Arrows

Declaration

Arrows do not require a declaration. They appear automatically in activity diagrams. Arrows generally appear between two actions that are vertically adjacent in the code.

Example: Arrow Declaration

Properties

Arrows must be drawn in order to adjust their properties.

• line_color - defines the color of line drawn for the arrow

• line_type - defines the type of line drawn for the arrow

• text -can be used to explain the arrow

Line Color

The line_color is defined by a standard color name or hex code. If you use this property alone it must come after a hash (#) sign and touch the hash sign. If any other properties follow this place a comma (,) between them. No spaces are needed.

Example: Arrow Line Color

@startuml
'Example: Arrow Line Color

'Declare an action.
:First Action;

'Give the arrow a color.
-[#0E7DC1]->

'Declare an action.
:Second Action;

@enduml

Line Type

The line_type defines the texture of the line drawing the arrow. If any other properties follow this place a comma (,) between them. No spaces are needed. The hidden line type completely removes the arrow.

The line_types are as follows.

• line.bold

• line.dashed

• line.dotted

• line.hidden

Example: Arrow Line Type

@startuml
'Example: Arrow Line Type

'Declare an action.
:First Action;

'Give the arrow a bold line.
-[bold]->

'Declare an action.
:Second Action;

'Give the arrow a dashed line.
-[dashed]->

'Declare an action.
:Third Action;

'Give the arrow a dotted line.
-[dotted]->

'Declare an action.
:Fourth Action;

'Hide the arrow.
-[hidden]->

'Declare an action.
:Fifth Action;

@enduml

Text

The text property provides the text that is displayed near the arrow. Text immediately follows the coded arrow and ends with a semicolon (;).

This is also where the text is formatted. Arrow text supports creole for emphasis and markup language for color and emphasis. You can define colors with a standard color name or hex code. The # is optional for hex codes in this portion of markup. It appears to be optional in all <color> tags as well.

Multiline text can be achieved with line breaks between the coded arrow and final semicolon (;). You can use as many lines as necessary. Empty lines will be displayed..

Example: Arrow Text

@startuml
'Example: Arrow Text

'Declare an action.
:First Action;

'Declare an arrow with multiline text.
->First

Arrow;

'Declare an action.
:Second Action;

'Declare an arrow.
'Use creole for text emphasis
-> **Second** //Arrow//;

'Declare an action.
:Third Action;

'Declare an arrow.
'Use markup for text color and emphasis.
-><color #009EA1>Third</color> <i>Arrow</i>;

'Declare an action.
:Fourth Action;

@enduml

With All Properties

Example: Arrows With All Properties

@startuml
'Example: Arrows With All Properties

:First Action;

-[dashed,#CD1E1E]->First

Arrow;

:Second Action;

-[#561D5E,bold]-> **Second** //Arrow//;

:Third Action;

-[dotted]-><color #009EA1>Third</color> <i>Arrow</i>;

:Fourth Action;

-[hidden]->You can place text
next to a hidden arrow;

:Fifth Action;

@enduml