IDEF Business Process Diagrams" from the area "Business Processes" of ConceptDraw Solution Park.