Connectors

UML defines a number of standard connectors between elements of a diagram. Each connector is drawn from a source element to a target element. (For an exception, see collaboration messages below.)

Tablet UML recognizes the following connectors:

Connector

Meaning

Drawing Samples

Association, Collaboration

Indicates a simple relation between two elements. Drawn as a straight line connecting the elements. (See also Note Attachment below.)

Navigable Association,
Transition, Message

In Use Case and Class diagrams, indicates a relation where element X is aware of and can use element Y, but not vice versa.

In Activity and State diagrams, indicates that control flows from one activity or state to another.

In sequence diagrams, indicates a message from one object to another.

In collaboration diagrams, indicates a message from one object to another, but is not attached as a connector. Collaboration messages are independent from other elements, but otherwise behave like connectors.

Drawn as an arrow from X to Y. Note that Tablet UML will often recognize "half-arrows" (where only one half of the arrow head is drawn), and those can be easier to draw. (See also Dependence below.)

Note Attachment,
Association Class Line

When drawn from a note to another diagram element (or vice versa), indicates that the note describes the element.

When drawn from class A to an association (navigable or not) between classes X and Y, indicates that class A does the actual work of associating X objects with Y objects.

Note that a note attachment or an association class line is drawn just like an association line. If Dash Mode is checked, Tablet UML will draw a note attachment or an association class line by default. If Dash Mode is not checked but Clean Up is, Tablet UML will draw a note attachment or an association class line automatically when connecting notes to elements or classes to associations. If neither Dash Mode nor Clean Up is checked, Tablet UML will not draw dashed lines.

Dependence,
Object Flow

Indicates a relation where element X knows how to use element Y, but is not directly associated with any particular Y object. Drawn as a dashed arrow from X to Y. Note that Tablet UML will often recognize "half-arrows" (where only one half of the arrow head is drawn), and those can be easier to draw.

When drawn to or from an object in an activity diagram, indicates flow of data into or out of the object.

Note that a dependence arrow is drawn just like a navigable association. If Dash Mode is checked, Tablet UML will draw a dependence arrow by default. If Dash Mode is not checked but Clean Up is, Tablet UML will draw a dependence arrow automatically when connecting classes or components to interfaces. If neither Dash Mode nor Clean Up is checked, Tablet UML will not draw dependence arrows.

In the current version, Tablet UML has difficulty recognizing connectors that are drawn on roughly 45 degree diagonals. Straight horizontal or vertical connectors are most likely to be recognized. You can use manual recognition to identify connectors that it doesn't recognize automatically.

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) This has proven to be a simple and practical way to draw different connectors, since it can be tricky to draw different arrow types all as a single stroke.

If for any reason you need to change an association to a different type, you can use the conversion submenu; but there are some shortcuts you can use as well:

To convert an association or a generalization to a navigable association, draw an arrowhead over the target end of the connector.
To convert an association or a navigable association to a generalization, draw a triangle over the target end of the connector.
To convert a navigable association or a generalization to a simple association, draw an scratchout over the target end of the connector.

To edit a connector -- add bends to it, remove bends, or move an end -- switch to selection mode and press down on the point that you want to move. Drag that point to a new location. If you drag an end, the end will be moved to that point, but will still be attached to its original source and target. If you drag a mid-point, you'll create a bend; and if you drag a bend back to straight, the bend will be removed.

When you draw a connector, sometimes Tablet UML will be unsure of which element you entended as a source or target. When that happens, you'll see the Missing End Point dialog:

Select the proper end element from the list and click OK to connect to it. You can also click No End Point to leave the connector unconnected, or click Cancel to cancel the recognition.

Each end of a connector has a hotspot, an area that you can click to define roles and multiplicity for that connector end.

All connectors have a modified context menu:

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

Source...: Lets you change the source of your connector as described under Editing Connectors.
Target...: Lets you change the target of your connector as described under Editing Connectors.
Straighten: Removes all bend points from a connector.
Right Angles: Adds bend points and converts a connector to all vertical and horizontal segments.

Connector	Meaning	Drawing Samples
Association, Collaboration	Indicates a simple relation between two elements. Drawn as a straight line connecting the elements. (See also Note Attachment below.)
Navigable Association, Transition, Message	In Use Case and Class diagrams, indicates a relation where element X is aware of and can use element Y, but not vice versa. In Activity and State diagrams, indicates that control flows from one activity or state to another. In sequence diagrams, indicates a message from one object to another. In collaboration diagrams, indicates a message from one object to another, but is not attached as a connector. Collaboration messages are independent from other elements, but otherwise behave like connectors. Drawn as an arrow from X to Y. Note that Tablet UML will often recognize "half-arrows" (where only one half of the arrow head is drawn), and those can be easier to draw. (See also Dependence below.)
Note Attachment, Association Class Line	When drawn from a note to another diagram element (or vice versa), indicates that the note describes the element. When drawn from class A to an association (navigable or not) between classes X and Y, indicates that class A does the actual work of associating X objects with Y objects. Note that a note attachment or an association class line is drawn just like an association line. If Dash Mode is checked, Tablet UML will draw a note attachment or an association class line by default. If Dash Mode is not checked but Clean Up is, Tablet UML will draw a note attachment or an association class line automatically when connecting notes to elements or classes to associations. If neither Dash Mode nor Clean Up is checked, Tablet UML will not draw dashed lines.
Dependence, Object Flow	Indicates a relation where element X knows how to use element Y, but is not directly associated with any particular Y object. Drawn as a dashed arrow from X to Y. Note that Tablet UML will often recognize "half-arrows" (where only one half of the arrow head is drawn), and those can be easier to draw. When drawn to or from an object in an activity diagram, indicates flow of data into or out of the object. Note that a dependence arrow is drawn just like a navigable association. If Dash Mode is checked, Tablet UML will draw a dependence arrow by default. If Dash Mode is not checked but Clean Up is, Tablet UML will draw a dependence arrow automatically when connecting classes or components to interfaces. If neither Dash Mode nor Clean Up is checked, Tablet UML will not draw dependence arrows.

Connectors

Connector

Meaning

Drawing Samples

See Also: