Software Engineering – Structured Chart

Introduction

• Structured design partitions a program into small independent modules.
• Structure chart is a chart derived from Data Flow Diagram.
• The structure chart represents the hierarchical structure of modules. At each layer, a specific task is performed.
• In the structured design following, charting tools are used. 
  1. Structured flow chart
  2. HIPO include VTOC and IPO
  3. Warnier – Orr diagrams

Structured Flow chart

• These are also known as Nassi – Schneider man charts.
• There are three basic elements: Process, decision, and iteration.
• They are used by system analysts to combine function diagrams and data flow diagrams.
• They show the flow of data and flow control of data.

 Structured Chart – HIPO chart

• HIPO stands for Hierarchical Input Process Output
• It is a combination of two organized methods to analyze the system and provide the means of documentation.
• It is a commonly used tool for developing system software.
• They are used in documenting information. It was first developed by IBM as a design aid.
• The components of the HIPO package are:
  1. Visual table of content (VTOC)
  2. Functional Diagram

Example (Online sales management system)

Example (Functional Chart)

Structured Chart – Warnier – Orr Diagram

• Warnier diagram was first developed by Jean – Dominique warier, a Belgian mathematician, and later extended by Kenneth Orr, an American.
• It represents a process, decision, and iteration.
• It is very useful to describe complex processes.

Example