Straight or right angled lines in Class Diagram's arrows

Question

Hi,

I would like to know if there is a way to represent straight or at least right angled lines in the arrows of the Class Diagram?

Indeed, when there are a dozen of classes with several relationships only, this is no big deal and PlantUML/GraphvizX manage it without a problem.

But as soon as there are complex relationships between a lot of classes, the arrow's lines start to curve, sometimes in a weird way, apparently trying to avoid relation's labels.

Straight or right angled lines would ease the reading of the class diagram in that case.

Thanks a lot for the work already done and those to come!

Douglas DAVID

Answer 1

I found that if you don't have multiplicity on the ends, PlantUML will stick with straight lines (at least with simple diagrams):

@startuml

Driver - Car : drives >

Car o-- Wheel : has > 

@enduml

 

However, as soon as you add multiplicities, the curved lines are made on the horizontal associations:

 

@startuml

Driver "1" - "1" Car : drives >

Car "1" o-- "4" Wheel : has > 

@enduml

Answer 2

PlantUML has the skinparam linetype

You can try using skinparam linetype ortho or skinparam linetype polyline

Comments

Hi Anthony,

8 years after my inital question, I’ve seen your answer, and skinparam linetype ortho works like a charm!

Thanks a lot and have a good day :D

Douglas DAVID

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What a cool story