Tips & Tricks - Diagramming Topics

Creating Parent Elements for Classes and Use Cases
2005-11-28
VP’s products allow you to create the parent elements for classes and use cases easily. The following steps show you how to create the parenet elements for classes and use cases respectively.



Inserting Image to Diagram
2005-11-28
VP’s products allow you to insert images onto diagrams from other applications by copying image to system clipboard. This articles demonstrates how to insert image from MS Word to a use case diagram in Visual Paradigm for UML (VP-UML) as an example.



Resizing Shapes in Group
2005-11-28
In some cases, you may want to resize multiple shapes on the diagram, VP-UML allows you to resize the shapes in a group, which in turn reduces the handling time for resizing the shapes individually.



Using Mouse Gesture
2005-11-28
Mouse gesture is a visual modeling tool to help you to draw and manage your diagram. There are two types of mouse gesture, including drawing gesture and command gesture.





Using Reverse Connector
2005-11-28
A connector is the line connecting two shapes. It is most likely to show the relationship between the two shapes. Sometimes, a connector added shows the opposite of the desired relationship. To reverse the connector line, simply use the Reverse Connector feature.



Supporting Curve Connector Style
2005-11-28
A connector is the line connecting two shapes on the diagram. VP’s products provide three styles for the connector, including Rectilinear, Oblique and Curve. Applying the curve connector style, the connector is curved accordingly, and you are allowed to change curve shape freely by dragging the connector.


Sweeper
2005-11-28
While creating a complex diagram, sometimes you may find it difficult to put more shapes to your diagram. Using VP-UML, a tool called sweeper can be used to easily create space to place shape so as to organize the shapes and make your diagram look better.


Using Diagram Overview for Diagramming
2005-11-28
A note can be used for commenting additional explanation, specification and requirement in a diagram element or at a link in the diagram. It is not included in generated code. The contents of a note do not alter the meaning of the model to which it is attached. A note can contain any combination of text and graphics. It can also be used in defining a stereotype and entering a noted element. The note notation is available on all diagram palettes.


Working with Sub-diagram
2005-11-28
VP-UML has the ability to support the creation of appropriate sub-diagrams from any diagram (e.g. use case diagram ? activity diagram, class diagram ? class diagram, etc.). Sub-diagrams support can be easily used to draw more detailed diagrams of the predecessor diagram.


Defining Logical View
2005-11-28
The logical view gives the view of how a project is structured and organized. With the logical view, instead of just using the default diagram tree, you can create and customize your own diagram to give more meaningful diagram grouping.


Using Stereotypes
2005-11-28
A stereotype denotes a variation on an existing modeling element with the same structure but with a difference in meaning. UML stereotypes can be used to further define additional constraints and tag definitions of a model element in a UML diagram. Stereotypes can be applied to almost any diagram in the UML.


Defining Tagged Values for Model Elements
2005-11-28
A tagged value is a combination of a tag and a value that gives supplementary information that is attached to a model element. A tagged value can be used to add properties to any model elements and can be applied to a model element or a stereotype.


Connector Styles
2005-11-28
A connector can be used to connect diagram elements. There are 3 connector styles that are provided in VPUML, an oblique, rectilinear and curve style. With oblique style connector, you can create as many anchor points as you want and you can freely move the anchor points. With rectilinear style connector, you can not create your own anchor points. The anchor points will be automatically generated as you move the elements or the connectors. The curve style connector is similar with the oblique style, as you can create as many anchor points and freely shape the connectors; the only different is the line created is in the curved forms. You can choose any connector style that is suitable for your created diagram. This document will show you how to set the connectors into different styles and how to manipulate them to suit your needs.


Diagram Info Shape
2005-11-28
VP’s products allow you to add Diagram Info Shape to any diagram so as to add useful information about the diagram. The information that is displayed in a Diagram Info Shape is linked with the diagram specification. You are also allowed to add more items to the shape to add more useful information for the diagram.


Using Image Shape
2005-11-28
Image Shape is a utility for displaying an image on any diagrams, and it can also act as a link to a file. Unlike Visio shapes, you do not need a 3rd party application to be installed in order to use it. With Image Shape, you can easily add images to document and annotate important ideas in the diagram.


Zooming Diagram
2005-11-28
In order to look at the diagram on different views, you can use the feature of Zooming of diagram.

Using Note
2005-11-28
A note can be used for commenting additional explanation, specification and requirement in a diagram element or at a link in the diagram. It is not included in generated code.
The contents of a note do not alter the meaning of the model to which it is attached. A note can contain any combination of text and graphics. It can also be used in defining a stereotype and entering a noted element. The note notation is available on all diagram palettes.