Visual Studio 2015 generate UML from code

Question

Windows 10 64-bit
Microsoft Visual Studio Enterprise 2015 Version:14.0.25431.01 Update 3

I have a almost finished project and now I need to write a documentation. I found some information in the www which tells to "simply" generate UML from the existing code.

At the top Menu is a section with Architecture and there I can create new UML diagrams, but I can't import the classes which the project have. In all the other forum entries they was talking about a Architecture Explorer where you can simply drag and drop the needed classes and the dependencies are automatically created, but in my case this view is missing.

If you have some good advise how to document the software differently, you're welcome.

I don't know your environment, but "just create UML" is not going to be a documentation. At best you get some graphics. You need to make a model from the scaffold you might get. This model can be basis of a documentation. — qwerty_so, Dec 20 '16 at 14:01
@ThomasKilian yes I know. But my part of the project is to deliver the one side the implementation and on the other the fitting diagrams. — Daniel Eisenreich, Dec 20 '16 at 17:14

score 15 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 20 '16 at 14:17

15

In solution explorer right click and:

add > item.. > General > class diagram

Then you can fairly easy make a domain model by dragging entity classes in and right click on a few properties and choose: "Show as association"

answered Dec 20 '16 at 14:17

Thomas Koelle

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Now I have all needed classes there., but dont find "Show as association". – Daniel Eisenreich Dec 20 '16 at 16:30
I got it. Thank you very much! – Daniel Eisenreich Dec 20 '16 at 17:37
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@amod0017 Keep in mind that if we talk about _association_, it not goes around which object is used in which class, but which class inherits from which interface/class. At this point I also thought the class diagram is like we learned in university with the first _association_ I explained above, but it isn't. – Daniel Eisenreich Oct 20 '17 at 05:49
So, how do you add associations within Visual Studio? I have an MVC project. – naz786 Apr 30 '18 at 16:39
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@naz786 nowadays I use ReSharper to generate a dependency diagram. – Daniel Eisenreich Nov 27 '18 at 12:21

score 9 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 20 '16 at 14:46

9

To view UML diagram of your project, make right-click on your project and select View->Class diagram. Auto-generated UML of your project will be opened

answered Dec 20 '16 at 14:46

Vladislav Bozhko

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This worked, but now I only have the class diagrams without the dependencies, how can I add them? – Daniel Eisenreich Dec 20 '16 at 16:27

Visual Studio 2015 generate UML from code

2 Answers2