Deck 8: Analyzing Systems Using Data Dictionaries

Question 1

A derived element is one that:

A) is keyed, derived by the users.
B) has several different meanings, one for each user group.
C) is created by processes as a result of calculations or a series of decision-making statements.
D) has the displayed length and the stored length the same.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

A default value on a GUI screen may be used for:

A) drop-down lists.
B) radio buttons.
C) check boxes.
D) All of the above.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

What does this symbol represent [ ]?

A) either/or situation
B) optional
C) iteration
D) selection

Answer 3

A

Question 4

A synonym or other name for an element is called a(n):

A) common element.
B) structural element.
C) attributive element.
D) alias.

Question 5

A varchar data type:

A) is used to represent elements for which the analyst needs to determine the length.
B) is an element that contains a check digit.
C) is used to represent a floating point number with an indeterminate number of decimal positions..
D) is used for data that can contain any number of characters (up to the database limit).

Question 6

A data flow that contains data that are used between processes is called:

A) internal.
B) derived.
C) base.
D) iterative.

Question 7

Which of the following is included in a physical data structure?

A) codes that identify the status of a master record
B) expansion area for file records
C) the type of data structure, either for a screen or report
D) editing criteria for the structure

Question 8

Braces { } are used to indicate:

A) either/or alternative.
B) optional.
C) repetitive elements.
D) selection.

Question 9

An analyst may develop the data flow diagram using a top-down method by using:

A) algebraic notation.
B) structural records.
C) algebraic notation and structural records.
D) vertical expansion methodology.

Question 10

Which of the following is not contained in the repository?

A) procedural logic
B) use cases
C) generated computer code
D) screen and report design

Question 11

A base element is one that:

A) was initially keyed into the system.
B) does not change over a period of time.
C) is used within one and only one subsystem.
D) is the result of a calculation or some other logic.

Question 12

Data stores are used to store:

A) all base elements and some derived elements.
B) all derived elements and some base elements.
C) all base and derived elements.
D) only some base elements and some derived elements (the most critical ones in the system).

Question 13

Since a single data flow may only show part of the collective data,

A) the data store may be linked to several external structures defining the different data flows.
B) many data flows may have to be examined to determine the contents of a data store.
C) data stores must contain multiple redundant elements within repeating groups indicated by braces {}.
D) an alias must be used.

Question 14

What is a reference work of data about data compiled by systems analysts?

A) data dictionary
B) data flow diagrams
C) structured analysis
D) design

Question 15

When determining the length for elements:

A) look at what the current length of data is and use that value.
B) use values that other corporations have for similar elements.
C) figure the amount of a numeric element and add a few characters for reasonable expansion.
D) keep the value for the length small to save file space.

Question 16

The data dictionary may be used to create:

A) screens.
B) reports.
C) forms.
D) All of the above.

Question 17

The symbol X(8) represents:

A) eight digits.
B) eight alphanumeric characters.
C) a data structure or element that repeats eight times.
D) an element that is found within eight data structures.

Question 18

Which of the following is a flaw in the system design that is detected by analyzing the data dictionary entries?

A) All derived elements on an output flow must be present on an input data flow.
B) The data store may contain elements that are not present on any data flow to or from the data store.
C) All base elements on an output data flow must be present on a data flow into the process.
D) All elements that are discrete must have a table of codes definition.

Question 19

What become(s) important for large systems that produce several thousand data elements requiring cataloging and cross-referencing?

A) data dictionary
B) structured analysis
C) data flow diagrams
D) automated data dictionaries
E) design

Question 20

Data structures are described using ________ notation.

A) relational
B) metadatic
C) geometric
D) algebraic

Question 21

A data dictionary contains information about a data flow diagram, but not entities or use cases.

Question 22

Which of the following is a more precise way to define the content of an XML document?

A) a schema
B) a document attribute list
C) an ID REF, listing the identifiable elements of a document
D) an XML repository specifications document

Question 23

________ is usually the first component to be stored in the data dictionary.

A) Data flow
B) Data direction
C) Data mining
D) Database schema

Question 24

Databases are usually the first component of a data dictionary to be defined.

Question 25

What is not a characteristic of the ideal data dictionary?

A) automated
B) efficient
C) interactive
D) online
E) evolutionary

Question 26

Elements on a data flow going into or out from a data store:

A) must be created by the process linking to the data store.
B) must be base elements.
C) must be on a data flow that is input to the process that creates the output that is going to the data store.
D) must be contained in the data store.

Question 27

A(n) ________ value for an element is one that has certain fixed values.

A) absolute
B) discrete
C) variable
D) continuous

Question 28

The data dictionary can be used as a starting point for creating XML documents.

Question 29

A data type of ________ is used for elements that can contain any number of characters up to the limit set by the database software.

A) char
B) numeric
C) varchar
D) text

Question 30

The data dictionary is a reference work of data about data.

Question 31

A ________ is composed of related elements.

A) data structure
B) data alias
C) database schema
D) data flow

Question 32

The correct determination of a(n) ________ length is important to avoid truncation.

A) address
B) zip code
C) database
D) element

Question 33

________ data structures include additional elements necessary for implementing the system.

A) Physical
B) Logical
C) Informational
D) Logistical

Question 34

A ________ is a large collection of information that is larger than a data dictionary.

A) repository
B) schema
C) data element
D) data alias

Question 35

Automated data dictionaries are useful for only printing summary lists of data.

Question 36

A(n) ________ element is one that has a smooth range of values.

A) absolute
B) discrete
C) variable
D) continuous

Question 37

Which of the following may be created by transforming an XML document?

A) a Web page
B) a portable document format (PDF) file
C) output for a handheld device
D) All of the above.

Question 38

A(n) ________ is a synonym or another name for the element, used by different users of systems.

A) alias
B) schema
C) alert
D) varchar

Question 39

Data about data is called metadata.

Question 40

Which of the following is not included in an XML document type definition?

A) the number of times an element repeats
B) an element that is optional
C) the rules for transforming the XML document into standard output
D) the attributes of an XML element

Question 41

In XML, tags become the metadata.

Question 42

Parentheses represent an optional element in the data dictionary.

Question 43

The ideal data dictionary is automated, interactive, online, and evolutionary.

Question 44

Data structures are those data items within the system that are not meaningful if broken down further.

Question 45

An internal data flow is one that connects two processes.

Question 46

A discrete data element is one that has certain fixed values.

Question 47

All derived elements must be stored on a data store.

Question 48

Each level of a data flow diagram should use data appropriate for the level.

Question 49

Brackets [ ] represent repetitive elements.

Question 50

All default elements on an output data flow must be present on a data flow coming into the process.

Question 51

XML is used when other systems or external organizations use the same software.

Question 52

Extensible markup language (XML) is a language that can be used to exchange data between businesses.

Question 53

The data dictionary may be used to generate computer source code.

Question 54

When a V is used as a formatting character for an element, it indicates where the decimal point should occur, even though the actual decimal point is not included.

Question 55

One of the rules for analyzing a data dictionary is that elements present on a data flow coming or going to a data store must be contained within the data store.

Question 56

XML is a way to define, sort, filter and translate data into a universal data language.

Question 57

A default value is one that never changes on a report.

Question 58

Data structures are usually described using a binary notation.

Question 59

An alias for each element is another name for the data used by different users in different systems.

Question 60

An XML schema is a more precise way to define the content of an XML document.

Question 61

There are three standard formats for mainframe computers: zoned decimal, packed decimal, and binary.

Question 62

(a) Define the term data dictionary. (b) Define metadata.

Question 63

Unified modeling language (UML) is a language that can be used to exchange data between businesses.

Question 64

A document type definition is used to determine if the XML document content is valid.

Question 65

XML is a way to define, sort, filter, and translate data into a universal data language.

Question 66

In XML, schemas become the metadata.

Question 67

A schema is a more precise way to define the content of an XML document.

Question 68

Give two examples of elements that can be found in a data dictionary; one that has a standard length and one that does not have a standard length.

Question 69

The data structure and elements for a data store are commonly used to generate computer source code.

Question 70

Describe the difference between base elements and derived elements.

Question 71

Why are structural records used?

Question 72

A zoned decimal is used to determine whether the XML document content is valid, that is, whether it conforms to the order and type of data that must be present in the document.

Question 73

A derived element must be output from at least one process that it is not input to.

Question 74

An !ATTLIST describes an XML attribute in the DTD.

Question 75

The advantage of using XML to define data is that, in the XML format, data are stored in a pure text format and not dependent on any proprietary software.

Question 76

XML is used when users have different computer (systems) and software.

Question 77

The packed decimal format is commonly used to save space on file layouts and for elements that require a high level of arithmetic to be performed on them.

Question 78

List three of the five main ways in which to use a data dictionary.