How to generate UML Diagrams from Java code in Eclipse
UML diagrams compliment inline documentation
( javadoc ) and allow to better explore /
understand a design. Moreover, you can print and bring them to table to discuss
a design.
In this post, we will install and use the
ObjectAid plugin for Eclipse to produce jUnit lib class diagrams. Then, we will
be able to generate UML diagrams by simply dragging and dropping classes into
the editor. We can further manipulate the diagram by selecting which references,
operations or attributes to display.
- Open Eclipse and go to Help > Install New Software
- Click on add to add a new repository
- Enter name
ObjectAid UML Explorer
- Enter Location
http://www.objectaid.net/update
Next, select the ObjectAid Class Diagram plugin
- it is free - and click Next. The Sequence
Diagram one requires a paid license.
Click Finish to confirm
your choices and start the instalation process.
- Click Ok on the security warning
- Select Restart Now after the installation completes to restart Eclipse.
To create a new UML diagram we start the ObjectAid wizard
with File > New > Other... and
start typing in the textbox Class Diagram
to
filter the desired wizard. Click Next, and enter a
directory and name for the diagram.
Drop java source or compiled class files into the visual UML editor
to start populating the diagram. Right click on a generated class to bring up a
context menu and adjust visibility, operations attributes, etc as you
like.
Below, we see
the Assert
class from the jUnit library with
all operations and fileds hidden.
From the context menu, we can add implementations and associations
for a selected class. In the following screen, we add the
interface Test
implemented by
the TestCase
class.
This is how part of the jUnit UML class diagram look after adding
some more classes.
To auto layout the diagram right click anywhere within the editor
and select Layout Diagram. From the same menu, you
can export the diagram to an image ( gif png
jpeg ) by clicking the Save As Image... menu
item
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