1
IDENTIFICATION OF ENTITIES AND ACTIVITIES
ERA Restaurant Jobbers
Background: ERA Restaurant Jobbers employs several field representatives to service client restaurants in
western Oregon. The representatives travel from restaurant to restaurant filling orders for many of the
staple goods such as flour, sugar, condiments, vegetables, and so forth.
Narrative for DFDs:
From a client restaurant a representative will pick up a signed order sheet from the restaurant manager for
the quantities desired of each item sold by ERA. (1)
From his (her) car, the representative connects to ERA’s order processing computer package (on the
computer) using a laptop computer and a cellular phone. (2)
The representative enters the customer number into the computer; (3)
and then (the representative) enters item numbers and quantities of each item requested. (4)
The computer captures the customer number and order information (5)
and then (the computer) reads the accounts receivable master file to verify that then customer has
sufficient credit to allow the transaction. (6)
If the transaction is allowed, the computer then displays an approval screen on the representative’s
computer (7)
and (the computer) records the sales information in a “sales order database” (8)
and (the computer) prints two copies of the sales order on a laser printer in the representative’s car. (9)
The representative reconciles the printed sales order to the request he keyed in and (10)
then (The representative) enters a code into the computer to execute the sales transaction. (11)
[When the representative enters the code,] the computer updates the sales order database and the
accounts receivable master file to reflect the execution. (12)
The representative takes a copy of the sales order to the manager of the restaurant. (13)
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TABLE OF ACTIVITIES (IDENTIFICATION OF ENTITY ACTIVITIES AND FLOWS)
ERA Restaurant Jobbers
Background: ERA Restaurant Jobbers employs several field representatives to service client restaurants in
western Oregon. The representatives travel from restaurant to restaurant filling orders for many of the
staple goods such as flour, sugar, condiments, vegetables, and so forth.
Narrative for DFDs:
1. From a client restaurant a representative will pick up a signed order sheet from the restaurant
manager for the quantities desired of each item sold by ERA. (1)
2. From his (her) car, the representative connects to ERA’s order processing computer package (on
the computer) using a laptop computer and a cellular phone. (2)
3. The representative enters the customer number into the computer; (3)
4. and then (the representative) enters item numbers and quantities of each item requested. (4)
5. The representative reconciles the printed sales order to the request he keyed in and (10)
6. then (The representative) enters a code into the computer to execute the sales transaction. (11)
7. The representative takes a copy of the sales order to the manager of the restaurant. (13)
8. The computer captures the customer number and order information (5)
9. and then (the computer) reads the accounts receivable master file to verify that then customer has
sufficient credit to allow the transaction. (6)
10. If the transaction is allowed, the computer then displays an approval screen on the representative’s
computer (7)
11. and (the computer) records the sales information in a “sales order database” (8)
12. and (the computer) prints two copies of the sales order on a laser printer in the representative’s
car. (9)
13. [When the representative enters the code,] the computer updates the sales order database and the
accounts receivable master file to reflect the execution. (12)
ORDER OF ACTIVITIES
1 2 3 4 8 9 10 11 12 5 6 13 7
3
Physical DFD (remove the numbers to get the final diagram)
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TRY TO LOGICALLY GROUP THE ACTIVITIES
ORDER OF ACTIVITIES
1 2 3 4 8 | 9 10 | 11 12 | 5 6 13 7
Capture
transaction
approve
order
record
data
execute
transaction
Narrative for DFDs:
1. From a client restaurant a representative will pick up a signed order sheet from the restaurant
manager for the quantities desired of each item sold by ERA. (1)
2. From his (her) car, the representative connects to ERA’s order processing computer package (on
the computer) using a laptop computer and a cellular phone. (2)
3. The representative enters the customer number into the computer; (3)
4. and then (the representative) enters item numbers and quantities of each item requested. (4)
5. The representative reconciles the printed sales order to the request he keyed in and (10)
6. then (The representative) enters a code into the computer to execute the sales transaction. (11)
7. The representative takes a copy of the sales order to the manager of the restaurant. (13)
8. The computer captures the customer number and order information (5)
9. and then (the computer) reads the accounts receivable master file to verify that then customer has
sufficient credit to allow the transaction. (6)
10. If the transaction is allowed, the computer then displays an approval screen on the representative’s
computer (7)
11. and (the computer) records the sales information in a “sales order database” (8)
12. and (the computer) prints two copies of the sales order on a laser printer in the representative’s
car. (9)
13. [When the representative enters the code,] the computer updates the sales order database and the
accounts receivable master file to reflect the execution. (12)
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