Complexity

Each function identified in the function point analysis – EI, EO, EQ, ILF, or EIF – is weighted according to its complexity.

For data functions (IFLs and EIFs), the complexity is determined and rated by the numbers of Record Element Types (RETs – distinct record formats) and the number of Data Element Types (DETs – distinct fields) contained within the logical group of data.

For Internal Logical Files:

	1 to 19 DET	20 to 50 DET	51 or more DET
1 RET	Low	Low	Average
2-5 RET	Low	Average	High
6 or more RET	Average	High	High

Where	DET =	Number of data element types (fields)
	RET =	Number of Record Element Types (Subgroups of Internal Logical Files based on logical/user view of the data)

For External Interface Files

	1 to 19 DET	20 to 50 DET	51 or more DET
1 RET	Low	Low	Average
2-5 RET	Low	Average	High
6 or more RET	Average	High	High

Where	DET =	Number of data element types (fields)
	RET =	Number of Record Element Types (Subgroups of External Logical Files based on logical/user view of the data)

For transaction functions (EIs, EOs, and EQs), the complexity is determined and rated by the numbers of File Types Referenced (FTRs – number of ILFs and EIFs used by the process) and the number of Data Element Types (DETs – distinct fields) added, changed, deleted, or produced in outputs.

For External Inputs

	1 to 4 DET	5 to 15 DET	16 or more DET
0-1 FTR	Low	Low	Average
2 FTR	Low	Average	High
3 or more FTR	Average	High	High

Where	DET =	Number of data element types (fields)
	FTR =	Number of Internal Logical Files maintained or referenced plus number of External Interface files referenced during processing of the External Input

For External Outputs

	1 to 5 DET	6 to 19 DET	20 or more DET
0-1 FTR	Low	Low	Average
2-3 FTR	Low	Average	High
4 or more FTR	Average	High	High

Where	DET =	Number of data element types (fields)
	FTR =	Number of Internal Logical Files referenced plus number of External Interface files referenced during processing of the External Output

For External Inquiries

 Compute the input side of the External Inquiry (just like an External Input)

 Compute the output side of the External Inquiry (just like an External Output)

 Use the higher of the two results