Feedback on My Little UML Page

I've now started to add reader feedback since I get semi-regular remarks from readers and these letters often go into more useful detail than my web page does. Feedback is always welcome. -- MWG, May 7, 2003.

On Tue, 2003-07-29 at 19:47, Terry Mellon (mellon at seex.com) wrote:

I've found your 'My Little UML Page' very helpful in my search for UML tools. Thanks for going to the trouble of publishing it.

I have a couple of questions about something you said about Visio, namely:

"Note (July 2001): since the release of Visio2000, this tool now provides support for all UML diagrams in the cheaper versions too."

I have the *not* cheaper edition, namely, Visio 2002 Professional (Visio 2002 Standard is now the one and only cheaper edition). This Prof ed has a template named UML Model Diagram in the Software template group off the 'File -- New' menu. I'm helping a company pick a UML tool, and this UML Model Diagram template and its associated features meet their needs. So, obviously, I'm hoping they can purchase the Standard ed instead of the Prof one.

Q1: Does Visio 2002 Standard include the UML Model Diagram template and its associated features?

Q2: If not, do you know how if can be added to the Standard ed legally and for no cost?

A little more info. I just finished talking with MS Pre-Sales Support (PSS) and here's what I learned:

• The Visio Web site says that Software drawing support is not part of the Standard ed.
• One of the PSS persons said that the Software drawing support is included in the Visio 2002 SDK, a free download that can be added to the Standard ed.
• Another PSS person said he wasn't convinced that the template I want is included in the SDK, and this was after he read a couple of pages describing the SDK.
• Get this: None of the PSS persons is 100% certain about the truth of this matter, and none has access to the Standard ed at work to check it out.

Thus, I'm bothering you. :-)

Thanks. --Terry

P.S. I've investigated the Hruby UML template you referenced on your site. Nice, but we need the navigator, crossing referencing, properties, etc. of the UML Model Diagram template.

On Wed, 2003-05-07 at 03:33, Bjarne (bjarne at runitsoft.com) wrote:

Hi there.

Just wanted to point you to a tool which I cannot find on your (otherwise excellent) page.

Check out http://www.gskinner.com/gmodeler/

I have no experience using it, though. This just FYI

Regards,
- Bjarne Geir Herland
RUnit Software AS

On Fri, 2003-04-18 at 06:53, Tom Soraoka (tom at soraoka.com) wrote:

Hi,

Just FYI ....

I was looking for a free UML tool to use for the Java Architect Certification project.

• I found your web site. Very informative and a good reference.
• I downloaded ArgoUML, but it doesn't offer much and doesn't offer building the Component diagram required for the certification. It also puts the Generalization/Specialization symbols through the images and upside down when executing the reverse engineering.
• I tried to get TogetherJ evaluation version working, but it wouldn't install correctly on Windows2000 without a special Windows Install patch. Also if you want the Academic version, you have to go through a long process.
• I looked into getting Rational Rose Academic version. Again, you have to go through a long process.

I found "Visual Paradigm" ( http://www.visual-paradigm.com/). They offer a free "Community Edition" that has a lot more than ArgoUML. Installs with no problems. It has all the required diagrams for the Java Arcitect Certification. It built my UML diagrams from my Java Developers Certification project (except it limits reverse engineering to 20 files). It will also build jpg images out of the diagrams for submission to the Sun certification board.

Tom

Michael W. Godfrey PhD, Professor
School of Computer Science University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, CANADA
Office: DC2340
email: migod at uwaterloo ca
URL: http://www.uwaterloo.ca/~migod

Last modification: Wednesday September 13, 2006 at 17:44:38 (EDT)