Add direction of association name
The direction of an association name is normally a small filled triangular arrow head pointing either left or right (◄ and ►) (◄ and ►). It makes reading an association easier.
For example, say you have classes DEVICE and SCHEDULE with an association between them labeled "applies to." If there is no arrow, it's difficult to read: does the device apply to schedule or the schedule to the device?
|DEVICE| ------ applies to ------ |SCHEDULE|
With the arrow it becomes unambiguous:
|DEVICE| ----- ◄ applies to ----- |SCHEDULE|
The above is now read as "Schedule applies to device."
The arrow head must be placed automatically and pointing to the appropriate direction according to where the two classes are in relation to eachother. In the example given above, if I drag the device class and place it on the right of the schedule class, the arrow direction must be automatically adjusted. I guess you can also use up and down arrows if it makes more sense due to the positioning of the elements.
Note: this is different from the "navigability" of association, which is shown by an arrow head at either end of the association line.
P.S. Amazing piece of software. I tried 2.7 on Linux for a while, and looking forward to try the latest on OS X.
Available in V5
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Nirav Pradhan commented
Hi,
Can u tell me how to implement this feature in StarUML V5. I am unable to find it.
Regards,
Nirav Pradhan -
Anonymous commented
I was amazed to find that this *basic* and, in my view, core part of UML is not supported. How can one create domain models (class diagrams) without reading arrows. Often you can deduct the reading direction, but sometimes not. - The whole point in using UML is to be specific, and being able to read a simple class diagram in a consistent way is essential.
Of course one can use ^ v < and > but rearranging placement can render the arrows misleading.