The Following Narrative Describes the System for Registering for AIS at Enormous State

The following narrative describes the system for registering for AIS at Enormous State University:

At Enormous State University (ESU), students register for a course(s) in the semester preceding the course offering. For most courses, several sections are usually offered each semester. To focus the narrative, the following paragraphs describe how a student would register for a section of an AIS course. The narrative assumes that AIS has a course designator of AC 340, that there are multiple sections of the course, and that the course has certain prerequisites. All computer files mentioned in the narrative are stored on magnetic disk.

To initiate the registration process, a student presents a two-part completed course registration request (Form R 16) to a clerk in the Registrar's Office at a time designated in the scheduling packet that each student receives. The completed Form R 16 shows the student's name; ID number (ESU uses social security numbers); and the course number (AC 340), title (AIS), and section number(s) requested. Students are encouraged to indicate at least two section choices in case their first-choice section is closed.

From a computer terminal in the Registrar's Office, the clerk first keys in the course number and the student's first section choice. The course master data is accessed, and the computer responds by displaying on the CRT screen the total number of seats in that section and the number of available seats, if any. If no spaces are available, the clerk proceeds to the student's second section choice and repeats the process (further discussion of these exception routines is beyond the narrative's scope).

Once an available seat in one of the student's section choices has been confirmed, the clerk proceeds to check whether the student has the appropriate prerequisites. By keying in the student's ID number, the clerk can obtain a display of the student's transcript from the student master data. Once the prerequisites have been verified (the routine for handling prerequisite exceptions is beyond the narrative's scope), the clerk keys in a code to indicate that the registration has been accepted. Both the course and student master data are updated to reflect the accepted registration (e.g., available seats in that course section are reduced by one). The clerk stamps Form R 16 "Accepted" and dates and signs the form. The original is given to the student, and the clerk files the duplicate in chronological sequence by date accepted.

Required: a. Prepare a table of entities and activities. b. Prepare a context diagram. d. Prepare a chronologically sorted table of entities and activities. Indicate on this table the groupings--bubble numbers and bubble titles--to be used in preparing the level 0 logical DFD. e. Prepare a logical data flow diagram (level 0 only). ANS: a. Table of Entities and Activities

Entities Para Activities Student (AIS) 2 1. Presents a completed course registration request to Registrar's Office.

Computer (online terminal) 3 2. Accesses course master data. 3 3. Displays seat availability. 4 4. Displays student transcript. 4 5. Updates course and student master data for accepted registration.

Registrar's Office clerk 3 6. Keys in course number and student's first section choice. 3 7. Proceeds to student's second choice (if no seats are available in first section choice). Note that this activity is an exception routine that will be noted in a systems flowchart but not in the DFDs. 3 8. Keys in student's ID number. 3 9. Verifies prerequisites. 3 10. Keys in code for accepted registration. 4 11. Stamps registration form "Accepted." 4 12. Dates and signs the registration form. 4 13. Gives original of accepted registration form to student. 4 14. Files duplicate of accepted registration form. b. Chronologically Sorted Table of Entities and Activities (Annotated)

Entities Para Activities Registrar's Office Clerk 3 6. Keys in course number and 1.0 student's first section choice Check seat Computer (online 3 2. Accesses course master data availability terminal 3 3. Displays seat availability

Registrar's Office Clerk 3 8. Keys in student's ID number 2.0 Verify Computer (online 4 4. Displays student transcript student terminal) prerequisites

Registrar's Office Clerk 3 9. Verifies prerequisites

Registrar's Office Clerk 3 10. Keys in code for accepted registration

Computer (online 4 5. Updates course and student master data for terminal) accepted registration

Registrar's Office Clerk 4 11. Stamps registration form "Accepted" 3.0 4 12. Dates and signs the Record registration form accepted 4 14. Files duplicate of accepted registration registration form f. I have included the Systems Flowchart below if you are interested in comparing the DFD with the Flowchart.