Table of Contents
Lead-in Part
A Unified Modeling Language (UML) is a technical representation of a complex system. In most static structure scenarios, engineers use a UML that defines a standard way to graphically illustrate a system they designed to solve a particular problem. A UML diagram generally consists of important components, like main actors, roles or responsibilities, artifacts, and classes. These UML diagram components help the engineers and the involved practitioners understand, modify, maintain, or even document all the information about the given system in a way that is not limited to software developers.
In this UML diagram guide, we will help you understand the significance of having a UML diagram for a project and how a project manager can make a UML diagram easier using free UML diagram software.
Why is a UML Diagram Significant?
When a project development team starts working on any new project, they require a way to visualize before actually working on it. In order to work correctly on the different project stages or modules, a project manager uses UML diagrams so that the entire team can visualize the entire project. Moreover, the primary goal of creating a UML diagram is to ensure that whoever is involved in the project development cycle can picture how the project will turn out in the end. Some of the other important reasons to create a UML diagram for a project can be:
- UML diagrams serve as a visual representation between different classes and associated entities
- It helps reduce the overhead during the project implementation process
- UML diagrams help the non-technical team members understand the relationship between the multiple lines of code.
That being said, a team will only be able to properly visualize the project or collaborate with other team members if they see the updates happening in the UML diagrams. To overcome this issue, project managers use free UML diagram software, like EdrawMax, that helps them make a UML diagram effortlessly and ensures that the team can collaborate better.
What is EdrawMax?
EdrawMax is an all-in-one diagramming tool that offers a wide range of features helpful for project managers to create all types of UML diagrams, including package diagrams, composite structure diagrams, object diagrams, and more. Unlike other diagramming tools in the market, EdrawMax comes with an extensive online resource that helps beginners and experts to work on more than 280 different types of diagrams — three times what Microsoft Visio has to offer to its registered users.
With the help of EdrawMax, a project manager can create different UML diagrams, like:
- Class diagram
- Component diagram
- Multi-layered app UML diagram
- Project deployment diagram;
- And more
In addition to UML diagrams, a project manager can use EdrawMax to create other software development diagrams, like Software Architecture diagrams, Booch OOD, COM and OLE, Data Flow Model diagrams, Program flowcharts, Yourdon and Coad, SSADM, Nassi-Shneiderman diagram, and more. Some of the diagrams might sound complicated for beginners, but with the pre-built templates and symbols library, one can create these software development diagrams with a click of a button.
How to Make a UML Diagram Effortlessly?
There are different ways to create a UML diagram, but if you are looking for an effective and free way, you can check out EdrawMax. The 2D diagramming tool offers a wide range of astounding features that helps make a UML diagram effortlessly. Check out the following steps to make a UML diagram in EdrawMax:
- Launch & Login: The first step required from your end is downloading EdrawMax into your system. Based on your operating system, you can download the installation file that hardly takes a minute to install. Once you have launched the tool, you can register using your email address.
- Template Access: Once in the diagramming setup, go to the ‘Software Development’ diagram type that you can find under the ‘Software & Database’ diagram section. You can click on ‘UML Modeling’ to access some pre-built templates. If you want to access the template community, go to the ‘Templates’ section on the left of the panel and search for ‘UML diagrams.’ Here, you can access all the publicly saved templates from EdrawMax’s registered users.
- Make From Scratch: If you have a basic understanding of the UML diagram and its components, like class, objects, and others, you can click on the ‘+’ sign to start with the ‘Blank Drawing.’ In the EdrawMax setup, you will find pre-launched UML diagram symbols on the left. You can access Object Relationships, UML Component diagrams, and more.
- Export & Share: Once all the required UML diagram components are added, you can export the file in multiple formats, like JPEG, PNG, HTML, and more. With this UML diagram software, you can also share your design via email with a team member.
Free UML Diagram Software
As you saw in the aforementioned steps, EdrawMax makes the drawing and sharing of UML diagrams easier and more effective for those project managers who are just starting out. There are several other features of this free UML diagram software, like:
- Built-in templates: Unlike other tools that have limited online communities, this UML diagram software comes with an extensive built-in template community designed and developed by experts worldwide.
- Industry-standard symbols: At EdrawMax, you can access 26,000+ industry-standard symbols. If you cannot find a symbol required to make your UML diagram, you can easily create one using the Pen and Pencil tool.
- Connectivity Tools: A UML diagram is incomplete without the right connectivity. This free UML diagram software offers all the elements necessary to connect different Actors with Use Cases and Extension Points.
- Export as you wish: Once you design the UML diagram, you can export it in multiple formats, like JPEG, Doc, Excel, VSDX, PNG, and more. In addition, you can also share your UML diagram online on different social media platforms.
Final Thoughts
With the help of a UML diagram, a team can plan a project or program before implementing it. With the right actors, use cases, extend, include, and note options, a project management team can reduce the overhead during the implementation process. Creating a UML diagram at every step of a project development cycle is unproductive, which is why EdrawMax is highly recommended.
EdrawMax offers free templates or symbols and has an MS Word-like user interface that makes it user-friendly for project managers or students who are just starting with diagrams. In addition, this free UML diagram software also offers a paid version that comes with additional features.
