UML Tutorial

UML Tutorial - part 1

Product Info Enterprise Architect (EA) EA Download EA Pricing But first... What is UML? ExyBar The OMG specification states: Related Info Links UML Tutorial Tech Support Support Report a Bug (HTML) Report a Bug (user forum) Request-A-Feature (HTML) Request-A-Feature (forum) "The Unified Modeling Language (UML) is a graphical language for visualizing, specifying, constructing, and documenting the artifacts of a software-intensive system. The UML offers a standard way to write a system's blueprints, including conceptual things such as business processes and system functions as well as concrete things such as programming language statements, database schemas, and reusable software components." The important point to note here is that UML is a 'language' for specifying and not a method or procedure. The UML is used to define a software system; to detail the artifacts in the system, to document and construct - it is the language that the blueprint is written in. The UML may be used in a variety of ways to support a software development methodology (such as the Rational Unified Process) - but in itself it does not specify that methodology or process. UML defines the notation and semantics for the following domains: G The User Interaction or Use Case Model - describes the boundary and interaction between the system and users. Corresponds in some respects to a requirements model. (see
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The Unified Modelling Language has quickly become the de-facto standard for building Object-Oriented software. This short tutorial provides a very high level introduction to UML, and suggests some further reading.

UML Tutorial

The Use Case Model)

G

The Interaction or Collaboration Model - describes how objects in the system will interact with each other to get work done. The Dynamic Model - State charts describe the states or conditions that classes assume over time. Activity graphs describe the workflows the system will implement. (see The Dynamic Model) The Logical or Class Model - describes the classes and objects that will make up the system. (see The Class Model) The Physical Component Model - describes the software (and sometimes hardware components) that make up the system. (see The Component Model) The Physical Deployment Model - describes the physical architecture and the deployment of components on that hardware architecture. (see The Physical Model)

The UML also defines extension mechanisms for extending the UML to meet specialised needs (for example Business Process Modeling extensions) Part 2 of this tutorial expands on how you use the UML to define and build actual systems.

For some further reading see the following white papers (in PDF format): G Business Process Modelling
G G G G

The Use Case Model The Logical Model Component Model Dynamic Model

If you have any suggestions or comments on the material here, please forward your thoughts to sparks@sparxsystems.com.au.

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Use Case Model

Use Case Model

Product Info Enterprise Architect (EA) EA Download EA Pricing ExyBar Related Info Links UML Tutorial Tech Support Support Report a Bug (HTML) Report a Bug (user forum) Request-A-Feature (HTML) Request-A-Feature (forum) The Use Case Model describes the proposed functionality of the new system. A Use Case represents a discrete unit of interaction between a user (human or machine) and the system. A Use Case is a single unit of meaningful work; for example login to system, register with system and create order are all Use Cases. Each Use Case has a description which describes the functionality that will be built in the proposed system. A Use Case may 'include' another Use Case's functionality or 'extend' another Use Case with its own behaviour. Use Cases are typically related to 'actors'. An actor is a human or machine entity that interacts with the system to perform meaningful work.

A Use Case description will generally include: 1. General comments and notes describing the use case; 2. Requirements - Things that the use case must allow the user to do, such as <ability to update order>, <ability to modify
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Use Case Model

3.

4. 5. 6.

order> & etc. Constraints- Rules about what can and can't be done. Includes i) pre-conditions that must be true before the use case is run - e.g. <create order> must precede <modify order>; ii) post-conditions that must be true once the use case is run e.g. <order is modified and consistent>; iii) invariants: these are always true - e.g. an order must always have a customer number Scenarios - Sequential descriptions of the steps taken to carry out the use case. May include multiple scenarios, to cater for exceptional circumstances and alternate processing paths; Scenario diagrams -Sequence diagrams to depict the workflow - similar to (4) but graphically portrayed Additional attributes such as implementation phase, version number, complexity rating, stereotype and status

Actors An Actor is a user of the system. This includes both human users and other computer systems. An Actor uses a Use Case to perform some piece of work which is of value to the business. The set of Use Cases an actor has access to defines their overall role in the system and the scope of their action.

Constraints, Requirements and Scenarios The formal specification of a Use Case includes: 1. Requirements. These are the formal functional requirements that a Use Case must provide to the end user. They correspond to the functional specifications found in structured methodologies. A requirement is a contract that the Use Case will perform some action or provide some value to the system. 2. Constraints. These are the formal rules and limitations that a Use Case operates under, and includes pre- post- and invariant conditions. A pre-condition specifies what must have already occurred or be in place before the Use Case may start. A post-condition documents what will be true once the Use Case is complete. An invariant specifies what will be true throughout the time the Use Case operates. 3. Scenarios. Scenarios are formal descriptions of the flow of events that occurs during a Use Case instance. These are usually described in text and correspond to a textual representation of the Sequence Diagram.

Includes and Extends relationships between Use Cases One Use Case may include the functionality of another as part of its normal processing. Generally, it is assumed that the
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Use Case Model

included Use Case will be called every time the basic path is run. An example may be to list a set of customer orders to choose from before modifying a selected order - in this case the <list orders> Use Case may be included every time the <modify order> Use Case is run. A Use Case may be included by one or more Use Cases, so it helps to reduce duplication of functionality by factoring out common behaviour into Use Cases that are re-used many times. One Use Case may extend the behaviour of another - typically when exceptional circumstances are encountered. For example, if before modifying a particular type of customer order, a user must get approval from some higher authority, then the <get approval> Use Case may optionally extend the regular <modify order> Use Case. Sequence Diagrams UML provides a graphical means of depicting object interactions over time in Sequence Diagrams. These typically show a user or actor, and the objects and components they interact with in the execution of a use case. One sequence diagram typically represents a single Use Case 'scenario' or flow of events. Sequence diagrams are an excellent way to document usage scenarios and to both capture required objects early in analysis and to verify object usage later in design. Sequence diagrams show the flow of messages from one object to another, and as such correspond to the methods and events supported by a class/object. The diagram illustrated below shows an example of a sequence diagram, with the user or actor on the left initiating a flow of events and messages that correspond to the Use Case scenario. The messages that pass between objects will become class operations in the final model.

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Use Case Model

Implementation Diagram A Use Case is a formal description of functionality the system will have when constructed. An implementation diagram is typically associated with a Use Case to document what design elements (eg. components and classes) will implement the Use Case functionality in the new system. This provides a high level of traceability for the system designer, the customer and the team that will actually build the system. The list of Use Cases that a component or class is linked to documents the minimum functionality that must be implemented by the component.

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Use Case Model

The example above shows that the Use Case "Login" implements the formal requirement "1.01 Log on to the website". It also states that the Business Logic component and ASP Pages component implement some or all of the Login functionality. A further refinement is to show the Login screen (a web page) as implementing the Login interface. These implementation or realisation links define the traceability from the formal requirements, through Use Cases on to Components and Screens.

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Dynamic Model Overview

Dynamic Model
Product Info Enterprise Architect (EA) EA Download EA Pricing ExyBar Related Info Links UML Tutorial Tech Support Support Report a Bug (HTML) Report a Bug (user forum) Request-A-Feature (HTML) Request-A-Feature (forum) Sequence diagrams are used to display theinteraction between users, screens, objects and entities within the system. It provides a sequential map of message passing between objects over time. Frequently these diagrams are placed under Use Cases in the model to illustrate the use case scenario - how a user will interact with the system and what happens internally to get the work done. Often, the objects are represented using special stereotyped icons, as in the example below. The object labelled Login Screen is shown using the User Interface icon. The object labelled SecurityManager is shown using the Controller icon. The Object labelled users is shown using the Entity icon. The dynamic model is used to express and model the behaviour of the system over time. It includes support for activity diagrams, state diagrams, sequence diagrams and extensions including business process modelling.

Sequence Diagrams

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Dynamic Model Overview

Activity Diagrams
Activity diagrams are used to show how different workflows in the system are constructed, how they start and the possibly many decision paths that can be taken from start to finish. They may also illustrate the where parallel processing may occur in the execution of some activities.

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Dynamic Model Overview

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Dynamic Model Overview

State Charts
State charts are used to detail the transitions or changes of state an object can go through in the system. They show how an object moves from one state to another and the rules that govern that change. State charts typically have a start and end condition.

Process Model
A process model is a UML extension of an activity diagram used to model a business process - this diagram shows what goal the process has, the inputs, outputs, events and information that are involved in the process.

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Dynamic Model Overview

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UML Logical Model

Logical Model
Product Info Enterprise Architect (EA) EA Download EA Pricing ExyBar Related Info Links UML Tutorial Tech Support Support Report a Bug (HTML) Report a Bug (user forum) Request-A-Feature (HTML) Request-A-Feature (forum) A logical model is a static view of the objects and classes that make up the design/analysis space. Typically, a Domain Model is a looser, high level view of Business Objects and entities, while the Class Model is a more rigorous and design focused model. This discussion relates mainly to the Class Model The Class Model A Class is a standard UML construct used to detail the pattern from which objects will be produced at run-time. A class is a specification - an object an instance of a class. Classes may be inherited from other classes (that is they inherit all the behaviour and state of their parent and add new functionality of their own), have other classes as attributes, delegate responsibilities to other classes and implement abstract interfaces. The Class Model is at the core of object-oriented development and design - it expresses both the peristent state of the system and the behaviour of the system. A class encapsulates state (attributes) and offers services to manipulate that state (behaviour). Good object-oriented design limits direct access to class attributes and offers services which manipulate attributes on behalf of the caller. This hiding of data and exposing of services ensures data updates are only done in one place and according to specific rules - for large systems the maintenance burden of code which has direct access to data elements in many places is extremely high. The class is represented as below:

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UML Logical Model

Note that the class has three distinct areas: 1. The class name (and stereotype if applied) 2. The class attributes area (that is internal data elements) 3. The behaviour - both private and public Attributes and methods may be marked as G Private, indicating they are not visible to callers outside the class G Protected, they are only visible to children of the class G Public, they are visible to all Class inheritance is shown as below: an abstract class in this case, is the parent of two children, each of which inherits the base class features and extends it with their own behaviour

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UML Logical Model

Class models may be collected into packagesof related behaviour and state. The diagram below illustrates this

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UML Logical Model

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UML Component Model

Component Model
Product Info Enterprise Architect (EA) EA Download EA Pricing Component Notation ExyBar Related Info Links UML Tutorial Tech Support Support Report a Bug (HTML) Report a Bug (user forum) Request-A-Feature (HTML) Request-A-Feature (forum) A component may be something like an ActiveX control - either a user interface control or a business rules server. Components are drawn as the following diagram shows: The component model illustrates the software components that will be used to build the system. These may be built up from the class model and written from scratch for the new system, or may be brought in from other projects and 3rd party vendors. Components are high level aggregations of smaller software pieces, and provide a 'black box' building block approach to software construction.

The Component Diagram

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UML Component Model

The component diagram shows the relationship between software components, their dependencies, communication, location and other conditions. Interfaces Components may also expose interfaces. These are the visible entry points or services that a component is advertising and making available to other software components and classes. Typically a component is made up of many internal classes and packages of classes. It may even be assembled from a collection of smaller components.

Components and Nodes A deployment diagram illustrates the physical deployment of the system into a production (or test) environment. It shows where components will be located, on what servers, machines or hardware. It may illustrate network links, LAN bandwidth & etc.

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UML Component Model

Requirements Components may have requirements attached to indicate their contractual obligations - that is, what service they will provide in the model. Requirements help document the functional behaviour of software elements. Constraints Components may have constraints attached which indicate the environment in which they operate. Pre-conditions specify what must be true before a component can perform some function; post-conditions indicate what will be true after a component has done some work and Invariants specify what must remain true for the duration of the components lifetime. Scenarios Scenarios are textual/procedural descriptions of an objects actions over time and describe the way in which a component works. Multiple scenarios may be created to describe the basic path (a perfect run through) as well as exceptions, errors and other conditions. Traceability You may indicate traceability through realisation links. A component may implement another model element (eg. a use case) or
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UML Component Model

a component may be implemented by another element (eg. a package of classes). By providing realisation links to and from components you can map the dependencies amongst model elements and the traceability from the initial requirements to the final implementation. An Example The following example shows how components may be linked to provide a conceptual/logical view of a systems construction. This example is concerned with the server and security elements of an on-line book store. It includes such elements as the web server, firewall, ASP pages & etc. Server Components This diagram illustrates the layout of the main server side components that will require building for an on-line book store. These components are a mixture of custom built and purchased items which will be assembled to provide the required functionality.

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UML Component Model

Security Components The security components diagram shows how security software such as the Certificate Authority, Browser, Web server and other model elements work together to assure security provisions in the proposed system.

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UML Component Model

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Physical Model

Physical Model
Product Info Enterprise Architect (EA) EA Download EA Pricing ExyBar Related Info Links UML Tutorial Tech Support Support Report a Bug (HTML) Report a Bug (user forum) Request-A-Feature (HTML) Request-A-Feature (forum) The Physical/Deployment Model provides a detailed model of the way components will be deployed across the system infrastructure. It details network capabilities, server specifications, hardware requirements and other information related to deploying the proposed system. Deployment View

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Physical Model

PM01: Physical Model The physical model shows where and how system components will be deployed. It is a specific map of the physical layout of the system. A deployment diagram illustrates the physical deployment of the system into a production (or test) environment. It shows where components will be located, on what servers, machines or hardware. It may illustrate network links, LAN bandwidth & etc.

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Physical Model

A node is used to depict any server, workstation or other host hardware used to deploy components into the production environment. You may also specify the links between nodes and assign stereotypes (such as TCP/IP) and requirements to them. Nodes may also have performance characteristics, minimum hardware standards, operating system levels & etc. documented. The screen below illustrates the common properties you can set for a node.

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UML Component Model

UML Tutorial - part 2

Product Info Enterprise Architect (EA) EA Download EA Pricing ExyBar So... How do you use the UML? Related Info Links UML Tutorial Tech Support Support Report a Bug (HTML) Report a Bug (user forum) Request-A-Feature (HTML) Request-A-Feature (forum) The UML is typically used as a part of a software development process, with the support of a suitable CASE tool, to define the requirements, the interactions and the elements of the proposed software system. The exact nature of the process depends on the development methodology used. An example process might look something like the following: 1. Capture a Business Process Model. This will be used to define the high level business activities and processes that occur in an organization and to provide a foundation for the Use Case model. The Business Process Model will typically capture more than a software system will implement (ie. it includes manual and other processes). 2. Map a Use Case Model to the Business Process Model to define exactly what functionality you are intending to provide from the business user perspective. As each Use Case is added, create a traceable link from the appropriate business processes to the Use Case (ie. a realisation connection). This mapping clearly states what functionality the new system will provide to meet the business requirements outlined in the process model. It also ensures no Use Cases exist without a purpose. 3. Refine the Use Cases - include requirements, constraints, complexity rating, notes and scenarios. This information We have established in Part 1 that the UML is a language for specifying the artifacts and interactions of a software system. We have also seen that it deals with 6 major domains - from Use Case models, through dynamic and logical models to the final physical deployment model - and that extension mechanisms have been included to allow for specialised additions to the model notation.

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UML Component Model

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

unambiguously describes what the Use Case does, how it is executed and the constraints on its execution. Make sure the Use Case still meets the business process requirements. Include the definition of system tests for each use case to define the aceptance criteria for each use case. Also include some user acceptance test scripts to define how the user will test this functionality and what the acceptance criteria are. From the inputs and outputs of the Business Process Model and the details of the use cases, begin to construct a domain model (high level business objects), sequence diagrams, collaboration diagrams and user interface models. These describe the 'things' in the new system, the way those things interact and the interface a user will use to execute use case scenarios. From the domain model, the user interface model and the scenario diagrams create the Class Model. This is a precise specification of the objects in the system, their data or attributes and their behaviour or operations. Domain objects may be abstracted into class hierarchies using inheritance. Scenario diagram messages will typically map to class operations. If an existing framework or design pattern is to be used, it may be possible to import existing model elements for use in the new system. For each class define unit tests and integration tests to thoroughly test i) that the class functions as specified internally and that ii) the class interacts with other related classes and components as expected. As the Class Model develops it may be broken into discrete packages and components. A component represents a deployable chunk of software that collects the behaviour and data of one or more classes and exposes a strict interface to other consumers of its services. So from the Class Model a Component Model is built to define the logical packaging of classes. For each component define integration tests to confirm that the component's interface meets the specifcation given it in relation to other software elements. Concurrent with the work you have already done, additional requirements should have been captured and documented. For example - Non Functional requirements, Performance requirements, Security requirements, responsibilities, release plans & etc. Collect these within the model and keep up to date as the model matures. The Deployment model defines the physical architecture of the system. This work can be begun early to capture the physical deployment characteristics - what hardware,

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UML Component Model

operating systems, network capabilities, interfaces and support software will make up the new system, where it will be deployed and what parameters apply to disaster recovery, reliability, back-ups and support. As the model develops the physical architecture will be updated to reflect the actual system being proposed. 9. Build the system: Take discrete pieces of the model and assign to one or more developers. In a Use Case driven build this will mean assigning a Use Case to the development team, having them build the screens, business objects, database tables, and related components necessary to execute that Use Case. As each Use Case is built it should be accompanied by completed unit, integration and system tests. A Component driven build may see discrete software components assigned to development teams for construction. 10. Track defects that emerge in the testing phases against the related model elements - eg. System test defects against Use Cases, Unit Test defects against classes & etc. Track any changes against the related model elements to manage 'scope creep'. 11. Update and refine the model as work proceeds - always assessing the impact of changes and model refinements on later work. Use an iterative approach to work through the design in discrete chunks, always assessing the current build, the forward requirements and any discoveries that come to light during development. 12. Deliver the complete and tested software into a test then production environment. If a phased delivery is being undertaken, then this migration of built sofware from test to production may occur several times over the life of the project Note that the above process is necessarily brief in description, leaves much unsaid and may not be how you work or follow the process you have adopted. It is given as an example of how the UML may be used to support a software development project.

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Business Process Model

Business Process Model

Product Info Enterprise Architect (EA) EA Download EA Pricing ExyBar Related Info Links UML Tutorial Tech Support Support Report a Bug (HTML) Report a Bug (user forum) Request-A-Feature (HTML) Request-A-Feature (forum) An introduction to the terminology and icons used in the Business Process Model. Provides a quick introduction to some Unified Modelling Language (UML) concepts and how they are applied in Enterprise Architect's Business Process Model. A business process: 1. Has a Goal 2. Has specific inputs 3. Has specific outputs 4. Uses resources 5. Has a number of activities that are performed in some order 6. May affect more than one organizational unit. Horizontal organizational impact 7. Creates value of some kind for the customer. The customer may be internal or external

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Business Process Model

Process Models

Business Process Process: A business process is a collection of activities designed to produce a specific output for a particular customer or market. It implies a strong emphasis on how the work is done within and organization, in contrast to a product's focus on what. A process is thus a specific ordering of work activities across time and place, with a beginning, an end, and clearly defined inputs and
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Business Process Model

outputs: a structure for action. Connections G Supply link from object Information. A supply link indicates that the information or object linked to the process is not used up in the processing phase. For example, order templates may be used over and over to provide new orders of a certain style - the templates are not altered or exhausted as part of this activity. G Supply link from object Resource. An input link indicates that the attached object or resource is consumed in the processing procedure. As an example, as customer orders are processed they are completed and signed off, and typically are used only once per unique resource (order). G Goal link to object Goal. A goal link indicates the attached object to the business process describes the goal of the process. A goal is the business justification for performing the activity. G Stateflow link to object Output G Stateflow link from event Event. A stateflow link indicates some object is passed into a business process. It captures the passing of control to another entity or process, with the implied passing of state or information from activity to activity.

Figure 1 : Workflow

Goal
Object: A business process has some well defined goal. This is the reason the organization does this work, and should be defined in terms of the benefits this process has for the organization as a whole and in satisfying the business needs. Connections
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Business Process Model

G

Goal link from activity Business Process. A goal link indicates the attached object to the business process describes the goal of the process. A goal is the business justification for performing the activity.

Information
Object: Business processes use information to tailor or complete their activities. Information, unlike resources, is not consumed in the process - rather it is used as part of the transformation process. In formation may come from external sources, from customers, from internal organizational units and may even be the product of other processes. Connections G Supply link to activity Business Process. A supply link indicates that the information or object linked to the process is not used up in the processing phase. For example, order templates may be used over and over to provide new orders of a certain style - the templates are not altered or exhausted as part of this activity.

Output
Object: A business process will typically produce one or more outputs of value to the business, either for internal use of to satisfy external requirements. An output may be a physical object (such as a report or invoice), a transformation of raw resources into a new arrangement (a daily schedule or roster) or an overall business result such as completing a customer order. An output of one business process may feed into another process, either as a requested item or a trigger to initiate new activities. Connections G Stateflow link from activity Business Process

Resource
Object: A resource is an input to a business process, and, unlike information, is typically consumed during the processing. For example, as each daily train service is run and actuals recorded, the service resource is 'used up' as far as the process of recording actual train times is concerned. Connections G Supply link to activity Business Process. An input link indicates that the attached object or resource is consumed in the processing procedure. As an example, as customer orders are processed they are completed and signed off, and typically are used only once per unique resource (order).

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