3C: system documentation

Question 1

what do large software companies use as diagrams

Answer 1

stuff from the UML: united modelling language

Question 2

other significant documentation during d + d

Answer 2

algorithms, pseudocode/flowcharts
test data + expected outputs
source code, internal + intrinsic

Question 3

what is a model of a system

Answer 3

representation of that system designed to show structure + functionality
- most models in form of diagrams

Question 4

why are diagrams useful

Answer 4

able to give broad view whilst also conveying necessary detail

Question 5

function of system flowcharts

Answer 5

describes logic + flow of data through system, interactions between input, output, processing, storage

Question 6

symbols used in flowcharts

Question 7

function of context diagrams

Answer 7

represents entire system as a single process; identifies data entering + leaving system with its source + destination

Question 8

how does a context diagram assist in understanding the problem

Answer 8

indicates where the new system interfaces with its environment, defined data + info that passes through each interface and direction of travel

Question 9

function of data flow diagrams

Answer 9

describe path data takes through a system; roadmap, no timetables
- describes movement + changes in data between processes

Question 10

DFD level system

Answer 10

level 0: specify external entities within system as a single process
level 1: expands level 0 into multiple processes
level 2: expands level 1 into multiple processes
and so on
- top-down design

Question 11

what two processes can DFDs be used for

Answer 11

system analysis, understanding the problem
system design, plan + design

Question 12

function of structure charts

Answer 12

used to model the hierarchy of subroutines, w/ the sequence in which these are to be executed

Question 13

primary purpose of structure charts

Answer 13

create a template in preparation for actual source code; top-down, left to right

Question 14

control meaning

Answer 14

the influence that causes tasks to execute in their correct sequence

Question 15

function of IPOs

Answer 15

used to describe the data entering a process, the nature of the processing performed on the data, resulting information leaving the process

Question 16

recommended method for drawing IPOs

Answer 16

three columns, one for input, process, output

Question 17

function of data dictionary

Answer 17

repository which contains information on all variable names + identifiers

Question 18

what should a data dictionary contain

Answer 18

a thorough description of each variable/data structure used, each field in each database, each file use/accessed
separate data dictionary made for module, database + files

Question 19

what do screen designs provide

Answer 19

interface between user + software

Question 19

what will a column in a data dictionary typically contain

Answer 19

• identifier
• data type
• format
• number of bytes
• size for display
• description/purpose
• example
• validation/range
• scope

Question 20

screen designs + concept prototypes

Answer 20

concept prototypes used to implement screen designs for potential client feedback + gauge effectiveness

Question 21

what do OS companies do

Answer 21

publish standards for screen design to ensure consistency between applications

Question 22

CASE tools + screen designs

Answer 22

allow preferences to be set; when code generated, screens will adhere to preferences to encourage consistency

Question 23

storyboard function

Answer 23

describes the screens used in a project, interaction with other screen

Question 24

difference between movie + software storyboards

Answer 24

relationship between them; movie sequence is always linear, though software must also document flow of data

Question 25

structure used by screen designs

Answer 25

top-down, hierarchal