How to Draw a UML Diagram with SmartDraw
You can add a symbol to your drawing by selecting it in the library and then dragging it to the page.
Once you already have a symbol on your diagram, you can add new ones by drawing lines. First, click on any of the yellow dots at the perimeter of a shape to start drawing a line. We call these Quick Action Controls. At the end of the line, you'll see a pop-up menu of symbols. Select one to add it to your diagram, connected to the previous shape.
This menu is pre-populated with the most common symbols for the selected diagram type. The options will change over time to symbols you use, so you'll always have what you need at your fingertips.
Most UML diagrams involve connecting one or more shapes to each other using lines and using special
symbols on these lines to indicate relationships.
As discussed above, you can easily build your entire UML diagram
by drawing lines and adding shapes that are automatically connected to the previous shape.
Many UML diagrams use arrowheads at the end of the line to represent relationships like
aggregation, dependency, inheritence, composition, and association for classes and interface type for components.
To show the relationship between classes for example in a UML Class diagram, select the line and choose the appropriate arrowhead and line style from one of the options under Class Line Style in the Lines subsection.
Show aggregation, association, inheritance, and more.
In UML component diagrams, an interface (small circle or semi-circle on a stick) describes a
group of operations used (required) or created (provided) by components.
A full circle represents an interface created or provided by the component.
A semi-circle represents a required interface, like a person's input.
With a line selected, you can easily apply the right kind of interface notation at the end of a line using the Interface Line Style in the Lines subsection.
UML class diagrams often use a multiplicity notation to indicate the number of instances of one class
linked to one instance of the other class. For example, one company will have one or more employees,
but each employee works for just one company.
You can show multiplicity by selecting a line and clicking Add Multiplicities in the Lines subsection.
This will put a placeholder multiplicity notation at both ends of the selected line.
To add text to a shape or a line, select it and start typing. Depending on the particular shape, your text will appear inside, below, or above the shape.
For a line, your text will appear centered on the line. Some shapes will already have text on them. To edit this text, double-click on the area you want to edit.
Change Text Style and Color
You can change font size, font type, and color in the Home tab. You can change text alignment in the Design tab.
To add text to your work area as an independent object, click on the Text tool at the top of the SmartPanel to the left of your workspace.
