Data Flow Diagram (DFD)

A Data Flow Diagram (DFD) illustrates the flow of data through an information system, visualizes how the information is handled in terms of inputs and outputs, how the data enter to system and leave it. It is effective to use a Data Flow Diagram for creation the system's overview, to show the system's scope and boundaries. There are two different types of notations for DFDs: Yourdon-Coad and Gane-Sarson, which differ in visual representations for processes, data flow, data stores, external entities, etc. Thus, for example the processes are depicted as circles in Yourdon-Coad notation and as rounded squares in Gane-Sarson notation. Gane-Sarson notation is usually used for visualization information systems and Yourdon-Coad - for system analysis and design. The Data Flow Diagrams solution included to Software Development area of ConceptDraw Solution Park offers a lot of DFD templates, samples and examples, libraries of vector stencils for construction without efforts the DFDs according to both Gane-Sarson and Yourdon-Coad notations.

DFD Library — Design elements

Data Flow Diagrams (DFD) solution from the Software Development area of ConceptDraw Solution Park provides plenty of predesigned templates, samples and DFD vector design elements proposed by three DFD libraries. These DFD library objects are designed to help you effectively model the data flows and functional requirements for the business processes or systems, to design the Process-oriented models or Data-oriented models, Data flowcharts and Data process diagrams, Structured analysis diagrams and Information flow diagrams. There are two different notations used to draw the Data Flow Diagrams (Yourdon & Coad and Gane & Sarson). These notations define the different visual representations for the processes, data stores, data flows, and external entities. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software provides you with possibility of designing professional-looking Data Flow Diagrams, DFD Models, Data Flow Process Diagrams using any of these notations. Simply drag the predesigned DFD flowchart symbols from the appropriate library and connect by arrows depicting the data flow from one step to another.

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 DIAGRAM 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.

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

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 DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software and Data Flow Diagram solution.

Yourdon and Coad Diagram

The vector stencils library Yourdon and Coad Notation from the solution OOAD contains specific symbols of the Yourdon and Coad notation such as data store symbol, data process symbol, loop symbol for ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software. The OOAD solution is contained in the Software Development area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

Entity Relationship Diagram - ERD - Software for Design Crows Foot ER Diagrams

ER-model is a data model which lets describe the conceptual schemes in a specific subject area. It can help to highlight the key entities and specify relationships that can be established between these entities. During the database design, it is realized the transformation of ER model into certain database scheme based on the chosen data model (relational, object, network, etc.). There are used two notations for ERDs: Crow's Foot and Chen's. Crow's Foot notation proposed by Gordon Everest represents the entity by rectangle containing its name (name must be unique within this model), and relation - by the line which links two entities involved in relationship. The relationship's plurality is graphically indicated by a "plug" on the end of the link, the optionality - by a circle. Entity-Relationship Diagrams based on Crow's Foot notation can be easily drawn using the ConceptDraw DIAGRAM. Extended with Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) solution, it is the best ERD diagrams software with powerful tools and ready design elements for Crow's Foot and Chen notations.

Cross-Functional Flowchart

Use of Cross-Functional Flowchart is a clear way of showing each team member’s responsibilities and how processes get shared or transferred between different responsible people, teams and departments. Use the best flowchart maker ConceptDraw DIAGRAM with a range of standardized cross-functional flowchart symbols to create the Cross-Functional Flowcharts simply and to visualize the relationship between a business process and the functional units responsible for that process. To draw the most quickly Cross-Functional Flowcharts, Cross Functional Process Maps, or Cross Functional Process Flow Diagrams, start with a Cross-functional flowchart samples and templates from ConceptDraw Solution Park. The ConceptDraw Arrows10 and RapidDraw technologies will be also useful for you in drawing. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM supports designing both types - horizontal and vertical Cross-functional flowcharts. A vertical layout makes the accents mainly on the functional units while a horizontal layout - on the process. If you need a Visio alternative in Mac OS X, try ConceptDraw DIAGRAM. Its interface is very intuitive and it’s actually much easier to use than Visio, yet somehow it’s just as powerful if not more so. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM performs professional quality work and seamless Visio interaction.

Flow chart Example. Warehouse Flowchart

Warehouse Flowcharts are various diagrams that describe the warehousing and inventory management processes on the warehouses. Typical purposes of Warehouse Flowcharts are evaluating warehouse performance, measuring efficiency of customer service and organizational performance. This type of Workflow diagrams can be used for identifying any disconnection between business activities and business objectives. They are effectively used by warehouse-related people and organizations, manufacturers, wholesalers, exporters, importers, transporters, and others. Standard Warehousing process flow diagram and standard Workflow diagram are used for process identification for further evaluating effectiveness and profitability of overall business process. Use the ConceptDraw DIAGRAM ector graphic software extended with Flowcharts solution to design your own professional-looking Workflow diagrams and Flowcharts of any types, including the Warehouse flowchart, Process flow diagrams which depict in details all steps of Warehouse packages flow. Microsoft Visio, designed for Windows users, can’t be opened directly on Mac. But fortunately, there are several Visio alternatives for Mac which will help Mac users to work Visio files. With ConceptDraw DIAGRAM , you may open, edit and save files in Visio format.