The toolbar at the top of the editing pane provides the main
functions of the pane. The default tool is the Select
tool ().
In general button 1 click on any
tool selects a tool for one use, before reverting to the default
tool, and button 1 double click selects a tool for repeated use.
The tools fall into four categories.
Layout tools. Provide assistance in laying out artifacts on the diagram.
Annotation tools. Used to annotate artifacts on the diagram.
Drawing tools. Used to add general graphic artifacts to diagrams.
Diagram specific tools. Used to add UML artifacts specific to a particular diagram type to the diagram.
The following two tools are provided in all diagrams in this category.
Select
. This tool provides for general selection
of artifacts on the diagram. Button 1 click will select an
artifact. SHIFT with button 1 can be used to select (or deselect)
multiple artifacts. Button 1 motion will move selected 2D items or
add and move a new control point on a link. Button 1 motion on a
selected component's control point will stretch that component's
shape.
Broom. Button 1 motion with this tool provide a
“broom” which will sweep all artifacts along. This is
a very shortcut way of lining things up.
The Broom can also be invoked by using CONTROL with button 1 motion
when the Select
tool is in use.
The Broom is discussed at length in its own chapter, see Section 11.4, “The Broom”
![]() | Tip |
---|---|
Additional control of artifact layout is provided through the
|
Only one annotation tool is provide, Note
(). This is used to add a
note to a selected UML artifact.
![]() | Caution |
---|---|
Unlike most other tools you use the
|
The note is created alongside the selected artifact, empty by default. The text can be selected with button 1 double-click and edited from the keyboard.
The UML standard allows notes to be attached to any artifact.
These are a series of tools for providing graphical additions to diagrams. Although they are not UML artifacts, the UML standard provides for such decoration to improve the readability of diagrams.
![]() | Tip |
---|---|
These drawing tools provide a useful way to partially support some of the UML features (such as general purpose notes) that are missing from the current release of ArgoUML. |
Eight tools are provided, all grouped into one drop-down widget.
See Figure 11.3, “The drawing tools selector.”.
Button 1 click on the diagram will place
an instance of the graphical item of the same size as the last one
placed. The size can be controlled by button 1 motion during
placement. One side or end of the element will be at button 1 down,
the other side or end at button 1 up. In general after they are placed
on the diagram, graphical elements can be moved with the
Select
tool and button 1 and re-sized by button 1
motion on the handles after they have been selected.
Rectangle
. Provides a rectangle.
Rounded Rectangle
. Provides a rectangle with
rounded corners. There is no control over the degree of
rounding.
Circle
. Provides a circle.
Line
. Provides a line.
Text
. Provides a text box. The text is entered by
selecting the box and typing. Text is in blue and centered and
after typing, the box will shrink to the size of the text. However it
can be re-sized by dragging on the corners.
Polygon
. Provides a polygon. The points of the
polygon are selected by button 1 click and the polygon closed with
button 1 double click (which will link the final point to the first
point).
Spline
. Provide an open spline. The control points
of the spline are selected with button 1 and the last point selected
with button 1 double click.
Ink
. Provide a polyline. The points are provided
by button 1 motion.
Seven tools are provided specific to UML artifacts on use case diagrams. The detailed properties of these artifacts are described in the section on use case diagram artifacts (see Chapter 16, Use Case Diagram Artifact Reference).
Actor
. Add an actor to the
diagram. For convenience, when the mouse is over a selected actor it
displays two handles to left and right which may be dragged to form
association relationships.
Use Case
. Add a use case to the
diagram. For convenience, when the mouse is over a selected use case
it displays two handles to left and right which may be dragged to
form association relationships and two handles top and bottom which
may be dragged to form generalization and specialization
relationships respectively.
Association
. Add an association between two
artifacts selected using button 1 motion (from the first artifact to
the second). There are 6 types of association offered here,
see Figure 11.4, “The association tool selector.”:
association
,
aggregation
and
composition
, and all these three can be
bidirectional
or
unidirectional
.
Dependency
. Add a dependency between two artifacts
selected using button 1 motion (from the dependent artifact).
Generalization
. Add a generalization between two
artifacts selected using button 1 motion (from the child to the
parent).
Extend
. Add an extend relationship between two
artifacts selected using button 1 motion (from the extended to the
extending use case).
Include
. Add an include relationship between two
artifacts selected using button 1 motion (from the including to the
included use case).
Add Extension
Point
. Add an extension point to a selected use case. The
extension point is given the default name newEP
and location loc
. Where the extension point
compartment is displayed, the extension point may be edited by
button 1 double click and using the keyboard, or by selecting with
button 1 click (after the use case has been selected) and using the
property tab. Otherwise it may be edited through its property tab,
selected through the property tab of the owning use case.
![]() | Note |
---|---|
This tool is grayed out except when a use case is selected. |
Nine tools are provided specific to UML artifacts on class diagrams. The detailed properties of these artifacts are described in the section on class diagram artifacts (see Chapter 17, Class Diagram Artifact Reference).
Package
. Add a package to the
diagram.
Class
. Add a class to the
diagram. For convenience, when the mouse is over a selected class it
displays two handles to left and right which may be dragged to form
association relationships
(or composition in case SHIFT has been pressed)
and two handles top and bottom which may be
dragged to form generalization and specialization relationships
respectively.
Association
. Add an association between two
artifacts selected using button 1 motion (from the first artifact to
the second). There are 6 types of association offered here,
see Figure 11.4, “The association tool selector.”:
association
,
aggregation
and
composition
, and all these three can be
bidirectional
or
unidirectional
.
Dependency
. Add a dependency between two artifacts
selected using button 1 motion (from the dependent
artifact).
Permission
. Add a permission between two artifacts
selected using button 1 motion (from the dependent
artifact).
Usage
. Add a usage between two artifacts
selected using button 1 motion (from the dependent
artifact).
Generalization
. Add a generalization between two
artifacts selected using button 1 (from the child to the
parent).
Interface
. Add an interface to the
diagram. For convenience, when the mouse is over a selected interface
it displays a handle at the bottom which may be dragged to form a
realization relationship (the target being the realizing
class).
Realization
. Add a realization between a class and
an interface selected using button 1 motion (from the realizing
class to the realized interface).
Add Attribute
. Add an attribute to the
currently selected class. The attribute is given the default name
newAttr
of type int
and may be
edited by button 1 double click and using the keyboard, or by
selecting with button 1 click (after the class has been selected)
and using the property tab.
![]() | Note |
---|---|
This tool is grayed out except when a class or interface is selected. |
Add Operation
. Add an operation to the
currently selected class or interface. The operation is given the
default name newOperation
with no arguments and
return type void
and may be edited by button 1
double click and using the keyboard, or by selecting with button 1
click (after the class has been selected) and using the property
tab.
![]() | Note |
---|---|
This tool is grayed out except when a class or interface is selected. |
![]() | Warning |
---|---|
Sequence diagrams are not implemented in V0.14 of ArgoUML. Hence the description below will (might) only become correct in future versions of ArgoUML. |
Six tools are provided specific to UML artifacts on sequence diagrams. The detailed properties of these artifacts are described in the section on sequence diagram artifacts (see Chapter 18, Sequence Diagram Artifact Reference).
Object
. Add an object to the
diagram.
Stimulus Call
. Add a call stimulus between two
objects selected using button 1 motion (from the originating object
to the receiving object).
Stimulus Create
. Add a create stimulus between two
objects selected using button 1 motion (from the originating object
to the receiving object).
Stimulus Destroy
. Add a destroy stimulus between
two objects selected using button 1 motion (from the originating
object to the receiving object).
Stimulus Send
. Add a send stimulus between two
objects selected using button 1 motion (from the originating object
to the receiving object).
Stimulus Return
. Add a return stimulus between two
objects selected using button 1 motion (from the originating object
to the receiving object).
Eleven tools are provided specific to UML artifacts on state diagrams. The detailed properties of these artifacts are described in the section on statechart diagram artifacts (see Chapter 19, Statechart Diagram Artifact Reference).
State
. Add a state to the
diagram.
Composite State
. Add a composite state to the
diagram. All artifacts that are subsequently placed on the diagram on
top of the composite state will form part of that composite
state.
Transition
. Add a transition between two states
selected using button 1 motion (from the originating state to the
receiving state).
Initial
. Add an initial pseudostate to the
diagram.
![]() | Caution |
---|---|
There is nothing to stop you adding more than one initial state to a diagram or composite state. However to do so is meaningless, and one of the critics will complain. |
Final State
. Add a final state to the
diagram.
Junction
. Add a junction pseudostate to the
diagram.
Branch
. Add a branch pseudostate to the
diagram.
![]() | Caution |
---|---|
A well formed branch should have one incoming transition and two or more outgoing. ArgoUML does not enforce this, but an ArgoUML critic will complain about any branch that does not follow this rule. |
Fork
. Add a fork pseudostate to the
diagram.
![]() | Caution |
---|---|
A well formed fork should have one incoming transition and two or more outgoing. ArgoUML does not enforce this, but an ArgoUML critic will complain about any fork that does not follow this rule. |
Join
. Add a join pseudostate to the
diagram.
![]() | Caution |
---|---|
A well formed join should have one outgoing transition and two or more incoming. ArgoUML does not enforce this, but an ArgoUML critic will complain about any join that does not follow this rule. |
Shallow History
. Add a shallow history pseudostate
to the diagram.
Deep History
. Add a deep history pseudostate
to the diagram.
Three tools are provided specific to UML artifacts on collaboration diagrams. The detailed properties of these artifacts are described in the section on collaboration diagram artifacts (see Chapter 20, Collaboration Diagram Artifact Reference).
Classifier Role
. Add a classifier role to the
diagram.
Association Role
. Add an association role between
two classifier roles selected using button 1 motion (from the
originating classifier role to the receiving classifier
role).
There are 6 types of association roles offered here,
see Figure 11.4, “The association tool selector.”:
association
,
aggregation
and
composition
, and all these three can be
bidirectional
or
unidirectional
.
Add Message
. Add a message to the selected
association role.
![]() | Note |
---|---|
This tool is grayed out except when an association role is selected. |
Seven tools are provided specific to UML artifacts on activity diagrams. The detailed properties of these artifacts are described in the section on activity diagram artifacts (see Chapter 21, Activity Diagram Artifact Reference).
Action State
. Add an action state to the
diagram.
Transition
. Add a transition between two action
states selected using button 1 motion (from the originating action
state to the receiving action state).
Initial
. Add an initial pseudostate to the
diagram.
![]() | Caution |
---|---|
There is nothing to stop you adding more than one initial state to a diagram. However to do so is meaningless, and one of the critics will complain. |
Final State
. Add a final state to the
diagram.
Junction
. Add a junction (decision) pseudostate to the
diagram.
![]() | Caution |
---|---|
A well formed junction should have one incoming transition and two or more outgoing. ArgoUML does not enforce this, but an ArgoUML critic will complain about any junction that does not follow this rule. |
Fork
. Add a fork pseudostate to the
diagram.
![]() | Caution |
---|---|
A well formed fork should have one incoming transition and two or more outgoing. ArgoUML does not enforce this, but an ArgoUML critic will complain about any fork that does not follow this rule. |
Join
. Add a join pseudostate to the
diagram.
![]() | Caution |
---|---|
A well formed join should have one outgoing transition and two or more incoming. ArgoUML does not enforce this, but an ArgoUML critic will complain about any join that does not follow this rule. |
Ten tools are provided specific to UML artifacts on deployment diagrams. The detailed properties of these artifacts are described in the section on deployment diagram artifacts (see Chapter 22, Deployment Diagram Artifact Reference).
![]() | Note |
---|---|
Remember that ArgoUML's deployment diagrams are also used for component diagrams. |
Node
. Add a node to the
diagram. For convenience, when the mouse is over a selected node it
displays four handles to left, right, top and bottom which may be
dragged to form association relationships.
Node Instance
. Add a node instance to the
diagram. For convenience, when the mouse is over a selected node
instance it displays four handles to left, right, top and bottom
which may be dragged to form link relationships.
Component
. Add a component to the
diagram. For convenience, when the mouse is over a selected component
it displays four handles to left, right, top and bottom which may be
dragged to form dependency relationships.
Component Instance
. Add a component instance to
the diagram. For convenience, when the mouse is over a selected
component instance it displays four handles to left, right, top and
bottom which may be dragged to form dependency
relationships.
Dependency
. Add a dependency between two artifacts
selected using button 1 motion (from the dependent
artifact).
Association
. Add an association between two
artifacts (node, component, class or interface) selected using
button 1 motion (from the first artifact to the second
artifact). There are 6 types of association offered here,
see Figure 11.4, “The association tool selector.”:
association
,
aggregation
and
composition
, and all these three can be
bidirectional
or
unidirectional
.
![]() | Caution |
---|---|
The constraint that associations between classes and interfaces must not be navigable from the interface still applies on deployment diagrams. |
Object
. Add an object to the diagram. For
convenience, when the mouse is over a selected object it displays
four handles to left, right, top and bottom, which may be dragged to
form link relationships.
Link
. Add a link between two artifacts
(node instance, component instance or object) selected using
button 1 motion.