Type Presentation Options

In UML, the types of attributes, operations and parameters of classes often refer to other classes. If the referred classes are located in the same package as the referring class, simple type name (e.g. Color) is more readable. Otherwise, fully-qualified type name (e.g. java.awt.Color) is preferred as it is clearer to show where the referred class is located. With our flexible type presentation options, you can get the best of both worlds.

To set type presentation options, select one or more classes, right-click on the selection and select Presentation Options > Type from the popup menu.

Show fully-qualified name of types.

Show only name of types. This is the default option.

Show relative name of types. This means when the referenced class and the referring class are in the same package, or when they have a common grandparent package (e.g. the common grandparent package of java.awt.Color and java.lang.String is “java”), the relative name (fully-qualified name omitting the common grandparent name) preceded by a “double arrow” symbol will be shown (as highlighted in white in the image). If there is no common grandparent of the classes, fully-qualified type name will be shown (as highlighted in orange in the image).

1. To set presentation options of all classes in the diagram, right-click on the diagram and select Presentation Options > Configure Class Presentation Options... from the popup menu.
   
   
   
2. The Configure Class Presentation Options... dialog box is shown, where you can configure interested presentation options for all classes in the diagram at once. A preview is shown so you can see how the options affect the visual appearance of the class before actually applying the changes.