ProductsUModelUML Application Flow DiagramsInteraction Overview Diagrams

Easily assemble UModel® 2009 interaction overview diagrams to present a high-level view of execution paths through your application.

UML interaction overview diagrams combine elements of activity diagrams with sequence diagrams to show the flow of program execution.

You can also use an interaction overview diagram to deconstruct a complex scenario that would otherwise require multiple if-then-else paths to be illustrated as a single sequence diagram.

The UModel® 2009 interaction overview diagram toolbar contains icons for initial node, final node, decisions, merges, forks, and arrows that are also used in activity diagrams. Control flow arrows will connect existing sequence diagrams and interactions in your model to illustrate execution flow.

You’ll want to start with an Initial Node.

Place an existing sequence diagram in the interaction overview by selecting the toolbar icon or by dragging the sequence diagram from the Diagram Tree window. The image in your interaction overview diagram is a pointer to the actual sequence diagram. Later on, anyone viewing your interaction overview diagram will be able to open the original sequence diagram by double-clicking its image.

When you have placed multiple sequence diagrams or other interactions in the interaction overview diagram, you can insert decision nodes, draw flow arrows, and add notes as needed.

You can even insert a duration constraint – an element from timing diagrams – to document a business rule or hardware consideration.

Any changes to sequence diagrams that are made later will automatically update the interaction overview diagram. This functionality lets you design the high level program flow before all the details of each individual sequence are completed.

In an early development iteration you can quickly construct incomplete sequence diagrams to act as placeholders in the interaction overview diagram while you design the overall application flow.

You can complete each sequence diagram later, or even delegate sequence diagrams to other team members.

When a sequence diagram is edited, its image in the interaction overview diagram indicates the changes.

Find out for yourself how easy it is to design high level application flow with UModel® 2009 – download a free 30-day trial today!