PREVENTIVE STRUCTURAL-ANALYSIS OF DATA-FLOW DIAGRAMS

Abstract

Editors for dataflow diagrams (DFDs) perform structural analysis conventionally after structural errors have been introduced into DFDs. This is a corrective approach to eliminating structural errors. However, cross-examining voluminous DFDs to fix structural errors is time-consuming and frustrating. The paper proposes a preventive approach to structural analysis. The approach associates structural checking with editing operators so that editing operations that will introduce structural errors into DFDs are inhibited. As not all of the structural errors can be prevented, a decision on which structural errors can/should be prevented must be made. Consideration of two factors is suggested: the characteristics of structural errors and the construction method(s) for DFDs. Both considerations are demonstrated. A set of editing operators that enforce the prevention is then proposed and specified.