Visual Studio Hacks

Generate UML Design Documents from Code #82

Chapter 10, Work with Visual Studio Tools

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361

HACK

}

private bool m_DualSlidingDoors;

public bool DualSlidingDoors

{

get { return m_DualSlidingDoors; }

set { m_DualSlidingDoors = value; }

}

}

// END CLASS DEFINITION Minivan

I’ve demonstrated a simple example of using Visio to autogenerate your

class code to get a jump start on your coding effort. However, Visio code

templates can be customized much further, and I suggest you experiment

with it to find the right degree of code generation you are comfortable with.

Visio has limited support for round-tripping. Visio can gen-

erate code from diagrams, but when you change the dia-

grams, it can’t update the code based on your changes—it

can only completely regenerate the code. Visio can also gen-

erate diagrams from code, but can’t update those diagrams,

only re-create them from scratch. Some other tools like

Rational XDE provide much more complete round-tripping

support.

—Dave Donaldson

HACK

#82

Generate UML Design Documents from Code Hack #82

Use Visual Studio to generate design documents in Visio.

Like all good developers, you keep your design documentation up-to-date,

right? Most likely, that’s a no. After all, who wants to constantly go back

and continuously update design documents while coding? Most developers I

know usually don’t have the time because they are too busy trying to get the

application implemented. ...