[Unknown Author]

I’m re-laying out a UML diagram (that auto-layout generated, poorly I might add), and I’ve got a spagetti of association lines between interfaces and classes…

Is there a key-stroke, or some icon that will re-route these lines without changing the layout/location of the interfaces/classes?

[Scott Anderson]

Is there a key-stroke, or some icon that will re-route these lines without changing the layout/location of the interfaces/classes?

No, there isn’t at the moment, but that’s a good suggestion

One other question: When you created the diagram initially, did you manually run UML > Auto Layout from the toolbar, or did you just start with what showed up? The reason I ask is that manually running auto layout generally fixes connector routing issues like you’re reporting.

[Unknown Author]

I ran the Auto-Layout from the menu, and the layout wasn’t the most ideal (realization lines were covered by parts of generalization lines) and I didnt feel the layout was the best description of the heirarchy. So I re-organized, but I’ve ended up with a spaghetti of lines now…

So you’re saying there is no functionality to just re-route the lines without re-locating all of the classes? (I’m afraid to say that’s *really* sub-par, and makes the tool basically useless [to me].)

Any idea when a fix for this might be available?

[Brian Fernandes]

tpoppe,

I’m surprised you found the layout was not a good description of your hierarchy.
We use a rather specialized layout algorithm, I admit it cannot better a human, but it shouldn’t have been too bad either.

I’m afraid that currently there is no way to fix *only* the routing while keeping the classes in the same location.
You can manually route the connections yourself by simply clicking the connection line and dragging.

Best,
Brian.

[Unknown Author]

I guess I should re-pharse my assessment of the layout, it was sub-optimal for my particular class heirarchy, with numerous interfaces, abstract, and concrete classes… Hence, my own layout.

Would it be possible to query one of the developers if there is a separation in the UML class diagram editor between the layout of classes, and the re-routing of the lines? (My diagram has over 30 classes/interfaces, and on the order of 50 lines… I don’t have time to clean all the lines by myself.)

I’m curious because I’d like to see if there’s a way to invoke some method to re-route them when I want… I’ll figure out how to hook into it, and tinker if that’s an option..

Thanks for your help

[Brian Fernandes]

tpoppe,

While we laid out the class hierarchically, we haven’t differentiated between abstract classes, concrete classes and interfaces. That’s an interesting idea and we’ll keep it in mind.

I understand your frustation over having to route 50 lines manually, but I’m afraid there is no middle ground right now. You can choose Auto Layout again to get the lines straight but then you’ll lose your class / interfacen node layout.

We realize it is a problem and I will file it internally so that we take a serious look at the issue.

Sorry for the inconvenience,
Brian.

[SymantecCorp]

Brian,

We are also experiencing difficulties with the auto layout functionality. When initially laid out, the association lines look fine, but when re-arranging the classes, the associations do not re-draw well. In our case, we’re importing an XMI document (which lays all of the classes on top of each other in the upper left corner) and then using the auto layout.

I’d like to see the associations maintain some logical link as classes are moved after this point. Currently as they are moved, all of the corners and bends are maintained, with new ones added so the result is a big mess. Whether you add an auto layout of associations only, or you just make the redraw of associations more direct, I don’t care, but I would like to see this functionality added at some point.

The tool looks great, I really like it, this is my only complaint.

Thanks!
Ben

[Author]

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