Booch's Class and Object Diagram Notations
Classes
Illustrate classes using a cloud shape with a dashed border.
You can find the Booch symbol libraries in SmartDraw under Software Design and Other Symbologies. Simply drag and drop shapes to the page and edit them.
Objects
Draw objects using a cloud shape with a solid border.
Class Adornments
Use adornments to provide additional information about a class. You can create an adornment notation using the basic triangle shape in SmartDraw. Place a letter inside the triangle to represent the following:
A - Abstract. An abstract class cannot be instantiated because it represents a wide variety of object classes and does not represent any one of them fully. For example, mammal could be thought of as an abstract class.
F - Friend. A friend class allows access to the nonpublic functions of other classes.
S - Static. A static class provides data.
V - Virtual. A virtual class is a shared base class, the most generalized class in a system.
Metaclass
A metaclass is a class whose instances are also classes.
Class Categories
A class category represents a cluster of similar classes. Illustrate a class category by drawing a rectangle with two compartments.
Class Templates
Draw a template using the standard class symbol attached to a box with a dashed outline. List template parameters or formal arguments in this box. When you draw a class created from a template, replace the dashed border with a solid one.
Learn how to resize grouped objects.
Class Utilities
Class utilities describe a group of non-member functions or subprograms. Illustrate a class utility with a shadowed cloud.
Class Visibility
Visibility markers signify who can access the information contained within a class. Public visibility allows an attribute or an operation to be viewed by any other class. Private visibility means that the attribute or the operation is only accessible by the class itself and its friends. Protected visibility makes an attribute or operation visible only to friend classes and classes that inherit it. Implementation restricts the accessibility of an attribute to the class only (not even friends have access to these attributes).
Place visibility markers next to the attribute they refer to.
Object Visibility
Draw a visibility marker on a link to signify the relationship between the connected objects. These markers can be:
G - Global
P - Parameter
F - Field
L - Local
Relationships
Indicate relationships between objects using lines and arrows.
Learn how to connect two objects.
Meaning: Aggregation (has)
Aggregation by value
Aggregation by reference
Uses
Instantiates - Compatible type
Instantiates - New type
Inherits - Compatible type
Inherits - New type
Metaclass
Undefined
