Examining the UML Models: Static Models - Components
(Page 8 of 13 )
The key element of component diagrams is the component element. A component element represents some kind of software. It can represent a code module, an executable, a DLL, and so on. The following are the key properties of a component:
- Name: Typically, the physical name of the file (such as customer.dll)
- Stereotype: Specifies the subtype of the component, for example, EXE or DLL
- Nodes: Specifies on which node (server) the component will be implemented
- Classes: Specifies which classes make up your component
These properties are all accessible from the UML Component Properties dialog box, which opens when you double-click a component on a diagram.
In Exercise 5-15, you’ll create a component diagram and add three component elements.
EXERCISE 5-15
- Open VEA, if isn’t already open.
- Create a component diagram named MyComponentDiagram.
- Add a component named Component1 to the diagram.
- Add a component named Component2 to the diagram.
- Add a component named Imageshrink.dll to the diagram.
You can see the notation of each component in Figure 5-25.
Nodes The node element identifies a physical, runtime object representing a processing resource. A node will typically be a server on which your components are processed or to which they are related. The following are some of the key node properties:
Chapter 5
- Name: The name of the node
- Location: The node location
- Components: Specifies which components are related to the node
In Exercise 5-16, you’ll add a node to your component diagram, and then specify which component will execute on this node.
EXERCISE 5-16
- On MyComponentDiagram, add a node named Node1.
- Double-click Node1 to open the UML Node Properties dialog box.
- Select the Components category.
- Select Imageshrink.dll, as shown in Figure 5-26.

Figure 5-26. Components category of the UML Node Properties dialog box for Node1
5. Click OK.
You can see the notation of the node in Figure 5-25. Because you set the Components property for Node1 to the Imageshrink.dll component, the Imageshrink.dll file will execute on this server/node.
Next: Dependencies >>
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This article is excerpted from Enterprise Development with Visual Studio .NET, UML, and MSF written by John Erik Hansen and Carsten Thomsen (Apress, 2004; ISBN: 1590590422) Buy this book now.
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