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A Formal Semantics of Data Flow Diagrams

  • Formal Aspects of Computing
  • Published:
Formal Aspects of Computing

Abstract

This paper presents a formal semantics of data flow diagrams as used in Structured Analysis, based on an abstract model for data flow transformations. The semantics consists of a collection of VDM functions, transforming an abstract syntax representation of a data flow diagram into an abstract syntax representation of a VDM specification. Since this transformation is executable, it becomes possible to provide a software analyst/designer with two ‘views’ of the system being modelled: a graphical view in terms of a data flow diagram, and a textual view in terms of a VDM specification. In this paper emphasis is on the motivation for the choices made in the transformation. The main aspects of the transformation itself are described using annotated VDM functions with some examples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IFAD, Forskerparken 10, DK-5230, Odense M, Denmark

    Peter Gorm Larsen

  2. Faculty of Technical Mathematics and Informatics, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands

    Nico Plat & Hans Toetenel

Authors
  1. Peter Gorm Larsen
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  2. Nico Plat
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  3. Hans Toetenel
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Correspondence to Peter Gorm Larsen.

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Larsen, P.G., Plat, N. & Toetenel, H. A Formal Semantics of Data Flow Diagrams. Form Asp Comp 6, 586–606 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03259387

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