Unified Modeling Language (UML) is a graphical language software engineers use for visually planning, designing, and documenting object-oriented software systems. UML 2.0 features thirteen types of diagrams for capturing classes, packages, deployment on hardware, user interaction, and other aspects of software design and processes. UML-based software applications make it easy to create and edit UML diagrams, and often include features for streamlining the design process, such as automatic code generation. Get started learning create UML diagrams by creating one of the most common UML diagrams, the Class diagram. Visual Paradigm offers a free, multi-platform version of its UML design software.
Instructions
Install Visual Paradigm for UML Community Edition
1. Download the Visual Paradigm for UML Community Edition installer package. Follow the instructions on the website to register, request, and download a license key.
2. Launch the installer. Continue through the installation, providing information as needed.
3. Check the "Visual Paradigm for UML (VP-UML)" option on the "Select Products" screen. You can choose to install other add-ons, but they are not required.
4. Select "Community" from the Edition menu under Visual Paradigm on the Configuration screen. Scroll down and check the "Download Online Help" option.
5. Select "Single License Key" and enter the path to your license key on the License screen. Click the "Next" button to continue the installation.
Create a Linked List Class Diagram
6. Launch Visual Paradigm for UML.
7. Click "New Class Diagram" under the "New Diagrams" panel on the right side of the screen. Name the diagram.
8. Click the Class icon from the tool bar on the left. Click on the workspace to create a new class. Name the Class "LinkedList."
9. Click-and-drag the "Aggregation" icon hovering above the upper left corner of the LinkedList box. Drop the new class on the workspace. Name the new class "Node." This relationship denotes that LinkedList consists of instances of Node.
10. Click-and-drag the "Generalization" icon from the Node class to create a new subclass that inherits from Node. Name the subclass "NodeType1." Repeat to create additional subclasses of Node named "NodeType2" and "NodeType3."
11. Click the "Self Association" icon for the Node class. Right-click the new relationship line, select "Open Specification" Multiplicity to "1" for the start, and "0..1" for the end. This denotes a Node may contain a reference to another Node (e.g., the next Node in the linked list).
12. Click the "Open Specification" icon in the upper right corner of the LinkedList box.
13. Add a private member variable on the "Attributes" tab named "firstNode" of type Node. Repeat to create a second attribute named "currentNode."
14. Add a public member function on the "Operations" tab named "getNext" that returns type Node. Add additional standard linked list member functions, such as first(), last(), add (Node), etc.
15. Click the "OK" button to close the class specification window.
16. Continue, defining the class specifications for Node and its subclasses. Add attributes, and getter, setter, and other operations as needed.
