ProductsUModelUModel IntegrationXMI Import and Export

Altova UModel® 2009 lets you import and export models as industry standard XMI files for maximum UML compatibility.

XMI (XML Metamodel Interchange) is the portion of the UML specification that describes the method for storing UML models in a standardized XML-based interchange format. UModel® 2009 supports the latest XMI version – XMI 2.1 – both to import XMI files describing UML models created in other applications and to export UModel projects.

Support for industry-standard XMI import and export creates opportunities to extend the benefits of UML in large development teams. You can add copies of UModel® 2009 to work alongside – or even to replace – higher-priced, or cumbersome, legacy UML tools. UModel® 2009 users can import models saved in XMI 2.1 format by other tools. Team members can also employ XMI export to share UModel® 2009 projects with specialized UML add-ons such as model execution and debugging tools that are not required by the entire project team.

XMI 2.1 is designed to support the latest UML 2.2 standard, and also permits backward compatibility with UML 2.0 and UML 2.1. UModel® 2009 can import XMI 2.1 files that describe models in any UML version.

The XMI Import and XMI Export options are easily accessible from the File menu.

When you import an XMI file to create a new UModel project, status is reported in the message window.

Successful import of the XMI file creates a new UML model project, with each element defined and fully editable exactly as if the project had been originally created in UModel® 2009. You can select elements of the imported project and open diagrams to display content or relationships within the model.

Click image to enlarge screenshot

Click image to enlarge screenshot

Of course you can also add new functionality to the project or modify existing features, then generate new code or export the updated project as XMI again.

To support compatibility with other tools and to maximize flexibility, UModel® 2009 offers several export options. You can export models as UML 2.0, UML 2.1, or UML 2.2 and you can choose to include or ignore UModel extensions not specifically defined as part of UML, such as custom colors assigned to elements, code filenames for class diagrams, or image files that represent actors in use cases. UModel® 2009 supports XMI 2.1 import and export of all 14 UML standard diagram types.

When you check the Export UModel Extensions box in the XMI Export dialog, UModel® 2009 obeys the extension mechanism defined in the XMI specification. This means other tools that read the exported XMI 2.1 file will recognize and import the standard UML portions of the XMI file. Those that understand the UModel extensions can import them as well. Additionally, UModel® 2009 can accommodate small inconsistencies in XMI 2.1 implementations of other UML tool vendors.

You could also use the XMI export option to create an archive copy of your project – extensions and all – in a non-proprietary format with all the well-known advantages of XML.

Since XMI is defined as a particular form of XML, you can even open XMI files – whether created by UModel® 2009 or another UML tool – for examination in XMLSpy.

UML 2.2

Accompanying XMI 2.1, the latest UML 2.2 standard specifies a number of refinements that enhance model exchange by improving precision and reducing ambiguity among implementations of UML 2.0 by various UML tool vendors.

In keeping with Altova’s commitment to industry standards, UModel® 2009 stores UML model projects in UML 2.2. The option to export to XMI 2.1 for UML 2.0 or UML 2.1 is available for compatibility with UML tools that do not yet support UML 2.2.

Experience a powerful, flexible, and interoperable UML tool with industry-standard XMI compatibility – download a free 30-day trial of Altova UModel® 2009 today!