The UML standard specifies eight principal diagrams, all of which are supported by ArgoUML.
Use case diagram. Used to capture and analyse the requirements for any OOA&D project. See Chapter 17, Use Case Diagram Model Element Reference for details of the ArgoUML use case diagram and the model elements it supports.
Class diagram. This diagram captures the static structure of the system being designed, showing the classes, interfaces and datatypes and how they are related. Variants of this diagram are used to show package structures within a system (the package diagram) and the relationships between particular instances (the object diagram).
The ArgoUML class diagram provides support for class and package diagrams. See Chapter 18, Class Diagram Model Element Reference for details of the model elements it supports. The object diagram is suported on the Deployment diagram.
Behavior diagrams. There are four such diagrams (or strictly speaking, five, since the use case diagram is a type of behavior diagram), which show the dynamic behavior of the system at all levels.
Statechart diagram. Used to show the dynamic behavior of a single object (class instance). This diagram is of particular use in systems using complex communication protocols, such as in telecommunications. See Chapter 20, Statechart Diagram Model Element Reference for details of the ArgoUML statechart diagram and the model elements it supports.
Activity diagram. Used to show the dynamic behavior of groups of objects (class instance). This diagram is an alternative to the statechart diagram, and is better suited to systems with a great deal of user interaction. See Chapter 22, Activity Diagram Model Element Reference for details of the ArgoUML activity diagram and the model elements it supports.
Interaction diagrams. There are two diagrams in this category, used to show the dynamic interaction between objects (class instances) in the system.
Sequence diagram. Shows the interactions (typically messages or procedure calls) between instances of classes (objects) and actors against a timeline. Particularly useful where the timing relationships between interactions are important. See Chapter 19, Sequence Diagram Model Element Reference for details of the ArgoUML sequence diagram and the model elements it supports.
Collaboration diagram. Shows the interactions (typically messages or procedure calls) between instances of classes (objects) and actors against the structural relationships between those instances. Particularly suitable where it is useful to relate interactions to the static structure of the system. See Chapter 21, Collaboration Diagram Model Element Reference for details of the ArgoUML collaboration diagram and the model elements it supports.
Implementation diagrams. UML defines two implementation diagrams to show the relationship between the software components that make up a system (the component diagram) and the relationship between the software and the hardware on which it is deployed at run-time (the deployment diagram.
The ArgoUML deployment diagram provides support for both component and deployment diagrams, and additionally for object diagrams. See Chapter 23, Deployment Diagram Model Element Reference for details of the diagram and the model elements it supports.
Diagrams are created using the Create
drop down menu (see Section 10.6, “
The Create Menu
”
), or with the tools on the toolbar (see
Section 9.4, “
Create operations
”),
or with the pop-up menus in the explorer.
![[Note]](images/note.png) | Note |
|---|---|
ArgoUML uses its deployment diagram to create the UML 1.4 component, deployment and object diagrams. |
![[Caution]](images/caution.png) | Caution |
|---|---|
Statechart and activity diagrams are associated with a particular class or operation (or the latter also with a package), and can only be created when this modelelement has been selected. |
![[Warning]](images/warning.png) | Warning |
|---|---|
In ArgoUML version 0.26, the UML 1.4 object diagram as a variant of the class diagram is not directly supported. However, it is possible to create object diagrams within the ArgoUML deployment diagram. |
Go upNavigate up through the package structure of the model.
DeleteThis deletes the diagram from the model. As a consequence, in case of a statechart diagram or an activity diagram, all contained elements are deleted, too.
NameThe name of the diagram. There are no conventions for naming diagrams. By default, ArgoUML uses the (space separated) diagram name and a sequence number, thus
Use Case Diagram 1.![[Tip]](images/tip.png)
Tip This name is used to generate a filename when activating the “Save Graphics...” menu-item.
Home ModelThe Home Model of the diagram is not something defined in the UML specification. The Home Model is the modelelement represented by the diagram. Hence its type depends on the type of diagram: e.g. it is the namespace represented by a class diagram, or the statemachine in case of a Statechart diagram.