HomePractices Page 3 - An Overview of Function Point Analysis
Rating and Ranking the Components - Practices
Function Point Analysis is a structured technique of classifying components of a system. It is a method used to break systems down into smaller components so that they can be better understood and analyzed. Function Point Analysis provides a structured technique for problem solving.
Once all the components in the application have been classified as one of the five major components mentioned above, they have to be rated as either Low, Average, or High.
Ranking is commonly based on File Types Referenced, Data Element Types and Record Element Types.
File Types Referenced (FTRs) represents the total number of internal logical files (ILFs) maintained, read, or referenced, and the external interface files read or referenced by the EI/EO transaction.
Data Element Type (DET) can be defined as unique user-recognizable non-recursive fields including foreign key attributes that are maintained on ILF/EIF.
Record Element Type (RET) is a subgroup of data elements within an ILF/EIF.
For each of the components belonging to Transactional functions, the ranking is based on:
Number of files updated or referenced (FTRs) and
Number of data element types (DETs)
For the data components viz., Internal Logical Files (ILF) and External Interface Files (EIF), ranking is based on:
Number of Data Element Types (DETs) and
Number of Record Element Types (RETs)
The tables given below provide an example of rankings and ratings given to each component.
External Inputs
FTRs
Data Elements
1-4
5-15
>15
0-1
Low
Low
Average
2
Low
Average
High
>=3
Average
High
High
External Output/External Inquiries
FTRs
Data Elements
1-5
6-19
>19
0-1
Low
Low
Average
2-3
Low
Average
High
>3
Average
High
High
Values or Ratings for Transactions
Ranking
Data Elements
External Input
External Output
External Inquiry
Low
3
4
3
Average
4
5
4
High
6
7
6
In the above example, if an external input component updates 2 FTRs and references around 16 data elements then the ranking would be HIGH and the associated rating would be 6.
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