Basic Steps of an FPA Count

Set Up New Count-Baseline Count

Set Up New Count-Enhancement Count

First Function Point Count

When you first open a Count Session the Function Hierarchy Tree is displayed. This is where your software is modelled as a hierarchical structure. Your first step is to determine the main functional areas within the software application to be measured and enter them into SCOPE as Functions (use Alt INS Key) in the Function Tree Hierarchy. Continue breaking down each Function until you get to the lowest elementary Process to be performed within the software application. Enter each Process (use Ins Key) into SCOPE.

Working from the application’s functional specification, in the Detail screen classify each elementary Process as either an:

• Input i.e. something that enables the user to input data into the software to be stored
• Output i.e. something that enables the user to extract derived information from the software
• Inquiry i.e. something that enables the user to query stored data

Select to display the Data Tree Hierarchy by selecting the Data Tab at the top of the screen on the RHS window. Determine the categories of logical files in your software and create some File Folders. Under each Data Group Folder identify the logical groups of data in your software and enter each Data Group (ILF or EIF) into SCOPE under the appropriate Folder the Data Tree Hierarchy. Data groups may be further decomposed into sub-groupings of Record Element Types (RETs). You can also enter the fields (Data Element Types-DETs) under each RET sub-grouping.

Working from the application’s functional specification, in the Detail Screen classify each Data Group as either an:

• Internal File (ILF) i.e. something that stores data input from the user’s transactions, i.e.Processes on the Function Tree update ILFs
• External File (EIF) i.e. something that stores data accessed by the user’s transactions. i.e.Processes on the Function Tree only read EIFs

Use the detail screen to classify Processes and data groups as either low, average or high complexity.

SCOPE will assign a weighting in function point units to the software’s functional and data components using a set of prescribed formula’s, based on the type and complexity you have selected.

NOTE: SCOPE defaults Processes to be Inputs of average complexity and data groups to be of a type undefined and low complexity. You can change these defaults by selecting VIEW, Function Point Count Default Values, from the Main Menu.

After the assessment of each Process and Data Group is complete, the Functional Size in Unadjusted Function Points can be reported for the whole application, or any selected part of it or just for those functions and data impacted by a change request. The size is reported in the status bar at the bottom of the screen or can be seen in detail by selecting the Reporting Selection option under the Main Menu.

SCOPE:

• Can be used to measure the size of a functional branch of the hierarchy by selecting a node at any level
• Can use Flags to select sets of function and or Process nodes, for selective measurement
• Can be used to selectively record and report functions impacted by a project using an impact Count Session

SCOPE allows you to perform the optional step of evaluating an application’s General Systems Characteristics to calculate the Value Adjustment Factor for the application for that Release. The Functional Size can then be combined with a Value Adjustment Factor to take into account quality and technical characteristics, which will then give a product size in Adjusted Function Points.