Specification Explanation

Use Cases

Use Cases describe interactions with the application by multiple roles of users(accountants, communards, administrators, budgeters, etc.). They are also known as “User Stories”.

In general, they describe “who uses this site” and “why?”.

Use Cases include diagrams and short narratives. Each Use Case will direct the reader to any relevant Screens.

Use Case Diagrams

Diagrams will be used to display the use case associated with each role. Each role is represented by a figure, known as an Actor. Use Cases are enclosed in circles and similar Use Cases are grouped together by rectangles.

Lines between an Actor and a Use Case indicates the actor utilizes the Use Case. A hollow arrow between two actors means that the actor is based off of the actor the arrow is pointed at, and inherits the other actors Use Cases. A dashed arrow from one Use Case to another indicates the source Use Case depends on or includes the Use Case being pointed at.

The following example shows the use cases for an application where an admin creates Accounts and both admin and viewer view them:

Screens and Conditions

A screen is a specific page in the application.

Every screen in the specification contains a description of the following Conditions:

  • Entry Conditions - The action required to get to the screen
  • Initial Conditions - The initial appearance and state of the screen
  • Intermediate Conditions - All possible changes in the screen before the screen is replaced
  • Final Conditions - All possible exits from the page and any related behind-the-scenes actions

Each screen will contain a wireframe, depicting the page’s layout. The wireframe is not meant to depict the final appearance of a page, but acts as a rough guide or prototype.

Activity Diagrams

Complex Screens may include flowcharts or activity diagrams. To read these, start at the top circle, following the arrows until you reach diamonds, which represent decisions. Continue down only one path from a decision point. Repeat until you reach the end, represented by the bottom circle.