Activity Diagrams

Textbook ReferencesChapter 6 – Pg. 165 – 171

Activity Charts•Used to complement Use Case narratives in a graphical form. •Show the flow and interaction between objects and the operator

•‘Coins Inserted’ is an action by the operator•‘Collect Coins’ is an activity by the Class (Object)

Coins Inserted

Commonly Used Symbols

Initial State – Always start with this symbol, it represents the Object in its starting condition

End State – Always end with this symbol, it represents the object as is returns to starting condition

Commonly Used Symbols

Transitions – Straight or Rounded lines to connect actions.

Commonly Used Symbols

Decisions – At least 2 transitions out, 3 or more allowed. Add text box beside decision indicating what is being tested, and text on out-going transitions to show which branch is which.

Commonly Used Symbols

Process (action) – One or two named transitions depending on possible outcomes, so it is permitted to have two (or more) names lines coming from a Process.

Commonly Used Symbols

Forks & Joins – There are times when multiple processes or transitions occur simultaneously. This is shown with a Fork first, two parallel lines or processes beside each other, following by a join as the two process join back together.

Parallel lines below show parallel transitions or processes

Commonly Used Symbols

Comments / Notes – note these must have a folded corner.

Sample