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  4. 13. Interaction Overview Diagram
  5. How to draw a Interaction Overview Diagram in UML

How to draw a Interaction Overview Diagram in UML

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Interaction overview diagram is a kind of UML diagram. It is the variant of UML activity diagram that shows specifically the flow of interaction diagrams like sequence diagrams.

Creating interaction overview diagram

Perform the steps below to create an UML interaction overview diagram in Visual Paradigm.

  1. Select Diagram > New from the application toolbar.
  2. In the New Diagram window, select Interaction Overview Diagram.
  3. Click Next.
  4. Enter the diagram name and description. The Location field enables you to select a model to store the diagram.
  5. Click OK.

Creating initial node

Initial node is the beginning of a control flow. To create initial node in interaction overview diagram, click Initial Node on the diagram toolbar and then click on the diagram.

Create initial node
An initial node is created. The caption of initial node is hidden by default, to show it, right-click on the diagram and select Presentation Options > Show Shape Caption > Initial Node from the pop-up menu.

Show caption of initial node

Creating decision node

To create a decision node from an initial node:

  1. Move your mouse pointer over the initial node.
  2. Press on the Resource Catalog button and drag it out.
    Using Resource Catalog
  3. Release the mouse button at the place where you want the decision node to be created.
  4. Select Control Flow -> Decision Node from Resource Catalog.
    To create a decision node
  5. A new decision node will be created and is connected to the initial node. Enter its name and press Enter to confirm editing.
    Decision node created

Creating interaction use

To create an interaction use:

  1. Move your mouse pointer over the source shape.
  2. Press on the Resource Catalog button and drag it out.
  3. Release the mouse button at the place where you want the interaction use to be created.
  4. Select Control Flow -> Interaction Use from Resource Catalog.
    To create an interaction use
  5. A new interaction use will be created and is connected to the source node. Enter its name and press Enter to confirm editing.
    Interaction use created

You can make the interaction use refers to a diagram by right clicking on it and select Refers to > New Sequence Diagram from the pop-up menu.

Make interaction use refers to diagram
When sequence diagram is created, rename the diagram.

Rename sequence diagram
When you return to the interaction overview diagram, you can see the interaction use caption shows the diagram it refers to.

Interaction use caption updated