Designing a UML 1.5 Component Diagram

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Following are tips and techniques that you can use when working with UML 1.5 Component Diagrams. It can be convenient to start creation of a model with Component Diagrams if you are modeling a large system. For example, a distributed, client-server software system, with numerous interconnected modules. You use Component Diagrams for modeling a logical structure of your system, while you use Deployment Diagrams for modeling a physical structure.

To design a UML 1.5 Component Diagram, follow this general procedure:

1. Create a hierarchy of Subsystems.

   Tip: You can create nested Subsystems.

2. Create a hierarchy of Components. The largest component can be the whole system or its major part (for example, server application, IDE, service).

   Tip: You can create nested component nodes. There are two methods for creating a nested component node:You can select an existing component and add a child component inside.Alternatively, you can create two separate components and connect them with an Association-Composition link.

3. Create interfaces. Each component can have an interface.
4. Draw links between elements.
5. You can optionally create shortcuts to related elements of other diagrams.

See Also

• Creating Shortcuts
• UML 1.5 Component Diagrams