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UML diagrams provide a graphical representation of an application's structure and processing. These representations can be helpful in that they accelerate understanding of the application.

This page provides information on various tools that can be used to generate UML diagrams that illustrate Magnolia CMS as well as recommendations for especially useful diagrams and generating the diagrams.

UML introduction

As stated in the Introduction to UML, there are three types of UML diagrams: structure, behavior, and interaction. Useful structure diagrams for Magnolia CMS include class, object, component, composite structure, and package. Useful behavior diagrams include activity. Useful interaction diagrams include sequence and communication (or collaboration). The Wiki's UML article and the Kennesaw's UML Tutorial provide descriptions and examples of these and other UML diagrams.

UML tools

A list of tools that can be used to generate UML diagrams is provided below. Notes for each tool are for the purposes of evaluation by readers. Readers are encouraged to add tools to the list as well as experiences with tools already listed. Please provide a link for any added tools. The evaluations were done using Eclipse Helios unless otherwise specified.

Tool

Notes

eUML2

Eclipse plugin, installed Free Edition (follow installation instructions), to create diagrams select New>Other>Eclipse Modeling Framework,eDepend Diagrams, eEMF Diagrams, eUML2 Diagrams. Class and package dependencies under eDepend Diagrams showed relationships for selected class/package. Class diagram under eUML2 Diagrams also showed relationships for selected class(es). Other diagrams were not useful or did not generate.

MyEclipse UML 2

Eclipse plugin, create UML Model file New>Other>MyEclipse>UML>UML1 Model, drag class from Package Explorer to UML Model to create/add to class diagram, can also add using UML>Reverse Engineer UML from Java, only class diagrams can be created from code.

The following tools were also evaluated but were not included on the list due to not being an Eclipse plugin, low ratings, not free, or not performing as expected: Solution BluePrint, Javadoc as UML View, ModelGoon UML 4, Coffea, UML Lab, MagicDraw, AgileJ StructureViews, Slime UML, MaintainJ, EclipseUML, jSonde, Green, UModel, Rational, Visual Paradigm.

Generation recommendation

Recommendations for generating UML diagrams are in progress and will be added in the near future.

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