Netbeans IDE - UML Modelling

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UML Modelling

with NetBeans IDE

Mark Burleigh

January 2010

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Table of Contents

1.1 Creating a new Java Application project............................................................................ 4

1.2 Creating a New UML Application Project ......................................................................... 6

1.3 Creating a New Java Class ................................................................................................. 8

1.4 Creating a Class Attribute .................................................................................................. 9

1.5 Creating an Association between Classes ........................................................................ 12

1.6 Generating Java Code from UML Class Diagram ........................................................... 14

1.7 Index ................................................................................................................................. 16

Table of Figures

Figure 1.1: Open Netbeans IDE.....................................................................................................4

Figure 1.2: Choose Project Type ...................................................................................................4

Figure 1.3: Choose Project Name ..................................................................................................5

Figure 1.4: Create a UML Project..................................................................................................6

Figure 1.5: Select UML Category..................................................................................................6

Figure 1.6: UML Project Location.................................................................................................7

Figure 1.7: Select UML Diagram Type .........................................................................................7

Figure 1.8: UML Pane and Pallette................................................................................................8

Figure 1.9: Create UML Class .......................................................................................................8

Figure 1.10: Change UML Class Name.........................................................................................9

Figure 1.11: Create a Class Attribute.............................................................................................9

Figure 1.12: Maximise UML Window Pane................................................................................11

Figure 1.13: Edit Prefix Name of Attributes and Methods..........................................................12

Figure 1.14: Create UML Class Association ...............................................................................12

Figure 1.15: Generate Code from UML ......................................................................................14

Figure 1.16: Select Target Folder to Save Generated Code.........................................................14

Figure 1.17: View Generated Source Code .................................................................................15

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Figure 1.18: Generated Source Code ...........................................................................................15

UML Modelling with Netbeans IDE

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1.1 Creating a new Java Application project

Firstly, we need to create a project for the Java source code that will get generated by your

UML Modelling.

Launch Netbeans IDE from the Start | All Programs menu. Then click on the New Project

button as depicted in Figure 1.1 below or go to File | New Project.

Figure 1.1: Open Netbeans IDE

In the Categories Section, select Java Folder. In the Projects Section select Java Application

as shown below in Figure 1.2

Figure 1.2: Choose Project Type


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Next, create a project for the generated Java code. Name the project UML_SRC_CODE and

select the Project location in a new folder in your home directory. Name the new folder as

UML_SRC_CODE.

Figure 1.3: Choose Project Name

When have successfully created your new UML_SRC_CODE project you will see the

following screen shot below. There will be one difference between your screen and the screen

below and that is the background colour of the editor pane. Yours will be white and mine is

black.

Note: For the consummate developer, a black background editor screen has been found to be

more soothing on the eyes. If you wish to change the background colour of your editor, click

the cursor inside you editor pane and then go to Tools | Options | Font & Colors. For each

Category select background colour as black. This can be quite tedious and time consuming so

be warned.


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1.2 Creating a New UML Application Project

Now we create a completely new project for the UML class diagrams. Click on the New Project

button as pointed out in the figure below.

Figure 1.4: Create a UML Project

In the Categories section, select the UML folder and in the Projects section, select Java

Platform Model as depicted below.

Figure 1.5: Select UML Category


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Name the project UML_PROJECT and save in a folder called UML_PROJECT

Figure 1.6: UML Project Location

In the Diagram Type, select Class Diagram and click Finish.

Figure 1.7: Select UML Diagram Type


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You should now have the following screen as shown below.

Figure 1.8: UML Pane and Pallette

1.3 Creating a New Java Class

In the Palette, click on the Class and left click the mouse in the white box. Then right click the

mouse anywhere in the white box area to prevent further UML class diagrams from being

created.

Note: if you wish to create several classes, just keep left clicking and then right click the mouse

to stop generating Classes.

Figure 1.9: Create UML Class


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Change the name of the UML class name to Student by double clicking on Unnamed. Notice

that the method inside the class body gets changed too. This is the Constructor of the class.

Figure 1.10: Change UML Class Name

1.4 Creating a Class Attribute

Move the cursor over the Attribute word in the class diagram and right click the mouse then

select Insert Attribute.

Figure 1.11: Create a Class Attribute


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Change the attribute from Unnamed to student_num and then press the return (enter) on the

keyboard.

Note: Coding convention is that all classes begin with a capital letter and all attributes and

methods begin in lower case.

When you create an attribute, two methods (operations) get automatically created for that

particular attribute, that is, getStudent_num() and setStudent_num(int val)


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Create a second class diagram called Module and insert a new attribute called module_name of

type String.

Maximise the UML diagram window and close the output panel underneath:

Figure 1.12: Maximise UML Window Pane

Click tools | options |Java Code Generation tab | Prefix for member attributes and type

instance_


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Figure 1.13: Edit Prefix Name of Attributes and Methods

1.5 Creating an Association between Classes

Now create an Association between Student and Module classes. Click on Navigable

association as pointed out below.

Figure 1.14: Create UML Class Association

Then Click on Student Class and drag the association to the Modules class followed by right

clicking anywhere in the white box area to prevent further associations from being created.


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As you can see below, a Student class is comprised of a Module class.


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1.6 Generating Java Code from UML Class Diagram

Click on the Student and then right click. Then select Generate Code as shown below. Do the

same for the Module Class.

Figure 1.15: Generate Code from UML

Select the Target Project as the UML_SRC_CODE project (The project that created earlier).

All source code will generated and stored in that project. Go to the UML_SRC_CODE folder

and find the src folder. This is where the generated code is saved.

Figure 1.16: Select Target Folder to Save Generated Code


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Right click the Student Class and select Navigate to Source.

Figure 1.17: View Generated Source Code

The source code of the Student Class is shown.

Figure 1.18: Generated Source Code

Index

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1.7 Index

Association............................................... 12

Attribute.................................................... 9

Categories .............................................. 4, 6

Class ................................ 7, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15

Generate Code ........................................ 14

IDE............................................................. 1

Insert Attribute ........................................ 9

Java .................................... 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, 14

Java Application .........................................4

Maximise ..................................................11

Navigate to Source ..................................15

NetBeans.....................................................1

Palette.........................................................8

source code .....................................4, 14, 15

UML..................1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14

UML Modelling......................................1, 4

Netbeans IDE - UML Modelling

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