Relationships

The following relationship types are supported:

When a classifier is added to a diagram, relationships to other classifiers in the diagram are reverse engineered. They can be deleted from the diagram and reverse engineered again later.

Configuration

The reverse engineering of relationships is configurable in the 'New UML Class Diagram' wizard and the class diagram context menu.
   

Associations Based on Collections

The reverse engineering of associations knows generics: generic collections and maps with type parameters are reverse engineered as associations to the classifier of the type parameter if that classifier is in the diagram.

Above are two classes with generic attributes. Below are the same classes with their associations.

A non-generic collection or map can be converted into an association by selecting it and clicking the target classifier.

Above are two classes, one with a non-generic collection. Below are the same classes with an association.

Merging/Splitting of Associations

Two unidirectional associations between two classifiers can be merged into a single bidirectional association. The unidirectional associations have to point in opposite directions, but they can be on the same classifier.

The opposite is also possible, i.e. a bidirectional association can be split into two unidirectional ones.

Add Relationships to a Diagram

Relationships can be reverse engineered by type for the selected classifier(s) with a context menu. The 'Relationships' menu item adds all types of relationships. Note that no dependency is added if there already is another relationship between two classifiers.

Routing of Relationships

Relationships are routed automatically by default. When a relationship is selected and a bend point moved manually, automatic routing is turned off. A context menu option or moving the relationship back to a straight line turn automatic routing on again.

The attribute and multiplicity labels of associations are auto-located by default, but can also be moved manually. The context menu option 'Auto Locate' turns that feature on again. Note how you can also search for references to the attribute.


Visibility of Attributes

Attributes that participate in an association are not displayed on their classifier as they are already visible on the association. However, if 'Show Labels' is turned off for an association, the corresponding attributes are shown in their classifier.

Context Menu

Relationships have the following context menu items: