Function Points FAQs

History Files

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Issue Description

Functional Overview

General Discussion and Resolution


ISSUE

Are History Files viewed as a business requirement or an implementation issue?

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FUNCTIONAL OVERVIEW

Many systems have implemented separate physical files to store historical records. For example, CUSTOMER and CUSTOMER_HISTORY files. Records may be written to the History files as a result of a scheduled archiving process, or when a particular event has occurred, for example Order Completion.

The attributes of the History File may, or may not be identical to the original file.

Should History files be counted?

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GENERAL DISCUSSION AND RESOLUTION

A separate History file and its associated maintenance functions is counted where the all the following conditions are satisfied:

Additional conditions that may indicate that a separate History file should be counted include:

But this condition alone is not sufficient.

  • The file is not user requested or
  • The attributes on the History file are identical to the attributes in the current file. or
  • The data values can be reproduced from data currently stored within the system or
  • The file exists only for performance reasons or
  • The History File contains Audit data only.
  • The file is user requested and
  • The attributes on the History file are different from the attributes in the current file. For example, Summarised data and
  • The data values cannot be reproduced from data currently stored within the system.
  • The existence of separate maintenance and reporting functions for the History file

A separate History file is not counted where any one of the following conditions exist:

Separate physical files do not result in separate logical files.


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Issue Description

Functional Overview

General Discussion and Resolution