UML 2.0 Notation Update
Print This PageOMG is now at the end of standardization of the version of UML 2.0. The new UML 2.0 specification for UML contains a number of improvements which restructure and refine the language to make it easier to apply, implement and customize. The most obvious changes to from UML 1.x to 2.0 has been the introduction of new diagrams. The new diagrams include:
UML 2.0 New Diagram |
Diagram Example |
VP-UMLFeature Demo |
 Composite Structure diagram |
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Learn how to draw |
| Timing diagram |
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Learn how to draw |
| Interaction overview diagram |
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Learn how to draw |
What’s New in UML 2.0?
OMG had already integrated the following major new features to UML 2 in late 2004 and formally release 2.0 in 2005:
Nested Classifiers:
This is an extremely powerful concept. In UML, almost every model building block you work with (classes, objects, components, behaviors such as activities and state machines, and more) is a classifier. In UML 2.0, you can nest a set of classes inside the component that manages them, or embed a behavior (such as a state machine) inside the class or component that implements it. This capability also lets you build up complex behaviors from simpler ones, the capability that defines the Interaction Overview Diagram. You can layer different levels of abstraction in multiple ways: For example, you can build a model of your Enterprise, and zoom in to embedded site views, and then to departmental views within the site, and then to applications within a department.
Improved Behavioral Modeling:
In UML 1.X, the different behavioral models were independent, but in UML 2.0, they all derive from a fundamental definition of a behavior (except for the Use Case, which is subtly different but still participates in the new organization).
Improved relationship between Structural and Behavioral Models:
As we pointed out under Nested Classifiers, UML 2.0 lets you designate that a behavior represented by (for example) a State Machine or Sequence Diagram is the behavior of a class or a component.
UML from Version I to 2 Evolutions
1995: UM 0.8 (initial collaboration)
1996: UML 0.9 (redefinition of objectives)
January 1997: 1.0 (initial OMG standard)
September 1997: UML 1.1 (first revision)
1998: UML 1.2 (internal release only)
1999: UML 1.3 (published update)
September 2001: UML 1.4 (current version)
October 2002: UML 1.5 (with Action Semantics)
1Q 2003: UML 2.0 (reorganization and alignment with MDA)
2005: Formal UML 2.0 Release
Four Major UML 2.0 Documentations
Part I: Superstructure
The superstructure defines the six structure diagrams, three behavior diagrams, four interaction diagrams, and the elements that comprise them
(~640 pages)
Part II: Infrastructure
UML 2.0 Infrastructure: The infrastructure defines base classes that form the foundation not only for the UML 2.0 superstructure, but also for MOF 2.0.
(~190 pages)
Part III: Diagram Interchange
UML 2.0 Diagram Interchange: This specification extends the UML metamodel with a supplementary package for graph-oriented information, allowing models to be exchanged or stored/retrieved and then displayed as they were originally.
(~40 pages)
Part IV: Object constraint Language (OCL)
UML 2.0 Object Constraint Language (OCL): This allows setting of pre- and post-conditions, invariants, and other conditions.
(~220 pages)
UML 2.0 Goals
Restructure and refine UML to make it easier to apply, implement and customize
Infrastructure goals
define a reusable meta-language kernel to define the UML − provide more powerful mechanisms to customize UML
Superstructure goals
Improve support for component-based development
Refine architectural specification capabilities
Increase the scalability, precision and integration of behavioral diagrams
Review all UML 1.x constructs and diagrams
UML 2.0 Highlights
New structure
Architectural Modeling Constructs
Ports, Connectors &Parts
New UML 2.0 Diagrams
Composite Structure Diagram
Timing Diagram
Interaction Overview Diagram
UML 2.0 Update on Behavior Diagrams
Updated State Diagrams
Updated Sequence Diagrams
Updated Activity Diagrams
UML Profile
The Benefits of UML 2.0 Superstructure
In UML 2.0 superstructure, all UML 1.x constructs and diagrams had been reviewed. Some of the notations had been refined, retired or deprecated as appropriate. The major benefits of adopting the new UML 2.0 features are:
Improve support for component-based development
specify both platform-independent components (e.g., business components) and platform-specific components (e.g., EJB, COM+)
Refine architectural specification capabilities
support hierarchical composition of parts with interfaces (compare SDL blocks and processes)
Increase the scalability, precision and integration of behavioral diagrams
augment sequence diagrams with advanced constructs that can be combined and integrated with other behavior
update state machines diagrams to make generalizable and able to support a transition-centric view
revise activity diagrams to support more flexible parallelism and furnish more I/O options
support executable models