PlantUML Q&A - Recent questions and answers in To be sorted

Answered: How to compile plantuml?

Tue, 12 May 2026 11:16:31 +0000

Sorry about that, we are going to add a new entry in our FAQ.

You have 2 options:

./gradlew jar

or

ant

Answered: Left align field name, right align tpye

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 22:02:02 +0000

Hi there!

I've managed to create this behavior this way:

@startuml

' I hope this (not appropriate at all) tweak works for you.
class SomeClass {
<#transparent,#transparent>| ""- anAttribute"" | ""String"" |
--
<#transparent,#transparent>| ""+ aMethod() "" | ""String"" |
<#transparent,#transparent>| ""+ anotherMethod() "" | ""boolean"" |
<#transparent,#transparent>| ""+ yetAnotherMethod()"" | ""SomeClass"" |
}

@enduml

Explanation:

- I put a table inside the class :(

- I set the border colors to be transparent

- I used ""this"" to ensure monospacing and avoid/prevent layout issues.

Its visual appeal is better than the official one, in my opinion (although not only I encourage but prefer to use the official one).

Hope that helps!

Answered: Control package layout in class diagram

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 09:11:14 +0000

Hello A.,

What is your arrow type?

First:

Can you try `-->`?

Second:

Can you use arrows between classes?

If that can help,
Regards,

Th.

Answered: How to control box size?

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 20:05:46 +0000

it can be set with style

<style>
activity {
MinimumWidth 200
}
</style>

Answered: UML Communication diagram

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 04:08:43 +0000

@startuml

actor User

rectangle KantongKuSystem {
  registrasi()
  login()
  topUp()
  transferSaldo()
  payment()
  requestInbox()
  requestHistory()
  requestProfile()
}

rectangle Registrasi {
  validateData()
  createAccount()
}

rectangle Login {
  validateLogin()
  createSession()
}

rectangle Bank {
  validateTransaction()
  confirmTransaction()
}

rectangle Database {
  updateData()
  fetchData()
}

rectangle Inbox {
  kirimNotifikasi()
  tampilkanInbox()
}

rectangle Merchant {
  validatePayment()
}

User -> KantongKuSystem : Interaksi Utama

KantongKuSystem -> Registrasi : registrasi()
Registrasi -> Database : createAccount()
Database -> Registrasi : konfirmasiRegistrasi()

KantongKuSystem -> Login : login()
Login -> Database : validateLogin()
Database -> Login : loginValid()
Login -> KantongKuSystem : sessionCreated()

KantongKuSystem -> Bank : validateTransaction()
Bank -> KantongKuSystem : transactionValid()
KantongKuSystem -> Database : updateSaldo()
Database -> KantongKuSystem : saldoUpdated()

KantongKuSystem -> Inbox : kirimNotifikasi()
Inbox -> User : notifikasiTerkirim()

KantongKuSystem -> Merchant : validatePayment()
Merchant -> KantongKuSystem : paymentValid()

KantongKuSystem -> Database : fetchData()
Database -> KantongKuSystem : returnData()

KantongKuSystem -> User : tampilkanData()

@enduml

Getting Error java.lang.ClassCastException when creating state diagram using allowmix override

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 02:28:10 +0000

Answered: What's the best way to represent a message that doesn't get received in a sequence diagram?

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 08:01:09 +0000

Arrows that use "o" now have a filled circle by default (added with PR #1863, which is already merged and will be released with v1.2024.7 maybe?). So you can display lost and found messages by using e.g. the following code.

@startuml
participant ": A" as a
[o-> a ++ : method(key : char)
[o<<-- a : method(dir : String) : ret
@enduml

If you want to have a different fill color, you can use a style definition as follows.

@startuml
<style>
sequenceDiagram {
arrow {
BackgroundColor Blue;
}
}
</style>
participant ": A" as a
[o-> a ++ : method(key : char)
[o<<-- a : method(dir : String) : ret
@enduml

Answered: How could I see or get the intermediate dot file or string (the contents with the grammar of dot language)?

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 07:19:59 +0000

Seems like it was answered before: https://forum.plantuml.net/14466/how-can-i-see-the-graphviz-code-that-is-being-generated

Answered: Java IllegalStateException for june 30 beta

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 19:25:38 +0000

Seems to be (long) resolved?

Answered: How can I escape double underscores in a namespace name?

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 08:43:09 +0000

Hello M.,

Here is a solution:

using plantuml escape character '~'
and using 'double quoted label' and 'alias'

@startuml
namespace "~__builtin__" as builtin {
}
@enduml

Then we can observe the expected result:

Enjoy,
Regards,
Th.

Providing a modular plantuml jar

Sun, 04 Jun 2023 00:50:28 +0000

Deploying a Javafx app that uses plantuml is tricky, as using jlink to create a custom jre for your javafx app will now fail, because it can't handle non modular jars.

Unless the plantuml developers on day offer a modular jar, I'm not sure what the solution to this is?

Answered: Using plantuml.jar with JavaFX

Sun, 04 Jun 2023 00:48:33 +0000

A modern version of a Javafx project (e.g. that created by vscode java plugin) is modular, and the plantuml jar is not modular - but can still be used if you add it to the --module-path.

You also have to edit the javafx project's src/main/java/module-info.java to contain

module com.example {
    requires javafx.controls;
    requires javafx.fxml;
    requires javafx.web;
    requires net.sourceforge.plantuml;   <---
...
}

Unfortunately deploying a Javafx app that uses plantuml is trickier, as using jlink to create a custom jre for your javafx app will now fail, because it can't handle non modular jars. Unless the plantuml developers on day offer a modular jar, I'm not sure what the solution to this is.

I've raised an issue for this: https://github.com/plantuml/plantuml/issues/1446

Answered: Layout problems output TEOZ engine?

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 15:30:59 +0000

[Just to answer an old question]

FYI, it seems now OK (tested en V1.2023.6):

Thanks for the Report,
And thanks to PlantUML Team,
Regards.

Answered: ClassHeaderBackgroundColor for Object Diagrams?

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 10:35:06 +0000

[To answer to an old question]

Yes it is now possible by header style.

See:

https://forum.plantuml.net/14563/style-object-allow-style-on-object-diagram

Regards.

Answered: Escape Character for Curly Braces

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 22:23:54 +0000

You can use <U+007B> for the left curly bracket.

@startuml
Alice -> Bob: [["this is the tooltip" <U+007B>this is the text starting with a curly bracket}]]
@enduml

Idea using a macro:

@startuml
!function linktext(txt)
!if (%substr(txt,0,1) == "{")
  !return "<U+007B>" + %substr(txt,1,%strlen(txt)-1)
!else
  !return txt
!endif
!endfunction

Alice -> Bob: [["this is the tooltip" linktext("{this is the text starting with a curly bracket}")]]
@enduml

Answered: is there any support for subactivity or the rake symbol

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 16:29:48 +0000

I know the question is quite a few years old, but I stumbled on it with the same question. That's why I will answer for others who might have this question.

I was unsatisfied with the grayscale sprite, because it doesn't scale. So I wrote a SVG rake:

@startuml

sprite $rake <svg width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 16 16">
<path
    style="fill:#000000"
    d="M 7,1 H 9 V 7 H 15 V 15 H 13 V 9 H 9 V 15 H 7 V 9 H 3 V 15 H 1 V 7 H 7 Z"
/>
</svg>

start
:Identify security problems <$rake>;
stop

@enduml

Answered: Can I change a sequence arrow line thickness per arrow?

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 14:05:57 +0000

This can be achieved in a similar fashion as setting inline colors:

@startuml
a -[thickness=5]> b
@enduml

Answered: Why the synchronization bad doesnt't extend to other swinlanes?

Mon, 05 Sep 2022 06:35:00 +0000

posted 6 years ago, but problem is not solved (((

Answered: Sequence diagram: crossed arrows

Fri, 12 Aug 2022 09:54:44 +0000

Hi team,
I want to concatenate arrow in sequence diagram (msg1 and msg2 in my example), however 2 bugs found:
1. the text msg1 and msg2 are nto aligned vertically.
2. if the diagrame contains pages, then there will be strange things appearing in pages.
Regards,
Lucky

my code:

@startuml
!pragma teoz true

title test
s1->s2 ++: req
    s2->s3 ++: fwd
    return
return resp

newpage test1
s1->s2 ++: req
    s2->s3 ++: fwd
    return
return resp

s1 ->o s2: msg 1 \n
& s2 -> s3: msg 2

@enduml

Answered: Sticky position the participants in the sequence diagram

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 10:39:46 +0000

Any news about this feature?

Answered: Is it possible to get a plantuml.exe for Windows?

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 23:45:31 +0000

you could create a .bat file that did the call to "java -jar". Or look into something like this: https://genuinecoder.com/convert-java-jar-to-exe/

(Oh man I did NOT realize how old this question was!)

Answered: hide unlinked seems to have no effect

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 17:40:10 +0000

Hello All,

To answer to a very old question, from V1.2020.6 (5 Apr, 2020) and:

https://forum.plantuml.net/11052/remove-unlinked-components

We can now use 'hide' or 'remove' '@unlinked':

hide @unlinked

as:

@startuml
hide @unlinked
(A)
[B]
(C) -> [D]
@enduml

Answered: Is there a way to design open droplist

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 11:23:40 +0000

salt

{

Fruit: |^ Select ^ Select ^ Orange ^ Apple ^

}

Haven't found a way to change the grey background of the dropdown though.

Answered: Performance degradation noticed (Plantuml taking long process time) if a macro has unbalanced parenthesis.

Fri, 28 May 2021 08:58:46 +0000

It would help if you could post a complete example.

Thanks

Answered: Is it possible to add custom metadata to a PlantUML source file?

Sun, 09 May 2021 15:35:43 +0000

Hello R.,

You can just use a comment.. It will be on the metadata of the diagram... as:

@startuml
'Destination=./output/class-diagrams/
Bob->Alice : hello
@enduml

or:

@startuml
/'
Destination=./output/class-diagrams/
'/
Bob->Alice : hello
@enduml

Answered: How to export plantuml file as xml file?

Sat, 10 Apr 2021 10:36:31 +0000

Hello A.,

For starting, you can read:

Regards,
Th.

Answered: Is it possible to top align notes in a sequence diagram?

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 21:34:18 +0000

Hello A.,

Just to answer to an old unanswered question (and point out similar question/answers).

Here are some answers:

https://forum.plantuml.net/354/sequence-diagram-possibly-multiple-hnotes-vertical-level

With that, we observe the expected result:

hnote over scp: State_X
/hnote over ssc: State_Y

Regards,
Th.

Answered: How to scale a salt diagram

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 19:04:53 +0000

Hello A.,

Just to answer to an old unanswered question (and confirm that is now OK: tested on v1.2020.18), with:

@startsalt
scale 2
{
{T
 + World
 ++ Europe
 +++ Italy
 +++ Germany
 ++++ Berlin
 ++ Africa
}
}
@endsalt

[See on PlantUML...]

And with:

@startuml
scale 2
salt
{
{T
 + World
 ++ Europe
 +++ Italy
 +++ Germany
 ++++ Berlin
 ++ Africa
}
}
@enduml

[See on...]

Thank to the works of PlantUML team,
Regards,
Th.

Answered: Sequence diagram sub-diagrams

Thu, 03 Sep 2020 22:15:51 +0000

This is an old question but as it is the first one to appear in google I think it is worth pointing out the real solution to this is just adding the word mainframe.

mainframe "sd NameOfDiagram"

Alice -> Bob: sendMessage
Bob -> Alice: sendResponse

will give the desired output.

Answered: How to keep a single appearance of the participant in sequence diagram?

Mon, 10 Aug 2020 10:00:53 +0000

@startuml
hide footbox
Bob -> Alice : hello
@enduml
http://www.plantuml.com/plantuml/png/SoWkIImgAStDuSh8J4bLIClFBqdAh-1ooazIqBLJSCp9J4vLi5B8ICt9oUToICrB0Qe40000

Answered: Is it possible to comment out lines of diagram syntax?

Thu, 02 Jul 2020 19:33:02 +0000

Line comments use a single apostrophe

' This is a comment

Block comments use C-style comments except that instead of * you use an apostrophe

/'

many lines

here

'/

[Ad] Information: article about PlantUML on the last Linux Magazine of June 2020.

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 17:01:39 +0000

Hello all,

Just FYI, there is an article about PlantUML on the last Linux Magazine of June:

Drawing diagrams with PlantUML
Picture This
Article from Issue 235/2020
Author(s): Marco Fioretti
With PlantUML, you can quickly create all kinds of diagrams using human-readable text and reuse them anywhere.
Sooner or later, almost everybody needs to draw a diagram, whether to manage large amounts of information or organize group activities. For software developers and administrators (as well as business managers), diagrams based on the Unified Modeling Language (UML) make it easy to visualize complex systems, from software platforms to quality control departments, to see how they function.
[...]
Links:
→ Linux Magazine n°235/2020, June 2020
→ https://www.linux-magazine.com/Issues/2020/235/PlantUML-Diagrams

I haven't read the article, it's up to you.
Regards,
Th.

Answered: Unexpected "Actor"

Tue, 26 May 2020 15:20:52 +0000

Hello H.,

In order to mix "double lines separator" and "folder", You can use embedded diagram or sub-diagram with use of '{{' and '}}':

But pay attention to the fact: what you gain with, you also lose with (because it is an independent sub-diagram [without any link with the hosted diagram]) ; Also You can not use after DBT1, DBT2 or DBTN, there are only accessible on the sub-diagram.

See more details:

with “Embed diagrams in notes and other texts” from /7140 which point out: the creation of this feature on /2427.
with also this comment on /8975 of the generalization and correction on class and deployment diagram.

Then with this feature:

database DB [
DB
--
==
{{
folder "Table #1" as DBT1
}}
==
{{
folder "Table #2" as DBT2
}}
--
{{
folder "Table #N" as DBTN
}}
]

we obtain:

We observe some issue (on v1.2020.10) with the order of the element between the sub-diagram and the different double lines (a dummy line above is necessary to achieve the expected result.): see also this defect /10967.

If that can help,
Regards,
Th.

Answered: My diagram is cut off. How do I fix this?

Mon, 11 May 2020 08:27:58 +0000

Is it caused by PLANTUML_LIMIT_SIZE ? (see https://plantuml.com/faq )

A salt cell of table may contain also a block of ui controls and line around that block

Sun, 12 Jan 2020 03:48:20 +0000

@startsalt
{
Login | "MyName "
Password | "**** "
{+
Login2 | "MyName "
Password2 | "**** "
[Cancel2] | [ OK3 ]
} | [Cancel]
[ OK2 ] | [ OK ]
}
@endsalt

Answered: How can i use GOTO relations in new Activity Diagram?

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 07:57:57 +0000

In case you need a way to provide action when repeating a loop.

https://forum.plantuml.net/5826/please-provide-action-repeat-loop-start-instead-condition

Answered: How to do this complex activity diagram?

Fri, 15 Nov 2019 15:06:18 +0000

```plantuml

@startuml

start

repeat

:Action A;

if (2?) then (yes)

if (4?) then (yes)

:Action D;

else (no)

:Action D';

endif

stop

else (no)

:Action B;

if (3?) then (yes)

:Action C;

else (no)

stop

@enduml

```

Answered: How to better layout classdiagrams with a central entity

Thu, 06 Dec 2018 10:53:33 +0000

Looks a bit interesting but try this

@startuml
skinparam linetype ortho
left to right direction

....

http://www.plantuml.com/plantuml/uml/hPF1Rjim38RlVWhTX-O1V6gRzR13WM73JiCEhCmcn2pA4AbkmT1tNwIv2GKxM0xrnSRFd-97YhuLXQGvZ9ty99uWGN0ZCUfXGXUJxcCtuhCwZIxHRgzke8HUANBNCGIK2JowRKpe_dJk-FWHHDmz23wmaXvckJmVQEWTv_24wQpvXA0ut6dlFeBYEP2dOH5uxLvjsM-2wH4OTXYGrGBKq0o0lnLva0gvMGVBHtSvjdUYYNXtZamWyYkcOHb926DOoXY0HYCNwFggH0L5AFACS6CuBRorNj_5CoNHzJP6k1JnCKp0XDAxRVqy_3lu-m_ZoQ8nO2gU-TEOp0pxff_bXMs_FBPhaeKOHUuJiDzVtwbjfPsnNOYDMOARjhlYjafnhD8OsDP-cVA4-TISX-BwPOawnAjRiCEtQ3Rm_hkoTfCFByXg_xt_mjUC1NbLhnlfiNvzrvHF_48AIf7N2rpsbINSN9paCgaT79Pu_rRhBRVcpqUs_uWnY89cwKq9YlorYdO1a7Em66UNmRZp7YV5uIHyXgJaQO8gplTrYppaCFu5

BR,

Michael

Answered: interaction frame

Fri, 23 Nov 2018 22:10:33 +0000

Thanks for the suggestion!

With last beta http://beta.plantuml.net/plantuml.jar you can now have:

@startuml

mainframe This is a frame

participant alpha
participant beta

alpha -> beta: a1
beta <- alpha: a2

beta -> alpha: b1
alpha <- beta: b2
@enduml

It this what you are looking for ?

Answered: In class diagrams, is there a way to force a self-relation appear as a single single side arrow?

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 12:47:09 +0000

Hi,

if this is what you are referring to: no. Layouting is rather limited due to the underlaying graphviz.

BR,

Michael

Answered: Multiplicities and roles in class diagrams

Thu, 25 Oct 2018 06:31:30 +0000

Hi,

what you do is the definition of the classes and the linking in one step. What you need to do is to separate these

like this:

@startuml
class Example
class Example2
Example "1" -right- "*" Example2 : description
@enduml

or to remove the class keyword and let plantuml do the initialization of the classes like this.

@startuml
Example "1" -right- "*" Example2 : description
@enduml

Both result in :

BR,

Michael

Answered: Components alignment (horizontally)

Fri, 21 Sep 2018 10:27:58 +0000

@startuml
left to right direction
[CMP1]
[CMP2]
[CMP3]
[CMP4]
[CMP5]

[CMP1]-->[CMP3]
[CMP2]-->[CMP3]
[CMP3]-->[CMP4]
[CMP3]-->[CMP5]
@enduml

http://www.plantuml.com/plantuml/uml/SoWkIImgAStDuSf9JIjHACbNACfCpoXHICaiIaqkoSpFurA8TlODC8o5q4PGsXXAcq1fqrWkc49TNJja5KRe0iOm0HDa0QWX3gbvAK370000

Answered: Is there an up-to-date version of the Eclipse plugin?

Fri, 31 Aug 2018 08:52:57 +0000

Hi,

the Eclipse plugin is not maintained here.

I would like to ask you to rather ask the maintainer of the Eclipse plugin to synchronize.

Best Regards,

Michael

Answered: Eclipse plugin doesn't recognise @startsalt

Mon, 20 Aug 2018 18:26:49 +0000

Still doesn't seem to recognize it

Answered: How to style loops and partitions in activity-beta diagram?

Fri, 03 Aug 2018 08:56:36 +0000

With last beta http://beta.plantuml.net/plantuml.jar you can now have :

@startuml
start
partition Action {
  :foo1;
}
package Action {
  :foo2;
}
card Action {
  :foo3;
}
rectangle Action {
  :foo4;
}
stop
@enduml

Tell us if you need more styles.

Answered: View results of preprocessor

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 16:44:35 +0000

see http://forum.plantuml.net/6286/view-results-of-preprocessor

Is it possible to run only the preprocessor?

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 14:18:48 +0000

Hi,

Iis it possible to just run the preprocessor and get back a new plantuml file without any macros, !include or !define etc

I guess that this would be very useful for testing when implementing the preprocessor features and therefor should already be implemented internally and hidden from use by normal users.

If so, would it be possible to enable this also for users?

The reason I need this is that I need to do a SHA checksum on my the plantuml files and they need to get different checksum depending on what is !included etc. So I need to do the checksum after the preprocessor has been applied.

/Andreas

Is it possible to have multi-line sequence messages both above and below the arrow?

Wed, 14 Mar 2018 14:55:49 +0000

I would like to know if it's possible to have multiline sequence messages be above and below the arrow?

It makes it easier to separate commands and parameters in our sequence diagrams.

association of components

Wed, 28 Feb 2018 08:56:45 +0000

Should this work the same way as in case of association of classes (or is that a correct presentation)?

http://www.plantuml.com/plantuml/uml/SoWkIImgAStDuKhEpot8pqlDAr58L4Wi1XBLNBLSIA998D4aTD5aa6WoH3HHGLSXYKiZKKSXILD1JqyXcSiXDIy5Q3O0

The classes example is:

http://www.plantuml.com/plantuml/uml/SoWkIImgAStDuKhEIImkLaXKg5PGuAhbWdAJ5AeHd6G89r51Lo69IoDHHo59Kq5FJo6PYyiXDIy5P0O0

Installing plant UML for Word on Mac

Mon, 26 Feb 2018 14:25:39 +0000

How do I install PlantUML for Word 2011 on Mac?

PlantUML Q&A - Recent questions and answers in To be sorted

Answered: How to compile plantuml?

Answered: Left align field name, right align tpye

Answered: Control package layout in class diagram

Answered: How to control box size?

Answered: UML Communication diagram

Getting Error java.lang.ClassCastException when creating state diagram using allowmix override

Answered: What's the best way to represent a message that doesn't get received in a sequence diagram?

Answered: How could I see or get the intermediate dot file or string (the contents with the grammar of dot language)?

Answered: Java IllegalStateException for june 30 beta

Answered: How can I escape double underscores in a namespace name?

Providing a modular plantuml jar

Answered: Using plantuml.jar with JavaFX

Answered: Layout problems output TEOZ engine?

Answered: ClassHeaderBackgroundColor for Object Diagrams?

Answered: Escape Character for Curly Braces

Answered: is there any support for subactivity or the rake symbol

Answered: Can I change a sequence arrow line thickness per arrow?

Answered: Why the synchronization bad doesnt't extend to other swinlanes?

Answered: Sequence diagram: crossed arrows

Answered: Sticky position the participants in the sequence diagram

Answered: Is it possible to get a plantuml.exe for Windows?

Answered: hide unlinked seems to have no effect

Answered: Is there a way to design open droplist

Answered: Performance degradation noticed (Plantuml taking long process time) if a macro has unbalanced parenthesis.

Answered: Is it possible to add custom metadata to a PlantUML source file?

Answered: How to export plantuml file as xml file?

Answered: Is it possible to top align notes in a sequence diagram?

Answered: How to scale a salt diagram

Answered: Sequence diagram sub-diagrams

Answered: How to keep a single appearance of the participant in sequence diagram?

Answered: Is it possible to comment out lines of diagram syntax?

[Ad] Information: article about PlantUML on the last Linux Magazine of June 2020.

Drawing diagrams with PlantUMLPicture This

Article from Issue 235/2020

Answered: Unexpected "Actor"

Answered: My diagram is cut off. How do I fix this?

A salt cell of table may contain also a block of ui controls and line around that block

Answered: How can i use GOTO relations in new Activity Diagram?

Answered: How to do this complex activity diagram?

Answered: How to better layout classdiagrams with a central entity

Answered: interaction frame

Answered: In class diagrams, is there a way to force a self-relation appear as a single single side arrow?

Answered: Multiplicities and roles in class diagrams

Answered: Components alignment (horizontally)

Answered: Is there an up-to-date version of the Eclipse plugin?

Answered: Eclipse plugin doesn't recognise @startsalt

Answered: How to style loops and partitions in activity-beta diagram?

Answered: View results of preprocessor

Is it possible to run only the preprocessor?

Is it possible to have multi-line sequence messages both above and below the arrow?

association of components

Installing plant UML for Word on Mac

Drawing diagrams with PlantUML
Picture This