ProductsUModelUML Structure DiagramsUML Composite Structure Diagrams

Altova UModel® 2009 empowers you to rapidly draw UML composite structure diagrams that explore how objects cooperate to complete a task, document the internal structure of an object, or graphically describe a design structure or strategy.

UML 2 introduced several styles of composite structure diagrams. When used to illustrate a conceptual design, composite structure diagrams raise the level of abstraction by communicating a design strategy without referencing any particular programming language, operating system, or other specific implementation details.

You might want to create a composite structure diagram for the well-known adapter pattern, for instance, if your project required connection to several data sources that have incompatible interfaces.

With a special toolbar, context menus and intuitive entry helpers, UModel® 2009 makes it easy to create composite structure diagrams in whatever style you require.

Composite structure diagrams include just a few fundamental UML 2 elements, beginning with a collaboration oval.

The next step is to add rectangular elements to represent the collaborating entities and attach them with a connector line.

So far in this example, all the elements have the default names assigned when they were placed. You can edit their names directly in the drawing pane or in each element’s properties helper window.

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The properties window for the connector line lets you add text to describe the collaboration.

If you need to expand the collaboration oval to create more room for additional elements, selecting the oval reveals its resize fast-editing buttons. You can grab any resize button and drag it to enlarge the oval.

You can place and connect additional collaborating entities by repeating the steps described above to rapidly complete the diagram.

UModel® 2009 lets you print your composite structure diagram or save it as an image file to insert in your project documentation application.

If you want to draw a detailed style UML composite structure diagram, collaboration use ovals and dependency lines are just as easy and intuitive to assemble as the collaboration style elements.

When you create a composite structure diagram to map the internal structure of a class, UModel® 2009 lets you conveniently click a fast-editing button to open the properties compartment.

Inside the properties compartment you can refine the property details, if you wish.

You can also manually position elements and resize them by their individual grab handles. Or, you can take advantage of the UModel® 2009 layout menu, which offers a rich selection of tools to help you arrange the elements of your UML 2 composite structure diagram exactly as you want.

Find out for yourself how easy it is to describe your project’s structure with UModel® 2009. Download a free trial right away!