Generating UML diagrams from code in eclipse

[Raj Kumar Bindal]

Hi,

I have written some piece of code in eclipse. Now, i need to generate UML diagrams for that code. Please let me if it is possible in eclipse to just select particular project/package and generate sequence diagrams/class diagrams as per the classes present in that project/package.

I am looking for an open source pluggin. I know we have EMF and UML2 pluggins for eclipse but i think even if we have those pluggins, we still have to understand relationship between the classes and connect the classes accordingly in UML diagrams.

Just wanted to know if any open source pluggin is available which will reduce my effort and will generate UML diagrams by just selecting a project/package.

Thanks in advance.

[Jimmy Clark]

Ideally, you want to be creating UML diagrams in the Design phase before you start coding. This usually results in better code, less bugs, etc. However, if you somehow "skipped" Design and started coding from your head, it is best to create the diagrams by hand, i.e. manually, of the things of most value. This will ensure that the diagrams are created correctly and that they highlight the important parts that you want to preserve and share.

[Raj Kumar Bindal]

Ok, i am now planning to create UML diagrams myself. I believe we can install some pluggins in eclipse after which we can create UML diagrams through eclipse.

Please let me know the pluggin which i can use for making UML diagrams in eclipse.

[Engin Okucu]

Hi Raj Kumar,

Please have a look at this , sure it will help : http://www.soyatec.com/euml2/documentation/com.soyatec.euml2.doc/reverse/reverse/index.html#explicit
There is a free edition that you can download for your Eclipse.

Regards, Engin.

[Jimmy Clark]

Eclipse might not be the best tool for creating UML diagrams. ArgoUML is a good open-source resource. NetBeans also has some fancy UML features.

[Tim Holloway]

Jimmy Clark wrote:Eclipse might not be the best tool for creating UML diagrams. ArgoUML is a good open-source resource. NetBeans also has some fancy UML features.

Actually, Eclipse itself has no UML capabilities at all, just as it has no inherent J2EE capabilities. In both cases, the functionality comes from plug-ins. Although in the case of J2EE, you can get a copy of Eclipse with plug-ins pre-installed.

I've been a big fan of ArgoUML for a long time. There's also a commercial spin-off of it called Poseidon that's pretty high-quality.

The better-quality UML tools do support round-trip engineering, because, although good design should start with the UML and move towards code, eventually the code starts to reflect design changes and it's good to be able to automatically update the UML to indicate those changes. Some types of diagrams can be converted to UML from code than others, though.