Activity Diagrams

Tablet UML recognizes the following elements in activity diagrams:

Icon

Meaning

Drawing Samples

Initial State

Indicates the start of the diagram. Shown as a solid dot; but you only have to draw a circle.

Initial states have a standard context menu.

Final State

Indicates a point where the diagram terminates. Shown as "target" (a dot in a circle); but you only have to draw a double-circle, all as one smooth stroke.

Final states have a standard context menu.

Activity

Indicates a step within the diagram. Shown as a "capsule" shape (a rectangle with round ends); but you only have to draw an oval.

Activities have a standard context menu.

Object

Indicates an object that accepts or provides data within the diagram. Drawn as a rectangle.

Objects have a standard context menu.

Branch

Indicates a decision point in the diagram, where control flows in or out in multiple directions. Shown as a diamond; but you may find that Tablet UML recognizes branches better if you draw a triangle.

Branches have a standard context menu.

Swimlane

Indicates an area of responsibility within the diagram. Swimlanes might represent objects, people, components, interfaces, business units, or any other entity that can do work or store information. All activities within a swimlane are the responsibility of the corresponding entity.

Drawn as a line down the screen.

Swimlanes have a modified context menu:

Besides commands from the standard context menu, this menu contains the following commands:

Classifier...: Lets you select a classifier for your swimlane as described under Editing Swimlanes. A classifier can be an actual class, actor, or interface in the model; or it can be just a label that you enter (perhaps because you'll define it later).

Create Operations...: Lets you convert activities to operations of the selected classifier. This command is only enabled when the swimlane has a classifier, and that classifier represents a class, actor, or interface in the model. For more information, see Creating Attributes and Operations.

Create Attributes...: Lets you convert activities to attributes of the selected classifier. This command is only enabled when the swimlane has a classifier, and that classifier represents a class, actor, or interface in the model. For more information, see Creating Attributes and Operations.

Arrange...: Allows you to rearrange, add, and delete the swimlanes in the current diagram, as described under the Swimlane Submenu.

Transition,
Data Flow,
Note Attachment

See Connectors.

Note
See Notes.

If your Tablet PC pen supports a barrel button or barrel switch, you can easily override the default recognizer rules, and choose the recognized element for each shape that you draw. If you draw a stroke with the barrel button pressed, the automatic recognizer will be temporarily disabled; and when you finish the stroke, the context menu will appear, allowing you to manually recognize the stroke (as described under Context Menus)

Icon	Meaning	Drawing Samples
Initial State	Indicates the start of the diagram. Shown as a solid dot; but you only have to draw a circle. Initial states have a standard context menu.
Final State	Indicates a point where the diagram terminates. Shown as "target" (a dot in a circle); but you only have to draw a double-circle, all as one smooth stroke. Final states have a standard context menu.
Activity	Indicates a step within the diagram. Shown as a "capsule" shape (a rectangle with round ends); but you only have to draw an oval. Activities have a standard context menu.
Object	Indicates an object that accepts or provides data within the diagram. Drawn as a rectangle. Objects have a standard context menu.
Branch	Indicates a decision point in the diagram, where control flows in or out in multiple directions. Shown as a diamond; but you may find that Tablet UML recognizes branches better if you draw a triangle. Branches have a standard context menu.
Swimlane	Indicates an area of responsibility within the diagram. Swimlanes might represent objects, people, components, interfaces, business units, or any other entity that can do work or store information. All activities within a swimlane are the responsibility of the corresponding entity. Drawn as a line down the screen. Swimlanes have a modified context menu: Besides commands from the standard context menu, this menu contains the following commands: Classifier...: Lets you select a classifier for your swimlane as described under Editing Swimlanes. A classifier can be an actual class, actor, or interface in the model; or it can be just a label that you enter (perhaps because you'll define it later). Create Operations...: Lets you convert activities to operations of the selected classifier. This command is only enabled when the swimlane has a classifier, and that classifier represents a class, actor, or interface in the model. For more information, see Creating Attributes and Operations. Create Attributes...: Lets you convert activities to attributes of the selected classifier. This command is only enabled when the swimlane has a classifier, and that classifier represents a class, actor, or interface in the model. For more information, see Creating Attributes and Operations. Arrange...: Allows you to rearrange, add, and delete the swimlanes in the current diagram, as described under the Swimlane Submenu.
Transition, Data Flow, Note Attachment	See Connectors.
Note	See Notes.

Activity Diagrams

Icon

Meaning

Drawing Samples

See Also: